Staff Reporter
THE suspension of the common use of Holy water in the churches and chapels of the Catholic Church in Namibia, which took place four years ago, has been lifted. The use of Holy water was suspended on 17 March 2020 in line with the emergency regulations put in place due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to a Decree issued by the Namibia Catholic Bishops Conference (NCBC) and signed by Archbishop Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda, the restrictions are lifted effective today, a day known in the church as Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent, a special period of 40 days preceding Easter.
The use of Holy water in churches and chapels is an age-old tradition, and one would find ornate basins of Holy water right at the church’s entrance. The faithful dip their fingers in the water to bless themselves while entering the church.
Nashenda said, “Since the regulations regarding the pandemic have been lifted for a while now, and keeping in mind the good the use of Holy water brings to the lives of the faithful, the restrictions are hereby lifted effective Ash Wednesday, the 14th of February 2024.”
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