When we are still busy preparing ourselves to return to our different Religious Services, all the people in South Africa from different walks of life, with different faith beliefs, are requested to honor Sunday 31st May by reserving some time aside, with unified intention of praying for an end to Coronavirus. Time of prayer is 4pm.
Make sure you remind your brother, sister, friend, relative, colleague and a every person of goodwill not to forget this moment of prayer. Our Rainbow nation counts on you for prayer support.
United in Action and Prayer we can defeat Coronavirus. Let’s unite to make sure we safe our nation from this monster. Make sure you continue to take necessary precautions against the spread of Coronavirus.
Remember our Catholic Bishops and Southern Africa Council of Churches (SACC) have said if you are not ready with all necessary safety precautions you should not commit suicide by exposing the faithful to Coronavirus by allowing them to go to church. Leave the church closed until the time when you are guaranteed of safety against the the spread of the virus.
Please remind all your Priests, Pastors, PPCs that compliance is the priority for safety of the faithful. Remember going to church during this time of danger is your personal choice. Nobody should be blamed for your choice. President Cyril Ramaphosa said safety is up to you. Be responsible for your choice.
Our Bishops strongly discourage the elderly to avoid going back to church gatherings. They are more vulnerable in case they are infected, but remember with Coronavirus no one is safe. The unfortunate part about Coronavirus is that no one is written on the forehead to make you aware whether a person is COVID-19 negative or positive.
Every person you come across may be infected without your knowledge. Be generous and loving to everybody but treat every person as if he has it already. We can only truly know that a person has it or not when he has undergone diagnosis and the results have been confirmed.
Let us continue to pray for your brothers and sisters who are infected and affected. Let us continue to pray for those who are selflessly at the frontline to address challenges facing us amid COVID-19.
Rember during COVID-19 the freedom you claim may be a choice that leads to the end of your life. Keep your mask on always in the public spaces, wash your hands with soap according the guidelines given by Ministry of Health, sanitize your hands now and then and make sure social distancing adhered to always.
I Wish you a very safe weekend.
God loves his children. God will never abondon His children. He is ever on our side. May He continue to bless and protect you.
Fr Paul Tatu CSS (SACBC Communication and Media Office)
