“Com esta fase, as Igrejas podem agora retomar as atividades religiosas públicas durante a semana”, disse o Arcebispo Adewale. A retomada das atividades durante a semana começa em meio a incertezas, já que o Governo do Estado “ainda não está claro sobre alguns detalhes”, disse o Ordinário Local de Lagos. “Ainda não está claro se houve uma mudança no número de pessoas que podem participar dos encontros de atividades religiosas ou se as crianças menores de 12 anos agora podem participar das atividades religiosas, uma vez que voltaram à escola”, disse o arcebispo Adewale em a mensagem de 21 de setembro.
O Prelado disse ainda: “Enquanto aguardamos esclarecimentos do Governo do Estado sobre as questões acima e semelhantes, por meio deste determinamos que as missas públicas durante a semana e outras atividades religiosas sejam retomadas em todas as paróquias de nossa Arquidiocese”.
“Assim que tivermos os esclarecimentos necessários, voltaremos”, garante o arcebispo nigeriano ao povo de Deus em sua jurisdição pastoral. Em 19 de setembro, o governador Babajide Sanwo-Olu, do estado de Lagos, anunciou que “as igrejas agora podem realizar seus cultos no meio da semana e as mesquitas podem abrir para as orações cinco vezes ao dia”. As celebrações da missa em público aos domingos foram retomadas em agosto na Arquidiocese de Lagos, alguns meses depois de as lideranças de outros Estados terem permitido a retomada do culto público.
A suspensão da reabertura de locais de culto foi atribuída ao aumento de casos de COVID-19 na região. O estado de Lagos continua sendo o epicentro do surto no país da África Ocidental, com 18.982 de um total de 57.437 casos notificados. Em sua mensagem, o arcebispo de 61 anos lembra ao povo de Deus em sua jurisdição para aderir às normas de saúde e segurança, que foram postas em prática para conter a propagação da doença.
«Devemos também continuar a encorajar o nosso povo a cumprir os regulamentos nas suas actividades quotidianas», disse o arcebispo Adewale e implora: «Continuemos a rezar pelo fim da propagação do vírus mortal».
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Des informations parviennent au bureau de RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA dans la lointaine Abidjan? La Côte d’Ivoire dit qu’à la suite de l’assouplissement le 19 septembre des restrictions relatives au COVID-19 dans l’État de Lagos au Nigeria, la direction de l’archidiocèse catholique de Lagos a annoncé la reprise des célébrations liturgiques en semaine en public. Dans un communiqué publié lundi 21 septembre, l’archevêque Alfred Adewale Martins a déclaré: «L’annonce faite par le gouvernement de l’État de Lagos le 19 septembre 2020, a inauguré une autre phase de l’assouplissement progressif des restrictions dues au COVID-19».
“Avec cette phase, les Eglises peuvent désormais reprendre les activités religieuses publiques pendant la semaine”, déclare Mgr Adewale. La reprise des activités de la semaine démarre dans un climat d’incertitude, car le gouvernement de l’État “n’est toujours pas clair sur certains détails”, a déclaré l’Ordinaire local de Lagos. «On ne sait pas encore s’il y a un changement dans le nombre de personnes qui peuvent participer aux rassemblements pour des activités religieuses ou si les enfants de moins de 12 ans peuvent désormais participer aux activités religieuses depuis qu’ils ont repris l’école», déclare Mgr Adewale dans le message du 21 septembre.
Le prélat dit en outre: “Pendant que nous attendons des éclaircissements du gouvernement de l’Etat sur les questions ci-dessus et similaires, nous ordonnons par la présente que les messes publiques en semaine et d’autres activités religieuses devraient reprendre dans toutes les paroisses de notre archidiocèse.”
“Dès que nous aurons les clarifications nécessaires, nous reviendrons”, assure l’archevêque nigérian au peuple de Dieu dans sa juridiction pastorale. Le 19 septembre, le gouverneur Babajide Sanwo-Olu de l’État de Lagos a annoncé que «les églises peuvent désormais organiser leurs offices en milieu de semaine et les mosquées peuvent ouvrir pour les cinq prières quotidiennes». Les célébrations de la messe en public le dimanche ont repris en août dans l’archidiocèse de Lagos, quelques mois après que les dirigeants d’autres États aient autorisé la reprise du culte public.
La suspension de la réouverture des lieux de culte a été attribuée à l’augmentation des cas de COVID-19 dans la région. L’État de Lagos est resté l’épicentre de l’épidémie dans ce pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest avec 18 982 cas sur les 57 437 signalés. Dans son message, l’archevêque de 61 ans rappelle au peuple de Dieu dans sa juridiction d’adhérer aux règlements de santé et de sécurité, qui ont été mis en place pour endiguer la propagation de la maladie.
«Nous devons également continuer à encourager notre peuple à respecter les règlements dans ses activités quotidiennes», dit Mgr Adewale et implore: «Continuons à prier pour que cesse la propagation du virus mortel».
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Information reaching the office of RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA in faraway Abidjan? Ivory Coast has it that following the September 19 easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Nigeria’s Lagos State, the leadership of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos has announced the resumption of the weekday liturgical celebrations in public. In a statement published Monday, September 21, Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins says, “The announcement made by the Lagos State Government on 19th September 2020, has ushered in another phase of the gradual easing of restrictions due to COVID-19.”
“With this phase, Churches can now resume public religious activities during the week,” says Archbishop Adewale. The resumption of weekday activities kicks off amid uncertainty as the State Government is “still unclear about some specifics,” the Local Ordinary of Lagos says. “It is not yet clear whether there is a change in the number of persons that can participate at gatherings for religious activities or whether children below 12 years of age can now participate in the religious activities since they have resumed school,” Archbishop Adewale says in the September 21 message.
The Prelate further says, “While we await clarifications from the State Government on the above and similar issues, we hereby direct that public weekday Masses and other religious activities should resume in all parishes within our Archdiocese.”
“As soon as we get needed clarifications, we shall revert,” the Nigerian Archbishop assures the people of God in his pastoral jurisdiction. On September 19, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State announced that “Churches can now conduct their midweek services and mosques can open for the five times daily prayers.” The celebrations of Mass in public on Sundays were resumed in August in the Archdiocese of Lagos, a couple of months after the leadership of other States had allowed the resumption of public worship.
The suspension of the reopening of places of worship was attributed to the increase in cases of COVID-19 in the region. Lagos State has remained the epicenter of the outbreak in the West African country with 18,982 out of the total 57,437 reported cases. In his message, the 61-year-old Archbishop reminds the people of God in his jurisdiction to adhere to the health and safety regulations, which were put in place to stem the spread of the disease.
“We must also continue to encourage our people to keep to the regulations in their daily activities,” Archbishop Adewale says and implores, “Let us continue to pray for an end to the spread of the deadly virus.”
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