Sri Lankan bishops insist on Holy Thursday washing of women’s feet ‎

Sri Lankan bishops have instructed priests to follow Pope Francis' decree of including women in the washing of the feet during Mass on Holy Thursday.  "Pastors may select for the washing of the feet, a small group of the faithful to represent in variety and unity each part of the people of God," said Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo, president of the Sri Lankan bishops' conference, in a statement Feb. 19.  "Such small groups can be made up of men and women, and it is appropriate that they consist of people young and old, healthy and sick, clerics, consecrated men and women and laity," said the cardinal, archbishop of Colombo.

In  a letter to the prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, dated Dec. 20, Pope Francis decreed that from now on, the people chosen for the washing of the feet in the liturgy of Holy Thursday may be selected from all the People of God, and not only men and boys as before.  This new directive will take effect on Holy Thursday, March 24.  Pope Francis himself was the first one to break with tradition in his first Holy Thursday in 2013, just days after his election when he washed the feet of detainees, including women, in a juvenile detention centre of Rome. 

The pope is "reminding pastors of their responsibilities to properly instruct both the chosen faithful as well as all the others, so that they may participate consciously, actively and fruitfully in the rite," said Bishop Vianney Fernando of Kandy, chairman of the bishop's Catholic National Commission for Liturgy and Culture.  All pastors "will follow" the change that has been amended in the liturgy "in virtue of the faculties granted by the supreme pontiff," the bishop said.  "The amended rubric is to be followed strictly by all pastors," said Bishop Fernando, who also signed the statement.  (Source: UCAN)