“Your Church fully accompanies you in these times,” Archbishop Kwofie said and added, “COVID-19 has made these times strange and abnormal; we therefore cannot go about our daily engagement as if times are normal.”
Following the live broadcast, Christians have shared their views on social media on its advantages and what can be done to improve it.
“The live streaming is good but one needs data to watch on platforms. Therefore, many families will not be able to participate in the Mass,” Emmanuel Vorgbe, a retired journalist, said via WhatsApp.
He suggested that “the individual parish priests encourage families to gather to watch the Mass by their respective Bishops on designated TV stations.”
For the Director of Communications at Sekondi- Takoradi Diocese, Fr. Emmanuel Dolphyne, “There is a tremendous difference between participating in Mass broadcast on television or seen on the Internet and actually being present at the Liturgy.”
According to him, “although in watching a live or recorded transmission of Mass we certainly hear God's Word and are inspired to pray and be aware of the Lord's presence in His Body, the Church, nothing can replace being in the midst of Christ in the worshiping assembly and receiving the Lord's precious Body and Blood.”
He noted that the television-transmitted liturgy or any gathering for worship for that matter serves a great purpose. Especially for those who are prevented from physically participating at Mass, this kind of presentation keeps them connected and nourishes their faith.
“Even for those who choose not to practice their faith or who are not themselves Catholic, the Mass on television or the Internet is both catechetical and pastorally effective for the purpose of healing and drawing individuals to Christ Jesus,” Fr. Dolphyne added.
Different Parishes in the country have announced live streaming of Daily Masses on Crystal TV Plus and Facebook.
In a message from the communication Office of the Accra Archdiocese seen by ACI Africa, “starting tomorrow, the Archdiocese will telecast daily Masses every morning at 6:30 a.m. live on TV for all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Accra. The TV channel to watch is Crystal TV Plus. For those who cannot join the morning Masses, you can watch the rebroadcast at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. every day.”
