Without Church or Internet, Many South Africans Turn to Liturgies at Home

(RNS) — Before the coronavirus pandemic reached South Africa in early spring, 15-year-old Sandile Manyike and his family faithfully attended Mass at St. Martin de Porres, a vibrant 800-member Roman Catholic church in Orlando West, the township where Nelson Mandela lived before he was imprisoned.

But when his school and the church were closed to avoid the spread of COVID-19 three weeks before Easter, Manyike came up with an unusual solution: He decided to play the part of the priest himself.

Having rehearsed his parts in the Holy Week liturgies and in the choir, Manyike was disappointed to be deprived of the vibrant worship typical of South Africa’s township, with their joyful ululations, vigorous clapping, energetic beating of drums, melodic tapping of marimbas. With internet data prohibitively expensive for most of its parishioners, St. Martin’s is not able to livestream any of its services.

Manyike was determined, however, that he and his family wouldn’t be starved of the celebration of Mass.

“I want you to feel like you’re at church,” he told his skeptical grandmother to convince her to celebrate Easter under his direction.

Finally, he prayed to God. “I found myself asking God for forgiveness and asking God to let me do this sacrifice,” he said. “I know that I am not anointed in my hands yet, but please let me do it,” he begged God. “Something in my heart…