Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
As Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) continues to spread around the world and more countries in Africa are confirming positive cases, the Catholic Bishops recommendations as guidelines during the liturgical celebrations to help prevent the spread of the virus among Christians.
“In the wake of the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) in many parts of the world, the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) enacts the following precautionary measures in regard to the celebration of the Holy Mass, other liturgical services and as general guidelines. These are only temporary measures until the situation stabilizes,” reads in part the statement signed by the President of ECM Most Rev. Thomas Luke Msusa.
In the first place the Bishops emphasize that “Priests should give the Catholic faithful messages of hope. Messages on coronavirus must not create panic and despair.”
“Catholic faithful should be encouraged to wash their hands before entering the Churches or other places of worship. Similarly, Holy water fonts should be drained. Instead, Holy water should be kept at the Sacristy where the faithful can collect for their individual use,” reads another preventing measure.
“Catholic faithful should avoid squeezing one another as we sit in pews,” and “there should be no sign of peace in the form of handshake, hug or any bodily contact during Mass,” read the precautionary measures issued on Friday, March 13.
Concerning receiving the body of Christ, “Catholic faithful should line up when receiving Holy Communion not kneeling in order to ensure proper distance between them” and “reception of the Eucharist should be done in the hand not on the tongue.” Besides, “where con-celebration takes place, concelebrants should communicate by intinction and only the main celebrant or any other priest should consume the blood of Christ last.”
The bishops also recommend that “ministers should thoroughly wash hands with sanitizers before and after distribution of the Eucharist and they should do it with care, when administering the Sacraments that involve touching.” At the same time, “offertory gifts (money) should be handled with gloves and when counting money, it is necessary to use mouth masks wherever possible.”
The statement which coincided with the day when Kenya which is member to the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) confirmed a Coronavirus case.
The Catholic bishops in Malawi explained that “Experts in medical field should be invited to give talks in Churches and schools on coronavirus. Efforts should be made to have a technical team of doctors that will analyze the situation and give updates and advice.”
“Commissions working with foreign nationals coming from destinations where cases of Coronavirus have been identified should first seek guidance and information from Catholic Secretariat or any relevant Government authorities before inviting them into the country.”
The Bishops also caution about second hand clothes coming from abroad saying, “The same applies to material donations such as second hand clothes – kaunjika coming from abroad.”
Highlighting on the observation of hygiene and cleanliness the Bishops stated, “When coughing and sneezing care should be taken to cover one’s mouth,” and “institutions within the Church should be encouraged to clean ablution blocks with disinfectants.” In relation to that “Head Teachers of Catholic schools should introduce measures that adhere to hygiene and sanitation by all teachers, pupils and students.”
They underscored that information about the virus should be disseminated to help the Christians understand more about the disease.
“Commissions including Pastoral, Health, and Communication should come up with messages on Coronavirus by using posters which will be displayed at Church entrances and other places where people congregate,” and the “National Bible Team should prepare biblical reflections on coronavirus which will be used in Small Christian Communities.”
Use of public address systems so that the Catholic faithful can follow Mass from outside the Church and encouraging priests to celebrate open air Masses and “pre-festive Masses (vigil) on Saturday evening” to avoid congestion in the Church were some of the precaution measures outlined by the Church leaders.
For measures related to health facilities, the collective statement of the Church Shepherds advised that health workers to “conduct necessary preventive measures by checking possible signs of coronavirus in the patients who seek medical attention in order to help protect health workers,” Isolation wards to be created in case of identified cases and “health workers should avoid overcrowding by guardians in health facilities where patients are admitted.”
The Bishops clarified further that when need be in case of increased cases of coronavirus, “the obligation to attend Mass shall be suspended,” and working places shall be closed and where need for meeting is required, digital discussions will be encouraged.
Finally the “Catholic faithful should be encouraged to get daily updates on coronavirus through credible news channels and websites such as www.who.int,” and to pray “for an end to this challenging situation throughout the world and pray for those who are afflicted with the coronavirus.”