“The Catholic Church's religious activities are suspended for a period of 15 days, starting on March 23, namely Sunday and weekly masses, confessions, the Way of the Cross, retreats, pilgrimages, visits to sanctuaries, vigils, rehearsals for choir groups, catechesis, meetings of groups and apostolic movements, both in the church and elsewhere, "said a statement from the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST).
The celebration of funerals that presuppose the gathering of people is also suspended.
In line with the statement by the country's Ministry of Education, the document also pointed out that “all classes in Catholic schools, day care centers and kindergartens” are suspended, also for a period of 15 days, starting on Tuesday, a measure which also affects the Catholic University of Angola and the higher Catholic institutes.
CEAST appealed for quarantine to continue in seminars, boarding schools and training houses and to avoid contact with the outside world, by exempting non-essential workers from religious communities.
For the celebrations of Holy Week, which precedes Easter, on April 12, the religious organization said that the celebrations "will be behind closed doors, without the gathering of the faithful".
In the statement, CEAST encourages the population to follow religious celebrations through media such as radio, television or social networks.
