By KETRA KALUNGA
THE Catholic church says Palm Sunday commemorations would be held within the church grounds of all local congregations as no joint celebrations with other churches would be conducted.
And the Chrism Mass celebrations to be held on Tuesday, 30 March 2021 at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus would strictly be for priests only and the invited choir.
Archbishop of Lusaka, Alick Banda said in a statement that this was in line with the Catholic Memo of February 10, 2021.
The Archbishop said each parish would celebrate Palm Sunday on its own and no procession outside the Church would take place.
“Mother church has issued guidelines to help Local churches all over the world to celebrate the Holy week solemnly and worthily amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
And the Archbishop said the Holy Sunday which is the washing of hands was optional, therefore it could be omitted.
He further said the procession at the end of the Mass for the Lord’s Supper would also be omitted.
Archbishop Banda added that there would be no Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, only the passion service would take place.
“There would be no adoration of the Cross by kissing but bowing of the congregation at the same time after the principal celebrant has made adoration of the cross,” he said.
