Connect with us

General News

Kenya: Churches Work Out Plans for Limited Entry, Open-Air Services

Published

5 years ago

on

[ad_1]

Churches are going out of their way to meet the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health for all places of worship as a precondition for a phased reopening.

Some are planning to hold open-air services in an effort to ensure social distancing and keep worshippers safe from Covid-19. Among them is the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), which has adjusted its services, with Nyanza Bishop Simon Onyango saying all services will be conducted outdoors.

The church will also limit service duration to one hour. This is expected to affect aspects of worship such as announcements, greetings and testimonies.

In Bomet and Kericho, Father Ambrose Kimutai of Segemik Catholic Parish said the church will conduct mass in an open field where children and the elderly will also be allowed to attend.

“We have enough open ground that can accommodate thousands. We will not be using the church building for the service,” said Father Kimutai.

STAGGERED SERVICE

Reverend Felix Korir of the African Gospel Church (AGC) in Bomet town said service would be staggered through the day: “At AGC Imani, we will have four different services with at least 100 worshippers each.”

In Vihiga, worshippers will sign a visitor’s book before attending mass at St Charles Lwanga Catholic Church in Mbale. The priest, Fr Marin Chibole, said the register will help in identifying and tracing contacts when it is required.

Temperatures will also be taken, with worshippers being asked to hand in their offering right at the entrance to avoid crowding. Seven masses lasting an hour each have been planned with only 100 people in attendance.

At Christ the Healer Cathedral in Homa Bay town, seats have been marked to ensure social distancing. The church has also obtained thermometer guns to check temperatures and hand sanitisers for maintaining hygiene. The same goes for churches in Kisii, Migori and Nyamira.

In Kakamega, Bishop Joseph Obanyi of the Kakamega Catholic Diocese has scheduled a meeting at the Bishop Stam Pastoral Centre today to come up with a programme for the services.

At St Joseph Cathedral, sitting arrangements have been adjusted to ensure the half-a-metre distance between worshippers. At the Salvation Army, Kakamega Citadel Church, the management had called in a team to clean up the church premises and mark the sitting arrangements.

FUMIGATION