Wine for Holy Mass in Kenya Required to Bear Catholic Bishops’ “coat of arms”

Nairobi, 04 October, 2025 / 11:52 PM

Wine for Holy Mass in Kenya must henceforth bear the “coat of arms” of the country’s Local Ordinaries, the Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has directed.

Speaking during the 2025 National Prayer Day on Saturday, October 4 at the Subukia National Marian Shrine in Kenya’s Nakuru Catholic Diocese, KCCB Chairman, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba, announced that the bottle containing the Altar Wine must also bear the signature of the person at the helm of the Bishops’ Conference.

“Everyone should know this,” Archbishop Muhatia said, and added, “The wine that has now been approved by the Bishops’ Conference for use during Mass is the one bearing the coat of arms of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, together with the signature of the Chairman of the Bishops’ Conference.”

The Local Ordinary of Kisumu Catholic Archdiocese directed that the people of God in the East African nation abide by the directive and in sourcing for the Altar Wine in their respective Catholic institutions, look out for the two identities.

“It is important that you acquaint yourself with your Diocese and know what has been established as the outlets for this wine because different Dioceses have different ways of distributing this wine,” he said during the National Prayer Day realized under the theme, “Pilgrims of Hope: Renewing Our Nation.”

Archbishop Muhatia continued, "Some Dioceses allow only specific persons to buy this wine for Mass; others allow everybody. Depending on your Diocese, please be aware of the regulations."

What is more important is that those authorized to procure Altar Wine must keep in mind what the Catholic Bishops in this country have approved, the KCCB Chairman emphasized in his address on October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.