Coronavirus pandemic to affect Easter rituals, celebrations

Religious activities to mark Easter holiday will be drastically affected in most parts of the world owing to coronavirus pandemic.

Yesterday, the head of the Catholic Church in Kenya Cardinal John Njue told faithful in Nairobi archdiocese to avoid practising activities that are synonymous with the holiday in order to respect the behavioural protocol issued by the government to halt the spread of the virus.    

“I decree that the religious sisters and brothers and lay Christian residing in the Archdiocese of Nairobi be dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday, Easter triduum and other Holy days of obligation…” said Cardinal Njue in a statement. 

Nyeri Archbishop Anthony Muheria yesterday said faithful should be prepared to celebrate the holiday differently because all communal activities that are synonymous with the holiday must be suspended. 

This comes as Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, yesterday gazetted the dusk-to-dawn curfew.