Kenya’s Catholic Bishops Respond to Altar Wine Popularity with Proprietary Brand Initiative

NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Amidst discussions on raising the legal drinking age in Kenya from 18 to 21 as part of a new national policy on drugs and alcohol, there’s an intriguing twist. A new brand of South African wine, traditionally used by Catholic churches for Communion, has now become exclusive to Catholic priests.

The proprietary wine, introduced by Kenya’s Catholic bishops, can only be purchased by priests or those with a letter from their church, emphasizing its intended sacred purpose. An attendant at the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi confirmed these guidelines, reinforcing the church’s efforts to reclaim control over the wine that has been seemingly commercialized in bars and liquor stores.

Historically, the altar wine was supplied by the Kenya Wine Agencies, a partly government-owned entity. It was accessible at Christian bookshops, gift shops, and even churches, but without any specific indication of its religious affiliation, leading to prices around 1,100 Kenya shillings (approximately 13 U.S. dollars).

As the demand for sacramental wine rose, it began appearing in supermarkets, which raised concerns among church leaders. Rev. Joachim Omolo Ouko expressed that this development felt like a sacrilege, pushing bishops to establish a new standard for wine used in Mass.

Announced on October 4 during the church’s National Prayer Day, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba declared this new wine as the only approved option for Mass across Kenya. Produced by Lutzville Vineyards in South Africa, this wine will bear the bishops’ conference emblem and must be sold only to authorized buyers.

In a country where 80% of residents identify as Christian and about half of those are Catholic, even the unconsecrated sacramental wine is held in high respect. However, there have been significant concerns over counterfeiting and the sale of low-quality products that mimic the sacred wine, prompting serious measures to ensure quality control.

This initiative by the bishops reflects an established effort to uphold the sanctity of the sacramental wine amidst an evolving market and emphasizes their commitment to spiritual integrity in a landscape where commercialization increasingly blurs the lines of sacred traditions.

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