This archive report was first published on 12 July 2020.
Catholic Church Takes Precautions Against COVID-19 Spread ¶
As churches begin reopening across Kenya, the Catholic Church has introduced a series of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 among congregants.
According to a report signed by Reverend Philip Anyolo, chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, the measures include the removal of holy water at church entrances and the blessing of water for each household instead.
The report, dated July 12, 2020, also recommends reducing the number of choir members and processional dancers to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
During the sacrament of confirmation, celebrants will be required to anoint themselves directly with their hands, rather than relying on priests to do so.
The sacrament of anointing the sick will only be carried out by trained chaplains and will be restricted to those who are dying or about to undergo serious surgery.
During the sacrament of confession, social distancing should be adhered to strictly, and the service should be carried out in a well-ventilated area or in the main church.
The holy water fonts at church entrances will remain emptied, and blessed water will be properly disposed of in a sacrarium or directly into the ground.
Other measures include reducing the number of altar servers, restricting the use of microphones to one person, and sanitizing them before sharing.
Churches in villages have been encouraged to conduct masses in small communities, known as Jumuiyas.
By introducing these measures, the Catholic Church aims to ensure the safety of its congregants and work with the government and Ministry of Health officials to bring back church activities responsibly and expeditiously.
