SYDNEY, N.S. -- Nearly 60-years after it first debuted, one of Canada’s longest-running television shows may be more relevant than ever this Christmas.

Father Bill Burke has been preparing his Sydney, N.S. church for a Christmas Eve mass that will look and feel much different than usual.

“Normally when you walk in for early mass on Christmas Eve, it’s standing room only,” says Father Burke. “This year, it’s just going to look so spare with people spread all over the church.”

Updated gathering limits from Nova Scotia health allow for church’s and other indoor faith gatherings to permit 50 per cent of the venues capacity, up to 100 people maximum.

In Sydney River, services at Our Lady of Fatima Parish are already fully booked for the holidays.

“We’re offering three masses on Christmas even, and one on Christmas Day,” says Father Patrick O’Neill. “The province is only allowing 100 people per mass, so the masses are full, they were full long ago.”

As Christians look for new ways to worship over the holidays, a seasonal tradition for many may see record numbers this year, bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘television service’.

“We are always shut-ins, but when the pandemic hit last March, I think there became more and more shut-ins, and more people relied on the TV mass for spiritual nourishment,” says O’Neill, the producer of Mass for Shut-Ins.

One of the longest-running television shows in Canadian history, Mass for Shut-Ins has aired on CTV since 1963.

The half-hour program may be more relevant than ever in 2020, as it allows Christians to worship from home.

“I’m expecting a very large viewership for this December 25th,” says O’Neill.

Back at the St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish, Father Burke says they too will be live-streaming their masses this week, in an attempt to connect with those who are alone for the Holidays.

“Especially I find with the live-streaming, they’re talking to each other. When the mass is over, people are sending messages back and forth. There’s a form of communication,” says Burke. “It’s not as good as being together, but it’s at least being able to have some contact.”

While COVID-19 may have changed the way many worship for the time being, you can always have faith that a televised service will be available on Christmas Day.