Ascension Feast to Mark Resumption of Public Mass in Burkina Faso, Niger

On the other hand, the restrictions around land borders and air travels as well the ban on public gatherings of more than 50 people remain in force until further notice.

Burkina Faso has recorded at least 760 cases of COVID-19 with 50 deaths and 584 recoveries, according to Worldometers.

In their May 9 collective statement, the Bishops in Burkina Faso and Niger have outlined preventive measures to be followed by the faithful during public liturgical celebrations.

“The wearing of face masks is now obligatory for collective prayers; hand washing or disinfection must be systematic before entering the church; handshakes and hugs are prohibited,” the Prelates directed, adding, “places of worship and meeting places will also be disinfected according to the indications of the health authorities and a distance of at least one meter, mandatory for each meeting.”

On safety measures during liturgical celebrations and other pastoral activities, the Bishops have reminded the faithful of specific rules of conduct, including the suppression of the kiss of peace and the handshake during Mass, communion only in the hand, the reduction of concelebrants and communion by intinction, and the emptying of the holy water stoup at the doors of churches.

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“The ordinary and extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist will disinfect their hands with soap or hydro alcoholic gel before and after the distribution of communion,” the Bishops directed and added, “Pilgrimages, evangelization campaigns, retreats and other mass gatherings will be suspended or postponed to a more favorable period.”

In the Prelates’ collective statement, “Each Bishop will make suitable arrangements for the completion of the catechetical year and the celebration of the sacraments. It is likewise incumbent on each local Ordinary to establish practical arrangements for the administration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the other sacraments.”

The Bishops went on to congratulate the Catholic faithful for their "patience, endurance in faith, hope and charity always manifested especially in the most difficult times of our nation's life.”

“Indeed, throughout the period marked by the most restrictive measures, you have been attentive to the appeals and recommendations of your pastors the Bishops, thus marking your sense of the Church which can exist and grow only through the unity and communion of her sons and daughters,” the two-nation Prelates stated in their collective message signed by CEBN President, Bishop Laurent Dabiré.

The Bishops have invited the faithful to pray for “the deceased and their families, for the sick, for health personnel, and for our authorities who have to make important decisions for the well-being and development of all.”

“With you, we implore the Lord to strengthen us in his love so that together, with our brothers and sisters, we can take up the challenges that concern us all, especially the scourge of terrorism and the coronavirus pandemic which, each in its own way, threaten the very existence of our country,” the Bishops stated.

“United in faith in the Risen One, let us put all these in prayer and let us continue to act with all our strength, so that these evils may be removed from our world,” they concluded.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.