NAIROBI – In a move to restore the sacredness of the Eucharist, the Catholic Church in Kenya has replaced the altar wine used in Mass after the previous brand became a common fixture in Nairobi bars and retail shops, stripping it of its religious significance.
The decision was announced by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), which has introduced a new, exclusively distributed sacramental wine from South Africa’s Lutzville Vineyards.
The issue arose because the former wine, distributed by a local manufacturer, was widely sold in supermarkets, liquor stores, and hotels. “It has become common that unfortunately, the former wine is readily available in secular outlets and bars,” Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri told the BBC.
This widespread commercial availability led to concerns among the faithful that the wine, which symbolizes the blood of Jesus Christ during Mass, was losing its sanctity.
To address this, the new wine, imported by Wow Beverages, is strictly controlled by the Church. It is sealed and labeled with the KCCB’s coat of arms and an official signature to certify its authenticity. Crucially, it will not be available for sale to the general public.
“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 Muheria explained, a measure intended to “assure purity from source.”
The new “Mass Wine” was officially unveiled to thousands of worshippers during the National Prayer Day at the Subukia National Marian Shrine in Nakuru. Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba, the KCCB chairman, directed all Catholic churches across the country to discontinue the use of the old wine immediately.
The rollout of the new sacramental wine has begun in major dioceses like Nairobi and Mombasa, with full implementation expected by the end of the month. The move has been welcomed by many in the Catholic community, who see it as a necessary step to preserve the dignity and sacred purpose of the Eucharist.
