COVID-19
Pastoral Guidelines
Pastoral Guidelines to all Priests, Religious, and the Faithful of Kampala Archdiocese as we deal with the threat of Coronavirus
Dear people of God,
Considering the directives of His Excellency the President of Uganda and the guidelines from the Uganda Episcopal Conference kindly receive the following pastoral guidelines for use in our Archdiocese.
1. The Sacrifice of the Holy Mass, Other Sacraments and Sacramentals
2. The Ministering of God’s Word through the Media
To uphold her closeness to the people, the Church will continue to reach out to the faithful via the available means of social communication.
2.1.Via Television Broadcasts: We plan to broadcast Mass on various Television Stations for the faithful to follow. The Television Stations and the time when these Masses will take place will be communicated to you so that you can tune in and follow. Sunday Mass at the Cathedral will also be broadcast on live TV. As per the guidelines from the Uganda Episcopal Conference, the faithful are dispensed from personally attending the Sunday obligation during this period when public gatherings are banned. However, the faithful are encouraged to tune in every Sunday to prayerfully follow the Sacrifice of the Mass and spiritually join their prayer intentions to those of the celebrating Priest.
2.2.Via Radio: Radio Maria and Radio Sapientia are already broadcasting daily Masses for the faithful. You are encouraged to tune in to these Radio Stations so as to follow Mass and obtain spiritual nourishment and comfort in this time of trial.
2.3.Via Sermons: Homilies and Reflections are also going to be live-streamed or posted on the Archdiocese’s Social Media platforms. Our website, YouTube Channel and Facebook Page are going to have material for spiritual nourishment. You are all encouraged to visit our website (klarchdiocese.org.ug), Facebook Page and YouTube Channel to follow.
3. The Primacy of Prayer both in our Homes and in the Life of the Church
The Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to the home as the ‘Domestic Church’ (CCC, 1656). In this period, I encourage families to engage in an active and intense prayer life begging the Lord to help the world overcome this threat of COVID-19. I call upon families to say our traditional morning and evening prayers (ekisinde), the Angelus, recite the Holy Rosary and the Pope’s Prayer for COVID-19.
Remembering the miraculous cure of a similar plague (kawumpidi) in the past through the intercession of the Uganda Martyrs (in 1942), I strongly appeal to you to pray through the intercession of the Uganda Martyrs.
The Way of the Cross is to be carried out in our homes. The rites of Holy Week (Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday) are not to be publicly celebrated but the faithful can follow the celebrations from home as they will be aired out on various means of social communication.
The Catechumens who have been awaiting baptism during the Easter vigil may continue their formation in their families. They will be baptized at a later date.
4. The Reading and Meditating on the Word of God at Home
I encourage you in this time to revive the spirit of meditating on the daily Word of God at family level so as to obtain nourishment from it, for it is not only ‘alive and active’ (Heb. 4:12), but also gives life (Prov. 3:1-2).
5. The Ministry to the Sick, the Poor and the Bereaved
It is important that the sick and the bereaved feel taken care of by the ministers, the health care workers and the whole community, bearing in mind the directives of the President and the Ministry of Health.
These pastoral guidelines start with immediate effect.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of the Sick and Comfort of the afflicted intercede for us all in this trying time, that Her Son Our Lord Jesus Christ may heal the world of this scourge of Coronavirus!
6. An Act Of Spiritual Communion
Since members of the public shall not be able to receive Holy Communion, let each one of us make an act of Spiritual Communion composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori;
“My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You Sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. 1 embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.”
Amen.
7. A Prayer In This Challenging Moment Of The Corona Pandemic.
We come to you now in our great need namely;
To ask for your protection against the COVID-19 Virus, that has claimed many lives and has affected many people all over the world!
Grant your grace for the people tasked with studying the nature, the cause of this virus, finding its cure and stemming the tide of its transmission.
Guide the hands and minds of medical experts, the Governments and the Religious Leaders for the effective medical and pastoral care!
We pray that we may minister to the sick with competence and compassion.
We also pray for our Government and its agencies that You may assist them to handle well and effectively this new challenge.
May God grant them the knowledge they need to find the right cure and solution to this Pandemic.
We also pray for those affected that they may soon be restored to good Health.
Give us all Faith, Hope and Love (1 Cor. 13:13) in handling effectively the current emerging challenges.
Grant us the grace to work for the good of all and to help those in need.
We ask all this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever.
Amen.
May The Holy Martyrs of Uganda intervene and Pray for us.
