Zambia’s Ndola Diocese Lifts Suspension on Church Activities amid COVID-19 Decline

The Church leader further recommends and encourages the leadership of Parishes to “maintain celebrating Vigil Sunday Masses on Saturdays to have an even distribution of numbers of worshippers at a given Sunday celebration.”

“Parish Priests are urged to keep the celebrations as short as possible, thus the singing during Mass must continue to be regulated to that effect,” the Bishop of Ndola further directs.

The Southern African nation has been experiencing a decline in reported cases of COVID-19 since June.

The country has had at least 206,327 reported cases of the coronavirus, including 3,602 fatalities and 201,124 recoveries.

In his August 31 message, Bishop Phiri says, “Radio Icengelo Management must continue to work hand-in-hand with the Office of the Director of Pastoral Programs of the Diocese in devising a schedule of live streaming the celebration of Daily Masses on Radio and Facebook for the faithful in the Diocese.”

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“In the near future, the celebration of live daily Mass on radio must be upheld as part of normal radio programming,” he adds.

Bishop Phiri further directs that Parish Priests “play a major role on funerals, as they are the people on the ground. Thus, each individual Parish Priest will continue to determine how funerals will be celebrated in their respective Parishes. What must be avoided is the huge gathering of people at funerals.”

“Priests must ensure that whatever form of funeral celebration they choose, strict Health guidelines are followed. Priests may conduct burial rites at the graveyard,” the Zambian Bishop adds.

He goes on to direct, “Meetings of Small Christian Communities in all Parishes can gradually resume. Lay Groups' meetings and all other gatherings that were earlier suspended, can also resume gradually in small numbers at all levels.”

“All Catechism classes which were earlier suspended can gradually begin just as the schools have safely re-opened,” he further says, and adds, “Masses for the children can also resume with proper assessments in place to ensure the safety of our children.”

In his August 31 statement, the Local Ordinary of Ndola encourages Catholics to “do voluntary tests for COVID-19”.

“There is no shame in advising other people correctly on the status of oneself regarding the COVID-19 disease. Anyone not feeling well should immediately abstain from taking part in any communal liturgical celebration,” the Catholic Church leader says.

He urges members of the Clergy, women and men Religious, and the Lay faithful to adhere to COVID-19 health precautions for “each other's well-being.”

“Let us remain a faith community that takes responsibility for each other's well-being. As we face and combat the COVID-19 pandemic, let us unite in prayer,” the Zambian Bishop says, entrusting the people of God under his pastoral care to the “maternal intercession of our Lady and Mother, Mary, the Immaculately Conceived.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.