Easter in Africa, Between Covid-19 and Radio Liturgies

by Luca Attanasio/Nairobi

The Church is not the building but it is communion and community: the baptized in the various African countries do not lose their sense of faith in the difficulties of the “remote”, due to the threat of the coronavirus, finding “creative” solutions so as not to lose contact with the other faithful and with the priests. Compliance with government guidelines is common, despite the difficulties in “social distancing.”

“Covid-19, although slower than in other parts of the world, has long since arrive. d in Africa. At the moment 50 of the 54 states have been affected by the phenomenon (the only ones still coronavirus-free are Sao Tome and Principe, Comoro, Lesotho and South Sudan) for a total of over 8000 infections, 340 dead, 702 recovered. All governments are taking measures to contain it and the Churches, and aligned with political and alarmed directives, live the most important liturgical week of the year for the first time in history with severe limitations and, at the same time, ready to “reinvent” the celebration of the passion, death and resurrection of Christ, in new, creative ways, updated with the spread of the virus

South Africa is the most affected state on the continent, with 1505 cases of contagion and 9 deaths. The lock-down imposed by the executive is total with the army lined up in the streets and very tight measures. The Church faithfully follows government guidelines. “The Bishops have declared that the masses and the liturgical celebrations will not be public under any circumstances” – Bishop William Slattery, Emeritus Archbishop of Pretoria, explains to Fides. “In full compliance with the guidelines of the government which has been very wise, we have organized ourselves to stream the functions, via radio in some cases via TV. Many parishes in the country have these possibilities.

People are frightened and sad because Holy Easter is the most exciting time of the year and in general, especially for the Palms, there are very long processions. But the alternative would be to spread the infection while we celebrate supreme love at Easter: the best way to celebrate is therefore to love and stay home in prayer. We are very worried about the many poor people who do not have adequate homes and cannot carry out social distancing, South Africans and many immigrants from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola and Mozambique and we must therefore be very careful “.

Tunisia, with its 500 confirmed cases and twenty deaths, is another of the states most affected by the coronavirus. The infection, transmitted by an Italian on March 2, quickly spread, putting the government of Elyes Fakhfakh in office in great difficulty, after 5 months of endless and exhausting negotiations, just a few days before, on February 27. “The executive has moved well – Monsignor Antoniazzi, archbishop of Tunis says to Fides – acting in advance and imposing a total closure from the first days. We immediately adjusted and, just like mosque functions across the country, Christian ones are also suspended. Our faithful are largely immigrants, many come from Sub-Saharan Africa, they are now deeply rooted in Tunisia and they also feel the duty to show respect and do everything to limit the infection. The parish priests will celebrate everywhere without people, but they are organizing themselves across the country using technology, we will transmit the Easter liturgies via social networks in every parish. In the meantime, the recession, already serious before, is now making itself felt even more and as Church we have activated a program of assistance to the poorest. I think this can be an opportunity to deepen our faith: without ceremonies, without meetings, we will be called to the essentials. Places can also close but the Church, which is made by the people of God, always remains open “. we will transmit the Easter liturgies via social networks to each parish. In the meantime, the recession, already serious before, is now making itself felt even more and as Church we have activated a program of assistance to the poorest. I think this can be an opportunity to deepen our faith: without ceremonies, without meetings, we will be called to the essentials. Places can also close but the Church, which is made by the people of God, always remains open “. we will transmit the Easter liturgies via social networks to each parish. In the meantime, the recession, already serious before, is now making itself felt even more and as Church we have activated a program of assistance to the poorest. I think this can be an opportunity to deepen our faith: without ceremonies, without meetings, we will be called to the essentials. Places can also close but the Church, which is made by the people of God, always remains open “.

The Congo, just out of the Ebola tragedy (2,500 deaths out of 3,200 contagions between August 2018 and March 2020), falls back in terror with the spread of Covid-19. 148 are infected and 16 are dead, but in a country exhausted by atrocious conflict in some of its regions (North-Kivu and Ituri), long-standing political instability and millions of people fleeing or starving, the spread could have devastating effects . “We are very, very worried – Archbishop Ambong of Kinshasa confides to Fides – the number is growing day by day and I fear that the measures decided by the government are not enough. We see fewer people on the street but still many continue to carry out the small jobs without which families would not survive. As a Church we reacted immediately and asked the faithful not to come to the services, churches remain open but liturgies will be without people. We could meet the faithful but not more than one at a time. Fortunately in Kinshasa we have a Catholic TV and radio and every day you can follow all the Easter services.

The Holy Week functions will all be presided over by me from the cathedral. In each parish I have given clear indications, the parish priest will make the celebrations without faithful, at most very small groups. The problem will be for all those dioceses where there is no TV or radio and it is difficult to connect online. In the villages the catechists organize Easter initiatives for small groups not exceeding 20 people as required by the government decree. In any case, even where the infection is less, we will respect the provisions, we are too afraid:

In Ethiopia, 35 confirmed cases, marred by the death of Monsignor Angelo Moreschi bishop of Gambella following the contagion from covid-19, the Episcopal Conference decided to limit liturgical services only to priests and to ask the faithful to stay home until next indications from the government. The churches continue to ring the bells to invite the faithful at certain times to join as a community in prayer. The national TV channel, following a fruitful exchange of ideas between government and leaders of all faiths, offered religious institutions spaces to transmit some functions live and spread messages of hope, in particular the spaces for the week will be increased Holy and Easter of Copts and Catholics.

The Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Tanzania (20 cases, one died from Covid-19), Father Charles Kitima, explicitly asked the faithful to adapt to the directives and accept the changes in worship during Holy Week, knowing full well that the distance does not the doctrine or the liturgy of the Catholic Church changes. On Palm Sunday mass was celebrated in the presence of the faithful, but without processions; there will be no washing of the feet during Holy Thursday mass and during the Via Crucis only the priest will be able to kiss the cross while the faithful will bow. No baptisms will be celebrated on Easter night and, in all cases, the services will be short bikes. The bishops ask the sick or in not perfectly healthy faithful to stay at home and participate through radio and television.

“In Cameroon there are many people infected (over 500 and 9 dead, editor’s note),” said Archbishop Emeritus of Bamenda, the capital of the English-speaking regions, to Fides. “The impression is that coronavirus is spreading quickly especially in cities like Yaoundé or Douala. Throughout the country as citizens and therefore as a Church, we must be very firm in respecting government directives according to which there cannot be gatherings of more than 50 people and we must stay at a safe distance in addition to washing our hands often. The bishops wrote a letter to the faithful and decided to modify, limit or even cancel some functions. In some dioceses we explicitly ask to stay home. In any case, the masses will be held only in the main parishes while in the mission churches, they will be totally suspended. As a precaution, communion will be delivered into the hands, there will be no procession and the liturgy of the washing of the feet will be accomplished with small groups of people. In all the churches in the country, however, it will be allowed to participate in a maximum of 50 faithful. luckily we have Catholic radio and TV stations that will broadcast the functions in full, our people have been warned and invited to stay at home as much as possible. However, we can also record a positive aspect in this worrying situation, the conflict between the central government and the independentists of the English-speaking region has slowed down considerably and for weeks we have no news of gunfights “. In all the churches in the country, however, a maximum of 50 faithful will be allowed to participate. luckily we have Catholic radio and TV stations that will broadcast the functions in full, our people have been warned and invited to stay at home as much as possible. However, we can also record a positive

aspect in this worrying situation, the conflict between the central government and the independentists of the English-speaking region has slowed down considerably and for weeks we have no news of gunfights “. In all the churches in the country, however, a maximum of 50 faithful will be allowed to participate. luckily we have Catholic radio and TV stations that will broadcast the functions in full, our people have been warned and invited to stay at home as much as possible. However, we can also record a positive aspect in this worrying situation, the conflict between the central government and the independentists of the English-speaking region has slowed down considerably and for weeks we have no news of gunfights “.

The situation in Sierra Leone is fairly calm with only two cases registered. Equally, the bishops deemed it appropriate to send a letter to all the faithful in which, after expressing appreciation for the work of President Maada Bio and the government and the measures put in place, including the declaration of a national state of emergency, ask the priests, religious and lay people to scrupulously follow the indications and to do everything to encourage friends, colleagues, acquaintances and neighbors to do the same. “We are called to renew our sense of Church – the letter writes – the Church is not just a building or a place of prayer. It is “koinonia”, or communion and community, it is the gathering of the faithful through prayer, love and care for others. In this period, therefore, being a Church takes place through new forms that technology makes available to us. To those who do not have adequate means, we assure our prayers and our spiritual closeness “. The conclusion explicitly says that the faithful will not be able to physically participate in masses and prayers.

Zimbabwe has about ten cases and one death to date. But the proximity to South Africa and the extreme poverty facing the country has alarmed the entire population and the churches in the area, 90% Christian. The country is in lockdown, the confinement in the houses, from March 30 to April 19. “The functions of all religious denominations – replies Father Fradereck Chiromba, Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches – are suspended until a later date. Priests and pastors will preside over the services but without a people and will not concelebrate. Some bishops have postponed Holy Thursday Mass and priests will be able to collect and distribute the holy oil when they deem it appropriate. Believers will be able to attend all the functions of Holy Week through live streaming on the web. The government is working well and ensuring the presence of respirators and emergency facilities. Everyone is aware that our best and perhaps only weapon is prevention, because Zimbabwe’s problems are down a lot. The faithful therefore happily accepted the invitation to stay home and move little. Luckily we have many basic communications that are active and lively and in a certain sense we are registering a new vitality of the domestic churches with the parents who preside over the prayers and the family reunited. As the ‘Lumen Gentium’ teaches us, the Church is not a building. It will be a different Easter, without celebrations, without parties and meals together and it will be an opportunity to gather more in the presence of the crucified and the risen.
Detailed guidelines have been prepared by the Uganda Episcopal Conference (48 confirmed cases) on the upcoming Easter celebrations. The celebrations will be mandatory without people in all dioceses, the crismal oil will be blessed at a pre-established time communicated by each diocese, the lavender ceremony with the faithful is canceled as well as the processions, while the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist will remain in the Tabernacle . During the via crucis, the faithful, at a pre-established time, will be able to genuflect and follow from their homes, while for the Holy Easter every baptism is postponed.

18 are infected in Guinea Bissau, a country recently shaken by a very serious political crisis and with a fragile economy. “The celebrations can only be followed through the Radio”, Father Davide Sciocco, PIME missionary founder of “Radio Sol Mansi”, the station most followed by the population, explains to Fides, although Catholics are only 10% (40% Muslims, the remaining followers of traditional religions). “Radio Sol Mansi – he reports – not only transmits the celebrations but has rearranged the schedule with a program for the catechumens preparing for confirmation, a novena to pray for the end of the pandemic, transmissions for Lent with the possibility of intervening and Way of the cross. For Holy Week, we will transmit from the cathedrals of Bissau and Bafata via radio also with the help of the national radio. Good Friday will be entirely dedicated to meditation on the cross, here it is considered the most important day. It will also be an opportunity for us to make everyone aware of the teaching of Jesus since 90% of listeners are not Catholics. The blessing of the palms, which is deeply felt here, was made by radio ”.

Father Heriberto Cabrera is the youth pastoral delegate of the diocese of Port Llouis, Mauritius, one of the richest states in the continent and among the most affected (196 infected and a dozen dead, some of whom are very young). So he explains to Fides how the Church is organizing itself to celebrate Easter. “In Africa, asking people to stay home is very complex: infection is a possibility, hunger and death, instead a certainty. Of course we are more privileged here but in solidarity with all Africa we are very worried. Here there is a total lock-down and we will act accordingly. Public celebrations are suspended and we try in every way to get to the homes of the faithful by internet or radio. We use social media such as Facebook and Whatsapp a lot and we have invited young people to be creative: make a small cross with palm leaves, for Thursday a small traditional bread to share, for Friday a cross and on Saturday a small light. We are doing celebrations for young people on our youtube channel and invited the kids to send us photos of the crosses. We try to have a personal contact with everyone even with whatsapp, one by one, they are very discouraged. There will be no chrism mass, it is postponed to another time. The laity then help distribute government parcels to the reported poor and others whom no one would reach. This time is putting us in crisis and allows us to ask ourselves what the specificity of Christians is. The whole economic system, the relationship with nature, the measures of the States are absolutely ridiculous. Covid 19 will also force us to rethink our way of being Church, that will never be the same again. There is a tension between traditional norms and new forms. We will probably have to consider the internet not only as a medium but also as a sacramental and pastoral space as we are now doing. I guess it will be a long way ”.

The advent of the first of the current 41 cases of Coronavirus in Togo (3 dead) caught the country in full institutional chaos following the presidential elections last February. Convinced that the results that declared Faure Gnassingbe the winner for the fourth consecutive term were not in accordance with the ballot box, the candidate of the Patriotic Movement for Democracy Kodjo Agbeyome, also supported by the USA, asked for a recount and opened a serious political crisis “The arrival of the virus – Monsignor Barrigah-Bènissan, archbishop of Lomè explains to Fides – has obviously obscured the political problems. As a Church we have decided to align ourselves with the government’s preventive measures and therefore closed the churches to public celebrations. During Holy Week, Mass will be celebrated in the cathedral without the participation of the people of God. The same goes for parishes. We asked the faithful to emphasize personal and family prayer. Since the celebrations will be held without the participation of the people of God, we asked the priests to be more creative at the pastoral level to offer reflections, homilies and exhortations to the faithful through social networks. We must also take this opportunity to live solidarity better in a rather concrete way. It is not a question of visiting people, but of approaching them in various ways: through calls, messages on networks, etc. We must also help those who have difficulty living in containment to find ways to do it. A large part of our populations live in a precarious situation and will not be able to support containment measures. It’s up to us to help them. “

South Sudan – according to data so far spared by the coronavirus – comes out of a long period of terrible conflict that has caused tens of thousands of deaths and millions of displaced persons. The country in the most Christian percentage in the world, passed by a long passion, wants to serenely celebrate Easter and celebrate the resurrection of Christ and that of the people. In this regard, terrified of a possible arrival of infections that would find him exhausted and totally unprepared, the political authorities have declared a 30-day lock-down and the Churches have all chosen to adapt. In a document signed by the Ecumenical Council, they united in declaring all forms of public functions suspended~Agenzia Fides