The Kenyan Catholic Church has rolled out a new type of altar wine for Holy Mass since the last one was showing up in local bars. The Catholic Church in Kenya has been forced to introduce a new brand of altar wine for Holy Mass after the previous one became widely available in local bars, hence becoming unholy.
The new sacramental drink is simply called Mass Wine and features the coat of arms of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), along with an official signature to confirm its authenticity.
“The new wine that’s been approved isn’t available for purchase at any stores. It’s imported and owned by the KCCB, and it’s only distributed to the dioceses,” Archbishop of Nyeri Anthony Muheria shared with the BBC.
The Catholic faithful are really happy about the change, feeling that the old brand had lost its special meaning because it was used so much outside the church.
At Mass, wine represents the blood of Jesus Christ and is typically consumed by the priest. Sometimes, it’s shared with the congregation too.
According to Archbishop Muheria, the Catholic Church’s Canon Law actually regulates the composition of the wine.
“The Catholic bishops of the country are responsible for keeping an eye on the quality and standards of the wine and hosts, which represent the body of Christ, used in the Mass.” “We take a look at this every now and then,” the archbishop added.
The old wine, distributed by a local alcohol manufacturer, was pretty popular and found in liquor shops, hotels, bars, and supermarkets everywhere.
“Archbishop Muheria mentioned to the BBC that it’s pretty common now to find the former wine easily at secular shops and bars.”
So, after checking out a bunch of different wines, the Catholic Church in Kenya decided to go with a South African vintage.
This year’s National Prayer Day at the Subukia National Marian Shrine in Kenya’s Nakuru area saw the exciting introduction of the new wine to thousands of worshippers on Saturday.
“This is the only wine that will be used in Mass celebrations across the country from now on,” Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba, the KCCB chairman, said while holding a bottle of the new sacramental wine.
He told all Catholic churches across the country to stop using the old wine and encouraged priests to get to know the new distribution guidelines and approved outlets.
“The new wine that’s just been approved isn’t available for purchase at any stores,” Archbishop Muheria mentioned, noting that the drink was imported and is owned by the KCCB.
“This guarantees that it’s pure right from the start.”
The label on the new wine says, “The fruit of the vine and the work of human hands will become our cup of joy” – it really captures the wine’s special meaning.
Altar wine, or divai, as it’s called in Swahili, is enjoyed in various ways across different dioceses. It really depends on the liturgical season and how active the church is at the time.
You’ll notice that demand really spikes around Easter, Christmas, and other big religious celebrations.
Some folks in the Catholic community were pretty happy about the new wine coming in. They shared their worries that the old wine was being sold in shops just like any regular drink, which they felt took away from its sacred meaning.
“One Catholic mentioned to the BBC that it’s a good move to keep the Eucharist special and make sure that only the right kind of wine is used for Mass.”
Over 80% of the 50 million people in Kenya consider themselves Christians. So, according to government stats, about 10 million people, which is roughly 20% of the total population, identify as Catholic.
There are other Christians who are part of different evangelical churches and various denominations, like the Anglican Church of Kenya and the Presbyterian Church.
Catholic Church Replaces Altar Wine After Old Becomes Popular in Bars
