Covid-19: Special steps prescribed for Ash Wednesday Mass

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Thousands of Catholics are expected to attend mass at their parishes and receive the traditional Imposition of Ashes. File Photo

KUCHING: The Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia has agreed to take necessary procedures for Ash Wednesday masses on Feb 26 in light of the potential risks of Covid-19.

Its president the Most Reverend Julian Leow Beng Kim said thousands of Catholics are expected to attend mass at their parishes and receive the traditional Imposition of Ashes.

“In view of the continuing risks posed by Covid-19 outbreak and to mitigate human-to-human transmission, especially through tactile contact, the arch/bishops of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia have agreed that the following procedures for the Imposition of Ashes are to be observed in all parishes and mass centres under our jurisdiction,” he said in a statement dated Feb 17.

Leow said priests and other extraordinary ministers tasked with the Imposition of Ashes should thoroughly wash and disinfect their hands prior to and immediately after the Imposition of Ashes.

“Following the long established custom in Rome, ashes will be imposed by the minister sprinkling dry ash on the crown of a person’s head (whilst saying one of the formulas prescribed in the missal).

“The previous local custom of drawing a cross on the forehead of a person, with moistened ash, is suspended. No holy water should be added to the ash before sprinkling,” he pointed out.

He said although Ash Wednesday ‘is not a day of obligation and the Imposition of Ashes is not mandatory, we would like to retain this practice even under the weight of the current crisis’ provided that the mentioned steps are taken to minimise the risks of infection through tactile contact.

“As we continue to pray for the current situation and prepare ourselves for this holiest season of our Church year, let us not forget to offer our prayers, sacrifices, fasting and other penitential acts for those who are most vulnerable, those who have suffered most during this crisis and those who continue to put themselves in danger’s way to work for its alleviation,” added Leow.