WORLD: The Uganda Catholic Church is severely low on mass wine after its supply was blocked. One of the essential elements at the altar for the holy Eucharist is wine.
It is becoming apparent that the shortfall, which has been since the start of Lent season, is probably going to get worse because the Middle East conflict has also impacted exports to Uganda.
In the catholic church, wine serves as the blood of Jesus Christ as imitated in the bible during the last supper, and bread is dipped in wine while administering holy Communion during mass.
The Church’s holding firm, JW InterServices Ltd., which is in charge of worldwide procurement, alerted dioceses on the issue and advised them to use their stock cautiously. It claimed that the delay resulted from the Middle East turmoil altering supply channels.
For the purpose of celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion, the Church imports wine from Spain. In order to manage the situation, the priests are supposed to utilize the wine that is available judiciously, according to information that Uganda Catholic Church media platforms, Uganda Radio Network (URN) saw that was sent to every diocese in Uganda.
In a letter dated April 30, 2024 and with reference number 240430/Admin/Tr1, the managing director of the company, Rev Fr Asiku Alfred Tulu, stated that although wine was anticipated to arrive in the nation by the beginning of April, a change in route may only allow it to reach by the end of May.
The business does some internal and some foreign procurement for the Catholic Church and is a member of the Ugandan Catholic Episcopal Conference.
“This is to inform you that due to the Middle-East wars, the ship’s usual passage through the Mediterranean and the Red Sea were suspended and cancelled. The ships have been diverted to take longer and safer routes through the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean which has caused a major crisis and delays of their arrival to Mombasa Port,” the statement read.
In the letter signed by Fr Tulu says, “This has affected the arrival of Mass Wine which we had expected to be here at the beginning of April 2024. The information from our shippers indicates that Wine will arrive in Mid-May and we hope to clear it through Uganda Customs by the end of the month of May.”
“This, therefore is to kindly request you to regulate the use of wine as much as possible. In the meantime, we have limited stock of White Mass Wine, duly approved by the Uganda Episcopal Conference,,” Fr Tulu implored as he apologized for “any inconveniences caused by this unforeseen situation caused by the above factors,” but he kindly pointed out that it was also limited.
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The message was directed to all of the nation’s Church parishes.
About Holy Communion
While administering Communion in the Catholic Church, the priest dips the consecrated bread partially into the consecrated wine before placing it in the communicant’s mouth.
“During mass, preachers clearly state that wine is the blood of Jesus christ who died as our saviour. And holy communion meant for Christian’s who finished confirmation,” one catholic believer told this publication.
In Canon 924 of the current Code of Canon Law (1983) says the Eucharist, the most holy Sacrifice, is to be celebrated with bread and wine to which a small amount of water is added.
The wine needs to be unadulterated, produced from vine-ripened grapes, and not tainted. This means that the wine must ferment spontaneously without any external intervention. It also means that the wine cannot have any artificial ingredients added to it, such as flavors or preservatives, or have it soured or turned into vinegar.
Jesus’ Last Supper with the disciples during Passover is symbolized by the Holy Communion. According to Catholic belief, Jesus blessed the bread and wine during the final supper, declaring, “This is my body… This is My blood.”
While the Catholic Church normally follows the rule that all wine for sacramental use must be pure grape wine and alcoholic, it is acknowledged that in specific cases, it may be essential to use a wine that is only partially fermented, known as mustum.
War in Gaza
Since the Palestinian Hamas fighters attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing tens of people and kidnapping over a hundred, there has been a war. Many state and non-state actors have been drawn into the conflict, making the Red Sea, a vital route for trade vessels, unsafe for vessels.
Over thirty thousand people, including men, women, children, and patients, have died as a result of Israel’s relentless bombardment of Gaza and targets in the West Bank.
This has led to international condemnation of Israel, which is supported financially, militarily, and diplomatically by the US, the UK, France, and several other western nations.
