12 March 2020

Bishop Duffy has asked that the guidelines below, issued by the Irish Bishops this evening, be circulated and noted. These guidelines are issued as Norms and have effect under Canon Law.

In particular,

• all Confirmations are postponed until further notice
• Due to the emergency, all are dispensed from the obligation to physically attend Sunday Mass.
• Where normal attendance at Mass on Sundays or weekdays is less than 100, there is no reason not to celebrate a public Mass.
• Mass with limited congregations can be celebrated to permit participation by webcam or parish radio. Pope Francis does this himself every morning via the Vatican YouTube channel. Also, attention can be drawn for those who cannot attend Mass to the traditional practice of Spiritual Communion.
• Funeral Masses can be celebrated but limited to close relatives or friends with a maximum of 100 people inside the Church.
• Similarly, at Baptisms and Weddings, attendances inside the Church are not to exceed 100 people.
• Within the Churches it is necessary that people observe a distance of at least one meter from each other. This is because one of the easiest ways in which the virus is transmitted is through close contact.
• It is not permitted to pass collection baskets or collection bags from person to person. Arrangements must be made locally for closely monitored collection points at entrances to Churches (with distinction between first and second collections, where necessary).
• Over the coming days, updated information will be made available, including the provision of times for the celebration of Mass online in those churches which have the facility to do so.
• We are also liaising with Shannonside-Northern Sound Radio [96.3 MHz (Monaghan / South Fermanagh), 97.5MHz (Carrickmacross) 97.2 Mhz (West Fermanagh)] so that Mass will be broadcast on local radio on Sundays and on St Patrick’s Day.

These norms apply to all parts of the Diocese of Clogher. 

Bishop Duffy is very aware of the burdens and uncertainty that this current situation brings for all. He asks that we pray for and support each other and be a sign of hope in these troubling times. In particular, we asks us to pray for those who are vulnerable, for those who care for them  (including clergy) and for all those who work in our healthcare systems.

One of the signs of hope is that our churches will remain open for private prayer.

*****************************************************************

Irish Bishops’ Conference, St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co Kildare

Tel: (01) 505 3000 Fax: (01) 601 6413 Website: www.catholicbishops.ie

Press Release – Thursday 12 March 2020 – Immediate

‘Care for one another during the Coronavirus pandemic’

• Further advice of the Irish Bishops in response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus

Please see below further advice published on behalf of the Irish Episcopal Conference by Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA and Archbishop Michael Neary:

The following instructions take into consideration the new norms issued by the Irish government to be in force at 18.00 today.  Bishops are asked to promulgate these instructions in their dioceses as soon as possible. 

These instructions complement the advice issued yesterday by the Irish Episcopal Conference and remain in place until 29 March 2020.  It is likely that these restrictions will continue for some time after that, and instructions regarding the celebration of Holy Week will be issued in due course.

The motivation for these new restrictive measures is a sense of care for the common good and especially for those most vulnerable.  Each Christian community should be acutely aware of the responsibility to care for those who are most at risk.  For example, even where it may not be appropriate to visit the elderly, a simple telephone call to enquire about their needs could mean so much to them.

Norms

• All non-essential pastoral gatherings and meetings, such as formation gatherings, retreats and seminars are cancelled. 
• All Confirmations are postponed until further notice.
• Every Catholic is entitled to a dignified Christian burial.  Attendance at Funeral services and Masses should be limited to close relatives and must not exceed 100 attendees within the church building.
• Similarly, Church weddings and baptisms may be celebrated on condition that the attendance in church does not exceed 100 people.
• In these difficult and uncertain times, people find strength, consolation and hope in prayer.   Churches should remain open for prayer each day.
• In the current emergency situation, all are dispensed from the obligation to physically attend Sunday Mass.  Parishes should inform parishioners of the local possibilities to participate in Mass via local radio and online.  It may be possible for some parishes to facilitate attendance at Mass while still observing the health authority’s limit of 100 people.
• This is an occasion for all of us – especially in families – to pray more intensely for each other and especially for those who have succumbed to the illness.  We should pray also for those at the frontlines – especially doctors, nurses and medical staff and other carers, including clergy – that the Lord will protect them as they place their own wellbeing at risk in the service of all.

EXTRACT FROM ST PATRICK’S BREASTPLATE:

Christ with me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ in me,

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,

Christ on my right,

Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down,

Christ when I sit down,

Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

MEMORARE: 

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,

implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence,

I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.

To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate,

despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer.  Amen.