By Politico staff writer
The Catholic Mission in Sierra Leone has cancelled this year’s Lenten Pilgrimage saying it wants to comply with COVID-19 prevention and control measures. In a statement issued last weekend, the Mission noted that “The COVID-19 situation in the country, especially in the Western Area does not favor a very large gathering like our Lenten pilgrimage which attracts huge crowds each year. It would be difficult if not impossible to observe faithfully the NACOVERC protocols especially social distancing’’.
The statement, signed by Most Reverend Edward Tamba Charles, Archbishop of Freetown encouraged all parishes and the entire Catholic community to, in accordance with the NACOVERC protocols especially facemask usage and social distancing, device other indoor spiritual exercises for their members such as retreats, penitential services in readiness for the Holy Week and Easter.
It also urged leadership as well as its entire membership to seize the opportunity to solemnly pray for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in light of the already existing difficulties and pains it has caused the entire world.
In a random view around in Freetown, members of the Catholic Mission gave their reaction to the cancelation.
Alberta Lavaly who worships as the St Peter Catholic Church at Calaba Town, described the recent turn of events as discouraging to the faith as she considers the exercise of pilgrimage as not an ordinary event but one that identifies the Christian community to the sufferings of Christ.
“It’s very discouraging for me because it’s not an ordinary walk and each time we have embarked on it, it’s a way of not only identifying ourselves with the sufferings of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ but also of his enduring walk in some parts of the world to bring salvation to us,’’ she stated
She said that even though they have resolved to be doing it in their local churches in observance to the COVID-19 prevention measures, its impact now cannot be compared to when it was done on a national scale especially where prayers were offered for the nation, family members, the poor and needy and where they as mortals ask for forgiveness form God.
Joseph Humper, President of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) in the Archdiocese of Freetown said that they received the news of the cancelation of this year’s pilgrimage with utter dismay especially in light of its significance to their faith and the calendar of lent.
“When we got the news from the Archbishop, we were totally discouraged especially when the Number of new COVID -19 cases has dropped drastically in recent times but we have no option but to abide by the measures. Pilgrimage is a way of bringing our community of believers together in sharing our beliefs and faith as well as luring members into the youth organization but all these have been stopped,’’ he noted.
He used the occasion to call on all Christian believers especially youths to hold fast unto their faith and pray for global healing and also trust God through these trying times.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (17/03/21)
