*Restricts Sunday masses to 45 minutes
*Bans preaching
By Angela Nkwocha
The Catholic Bishop of Enugu, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga has advised Enugu State indigenes resident outside the state not to return home for the Easter celebration, but to remain where they are until the Corona Virus pandemic is brought under control.
Onaga also instructed priests in the diocese not to preach any longer during mass and to conduct Sunday masses within 45 minutes, while week day masses should not last more than 30 minutes.
He also instructed that no more than three or four person’s should sit on a pew in any Chuch and that receiving of Holy Communion will henceforth be by hand.
The Bishop in 10-paragraph Pastoral Measures which he signed, also banned the sharing of Sign of Peace and restricted burials to the family members of the diseased persons.
In advising people to boost their immunity through the consumption of fruits rich on vitamin C, he advised that people should watch their life styles and keep to the medical advisory issued by the Ministry of Health and the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC).
“We advise all our priests and people staying outside Enugu State not to return home for Easter. All should stay where they are until the deadly virus clears, ” he stressed.
He advised further priests to increase the number of masses in a day and advised people to “lift up our eyes to heaven in prayer since God is the maker of heaven and earth”.
