Harare, Zimbabwe MT (CNA).- In a statement announcing directives to guide the expansion of public worship in Zimbabwe last week, the nation\u2019s bishops encouraged the people of God to attend Mass.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe now discourage live-streaming of Holy Masses and other relevant pastoral programmes except for the spiritual nourishment of the faithful who may be physically impeded in attending Holy Mass,\u201d the members of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops\u2019 Conference said in their Oct. 12 statement \u201cThe Joy of Coming Together for Public Worship\u201d.<\/p>\n
They added that Catholics have \u201cthe obligation to attend Holy Mass if there is no major reason to absent oneself\u201d, and emphasized that \u201cphysical attendance together is more rewarding than live-streaming.\u201d<\/p>\n
Public worship resumed in Zimbabwe in June under a revised guidance that allowed a 50-person congregation after President Emmerson Mnangagwa eased COVID-19 restrictions that had been in place since March.<\/p>\n
In September, the number of worshippers was revised upward to 100.<\/p>\n
In their Oct. 12 statement, the bishops recalled some of the guidelines issued when public Masses resumed in June, saying, \u201cHoly communion must only be received on the hand\u2026 the reception of the blood of Christ by concelebrants and members of the congregation remains suspended.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sign of peace during Mass is also suspended,\u201d the members of the ZCBC added.
\nThe bishops also said that all Church gatherings must be conducted \u201cwhile adhering to the stipulated numbers given by the government.\u201d<\/p>\n
In places of worship where appropriate distancing may not be possible, the faithful must be encouraged to congregate in an open space, the bishops said.<\/p>\n
Zimbabwe\u2019s bishops also directed that Confirmations and Ordinations are permissible. Meetings of parish councils, associations, and catechumens have also been allowed at the parish and deanery levels.<\/p>\n
However, diocesan meetings and national congresses remain suspended until the situation in the country normalizes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to be ever conscious of the threat of COVID-19 and take all the necessary precautions, as directed by the local Parish Council, medical personnel, Ministry of Health and WHO,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n
The bishops expressed their gratitude to God that \u201cthe impact of the pandemic was not as harsh in Zimbabwe as in other parts of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
The country has had 8,159 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 232 deaths.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe pledge our pastoral closeness and joint prayers through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for the victims of COVID-19,\u201d the members of the ZCBC concluded.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Harare, Zimbabwe MT (CNA).- In a statement announcing directives to guide the expansion of public worship in Zimbabwe last week, the nation\u2019s bishops encouraged the people of God to attend Mass. \u201cWe now discourage live-streaming of Holy Masses and other relevant pastoral programmes except for the spiritual nourishment of the faithful who may be physically […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":29167,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[1388,91],"class_list":{"0":"post-29164","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-all-news","8":"category-community","9":"tag-covid-19","10":"tag-harare"},"yoast_head":"\n