Catholic Bishops issue guidelines for public worship

The Catholic Bishops in Ghana have issued guidelines to all Clergy and Lay faithful on what do to during, before and after Mass in line with the safety protocols on COVID-19.

In a collective statement signed by Most Rev. Philip Naameh, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale and the President of Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference on June 4, 2020, it states that, “the Churches in Ghana desires to prudently manage the risks and the adverse impact of the virus on the society as the president has eased restrictions on the social gathering.

For this reason, they urged all Catholics not to take unnecessary risks with their health or engage in behaviours that put the health of others at risk.

In order to ensure that public gatherings such as Masses, burials, weddings, baptisms and devotions are carried out whiles observing safety protocols, Catholic Parishes, Rectorates and Chaplaincies in each Archdiocese and diocese in Ghana are required to abide by outlined recommendations, the Statement said.

According to the Bishops, people with acute symptoms, fever or recent exposure to an infected person and vulnerable people which comprise of the sick and aged people are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the dispensation and refrain from attending Public Masses for their own safety.

And as such “Priests should make occasional pastoral visits limited to offering Confession and Holy Communion while observing all the safety measures.”

The statement noted that Churches desirous of having service must ensure frequent cleaning of washrooms, frequently touched surfaces, disinfect, fumigate and put in place the requisite logistics needed to guarantee safety such as water, soap and disposable towels.

In addition, names and contacts of congregants should be taken, it directed.

Moreover, holding rooms for people who will be sick at any time should be designated, to avoid body contacts and confined air, all windows and doors should be widely open, the Bishops said.

They also urged churches to limit the number of congregants to 25% and not exceeding 100 in accordance with the president’s directives and also adhere to all safety protocols.

“There should be no singing in groups, dancing and waving of handkerchiefs in the course of the service and also to meet the time parameter for the service, the Bishops instructed.

Furthermore, the practice of the offertory procession should be suspended and the elements of bread and wine should be left on the altar.

In an effort to avoiding skin to skin contacts, the Statement noted that “it is advisable to receive the Holy Communion in the palm. If they do accidentally touch a communicant’s hand, the minister should stop and sanitize the hand before moving on to the next communicant.”

In order cases, services should be streamed live if possible, it added.

On Sacrament and Reconciliation, the Bishops directed that “one-meter distance should be observed between confessor and penitent whiles screens impervious to droplet transmission should also be used.”

In conclusion, the Bishops encouraged all Catholics to keep observing all the safety protocols and continue to pray for God to heal the world and our country of this pandemic.