The Kenyan Catholic Church has introduced a new brand of altar wine for Holy Mass after the previous one became widely available in local bars.
Simply labelled Mass Wine, the new sacramental drink bears the coat of arms of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and an official signature to certify its authenticity.
"The newly approved wine is not for sale at any business outlet, but is imported and owned by the KCCB, and only distributed to the dioceses," Archbishop of Nyeri Anthony Muheria told the BBC.
The move has been welcomed by the Catholic faithful, who believe that the previous brand had lost its sanctity due to its widespread use outside the church.
The old wine, which was distributed by a local alcohol manufacturer, was widely sold in liquor shops, hotels, bars and supermarkets.
"It has become common that unfortunately, the former wine is readily available in secular outlets and bars," Archbishop Muheria told the BBC.
After exploring several wine options, the Catholic Church in Kenya settled on a South African vintage.
The new wine was officially introduced for the first time to thousands of worshipers during this year's National Prayer Day at the Subukia National Marian Shrine in Kenya's Nakuru area on Saturday. "This is the only wine that will be used in Mass celebrations across the country, going forward," said Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba, the KCCB chairman, as he held a bottle of the new sacramental wine.
Catholic altar wine replaced after becoming a favourite in Kenyan bars
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Re: Catholic altar wine replaced after becoming a favourite in Kenyan bars
Could have sold the wine and financed a lot of the Church's needs.
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Re: Catholic altar wine replaced after becoming a favourite in Kenyan bars
This story is just weird on so many levels....