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October 2nd, 2020Read More
As members of the one Body of Christ, we must be united and steadfast in our worship of God, the proclamation of the Gospel, and love of our neighbor. This holds true both in times of relative stability and of great disruption – as we have experienced these past eight months under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the overarching goal of the salvation of souls, I promulgate these guidelines to promote our essential tasks of the celebration of the sacraments, prayer, and the teaching of the Faith while preserving them from unnecessary disruption brought about by the virus. Furthermore, our actions can contribute to the common good of the broader community, thus manifesting our love of neighbor to a world hungering for the mercy of God.
Notwithstanding our fatigue with the current situation, the best available scientific information continues to indicate that the coronavirus is significantly more dangerous than the seasonal flu. It is both more contagious and fatal than influenza. It stands to reason that we abide by measured, heightened precautions in response to these elevated risks.
Our precautions thus far have proven effective. To date, there have been no instances of COVID-19 transmission, let alone outbreaks, associated with the celebration of public Masses in our diocese. In fact, there is nation-wide evidence that churches following reasonable safety guidelines have not seen any COVID-19 spread, even in cases when individuals unwittingly attended Mass while infectious. Nevertheless, we must remember that coronavirus is capable of spreading quickly in church settings in the absence of safety protocols.iv I therefore thank you for your contribution to our responsible and safe return to more active parish life, and I encourage you to patience and perseverance.
These guidelines pertain to sacramental, spiritual, and catechetical activities proper to the parish. This includes the celebration of public Mass, occasions of communal and private prayer, and the holding of religious study classes. Catholic schools should observe the more specific guidelines provided them by the Office of Education.
(Full Guidelines available by clicking on the title)
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