Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

THE OUTBREAK OF EBOLAVIRUS: A PASTORAL APPROACH

The outbreak of the deadly Ebola disease has triggered off so much fear, anxiety and panic in and outside the Church. This unnerving scare is heightened by the fact that the disease is highly contagious and extremely dangerous with devastating impact on communities where it exists. Whereas the scale of infection is unprecedented, there is need to exercise caution in the way and manner we disseminate information on the Ebola epidemic so as not to increase the already existing hysteria about the disease.

Incidentally, while viruses like the Ebola emerge relatively infrequently, the horrendous impact they have on people call for extraordinary measures to contain its spread and transmission. Within seven days of the Ebola in Lagos, we have received many expressions of concern on how to prevent its spread in the Church. In the absence of a known cure or licensed human vaccine for Ebola, we have resolved to take some precautions in the Church to prevent and forestall a possible spread.

1. Awareness and Sensitization: Priests should enlist the services of Medical Doctors and other health workers in sensitizing the people on Ebola: its symptoms, effects, preventive measures, management of self and how to handle an infected person, etc.

2. Hand Sanitizer (Personal Hygiene): Priests should encourage the people to practice frequent washing of hands with suitable anti-bacterial hand-washing liquid and use of hand sanitizers.

3. Sick Call: Priests should exercise caution when they go for sick.

4. Counting Offering/Collection: Priests should encourage the use of gloves.

5. Distribution of Communion: The Bishops of the Province will be meeting next week to discuss, among other matters, the issue of communion in the hand. Meanwhile, the traditional means of distributing and receiving communion (Hand to Mouth) should be maintained until we give contrary information. In doing this, Priests should be cautious and pay attention to ensure that they do not touch the tongue of recipients. If necessary a Purificator should be used while distributing Holy Communion.

6. The Sign of Peace: Taking into consideration the fact that this rite is optional, we shall henceforth omit it i.e. not invite people to offer the sign of peace. When you get to this rite, skip it. Note also, that the recent Circular from the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of Sacraments acknowledged this when it stated: "It is completely legitimate to affirm that it is not necessary to invite "mechanistically" to exchange the sign of peace. This rite is optional" the congregation reminded.

7. Holy Water Bowls: The use of Holy Water Fonts at the entrance of the Church should be discontinued forthwith until the virus alert is lifted. This does not preclude private use of Holy Waters in homes and offices.
8. Washing of Hands: Wash hand bowls and soap should be provided in the sacristy for regular use by Altar servers and Priest while hand sanitizers are to be provided where necessary.


In the light of the above, all Priests and Administrators of Institutions are encouraged to exercise pastoral initiative, discretion and great caution in the dissemination of information in order to ensure that the people are duly informed without escalating the already panicky situation.

Let us bear in mind that we live in a fragile world that is increasingly susceptible to devastating epidemics. While we seek human solutions, let us not fail to raise our eyes to heaven from where comes our ultimate help. More than ever, let us turn to God with prayers, supplications and pleas.

Let us also pray for all the victims of this dreaded disease and their families, and commend the souls of those who have died in the wake of this outbreak to God Almighty. We implore the intercession of our Lady Help of Christians and Health of the Sick for her maternal protection in these trying times.

Excerpt from Church of the Holy Spirit, Omole, Sunday 10th August, 2014 bulletin.

O Ye Of Little Faith......#Where Is Thy Faith

Yeahreen: O Ye Of Little Faith......#Where Is Thy Faith

Hosea 4:6... my people perish for lack of wisdom. Why do you visit hospital for treatments if you really have faith? My brother don't be deceived, use your reasoning faculty and wherever it leads you use faith to carry on. God will not come down from heaven to do things humanly possible for us. Had you ever reasoned why your pastors (General overseers) visit hospitals for treatment? Perhaps they should had used their faith to heal themselves. Prevention is better than cure!

I think u shld use urown reason faculty. Y den not cancel d full church service..Haven't u Hrd of Men of God dat have neva taken drugs b4..or bein to an hospital...u shld learn how to talk nd address oda not jst openin ur mouth...

Rufex07:

Hosea 4:6... my people perish for lack of wisdom. Why do you visit hospital for treatments if you really have faith? My brother don't be deceived, use your reasoning faculty and wherever it leads you use faith to carry on. God will not come down from heaven to do things humanly possible for us. Had you ever reasoned why your pastors (General overseers) visit hospitals for treatment? Perhaps they should had used their faith to heal themselves. Prevention is better than cure!

It is cheaper to apply wisdom!

Yeahreen: I think u shld use urown reason faculty. Y den not cancel d full church service..Haven't u Hrd of Men of God dat have neva taken drugs b4..or bein to an hospital...u shld learn how to talk nd address oda not jst openin ur mouth...

can you just listen to yourself? "some" men of God indeed. We are talking of majority of people and you are telling me few men of God. The poster below me had repeated what you needed to know. Go and ask your pastor the number of times he takes his children to hospital, then come back to tell me he prays alone or not.

The use of 'reasoning faculty' might had been vulgar to you, I'm Sorry.

This almost sound excessive.
It seem imposible for me to imagine using a purificator to administer the eucharist, why not just say priests should wear gloves wen distributing the eucharist?

Communion in the hand may solve the problem but i guess it also opens the door for other questions.


The bishop shows he care for his people, i understand his points but the priest must still use the oil of the infirm on the sick. While the priest excercise descretion, i think he is hardly fully protected.

Rufex07:

Hosea 4:6... my people perish for lack of wisdom. Why do you visit hospital for treatments if you really have faith? My brother don't be deceived, use your reasoning faculty and wherever it leads you use faith to carry on. God will not come down from heaven to do things humanly possible for us. Had you ever reasoned why your pastors (General overseers) visit hospitals for treatment? Perhaps they should had used their faith to heal themselves. Prevention is better than cure!

and no body will know it because he has his private jet that he can fly.

I know that the catholic church will make this because it has nothing to do with faith.

Only the moneyloving pastors from the new churches will tell their followers that they have to pray because than the money goes in their pocket and they have no money to pay the hospital.

nora544:

and no body will know it because he has his private jet that he can fly.

I know that the catholic church will make this because it has nothing to do with faith.

Only the moneyloving pastors from the new churches will tell their followers that they have to pray because than the money goes in their pocket and they have no money to pay the hospital.

Very senseless post.

Yooguyz:

Very senseless post.

hmmm...