Coronavirus CT: Catholic Churches Urge Sick To Not Attend Mass

CONNECTICUT — Catholic churches across Connecticut continue to take precautions against the coronavirus both at Mass and by cancelling or postponing large events.

The Diocese of Bridgeport has postponed its annual Catholic appeal reception, Mass of anointing and healing and regional confirmation. The annual white Mass and brunch has been cancelled.

“...this is a constantly evolving situation and the diocese will continue to re-evaluate including conferring with civil authorities about the best way to safeguard the health and safety of its people,” said diocesan spokesman Brian Wallace.

Bishop Frank Caggiano previously put out a series of directives to limit contact at Mass. The sign of peace should be given with greetings other than a handshake and the offering of the precious blood of Christ has been suspended. (Don't miss Connecticut coronavirus updates as they are announced live. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.)

Those who are sick shouldn’t come to church. The elderly and those with underlying health conditions that make them more susceptible to coronavirus are not obliged to attend Mass either.

The Archdiocese of Hartford and Diocese of Norwich have instituted similar protective measures.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. Those who want to be extra thorough for 30 to 45 seconds can recite the Our Father or Apostles Creed prayers.

Here are Diocese of Bridgeport cancellations and reschedules:

• The Regional Confirmation scheduled for March 21st has been postponed until after Easter. A new time, date, and place will be announced in the near future.
• The Mass of Anointing and Healing scheduled for Saturday, March 21st will be rescheduled. The new time, date and place will be announced shortly.
• The Annual White Mass and Brunch scheduled for Sunday, March 22nd has been canceled and will not be rescheduled for this year.
• The Mass of Hope, Healing, and Reconciliation for Survivors of Sexual Abuse scheduled for Sunday, March 22nd will be rescheduled. The new time, date and place will be announced shortly.
• The March 19th Annual Catholic Appeal reception has been postponed. Rescheduling information can be found by emailing prittman@diobpt.org

Here is the advisory to all Diocese of Bridgeport parishes, schools and institutions:

• Offering of the Precious Blood of Christ is to be suspended at all Masses. Priest concelebrants should receive the Precious Blood by intinction. Assisting deacons will not receive the Precious Blood. Be sure to have low-gluten hosts available for those who have an allergy and normally receive only the Precious Blood.
• The Sign of Peace is to be exchanged without physical contact. You may invite parishioners to use some other gesture (e.g., a nod of the head, a smile or a spoken greeting) or omit entirely the call to exchange the Sign of Peace.
• For the celebration of Confirmation, the Sign of Peace will be exchanged between the Bishop and the confirmandi without a handshake. Photographs will take place in church immediately after the celebration of Mass and will include only the Bishop, the confirmandi and their sponsors.
• Parishioners are not to hold hands during the Our Father, if that is the practice of the parish.
• Holy Water fonts are to remain emptied and sanitized.
• Make sure that handrails, restrooms and the tops of pews are properly disinfected and that hand sanitizer is available at all church entrances. Also, have hand sanitizers available near the sanctuary so that all Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and priest celebrants can purify their hands immediately before and after distributing the Eucharist.
• Before the distribution of Holy Communion, suggest that your parishioners consider receiving the Host in their hands and not on the tongue. Also, you may want to encourage those who are feeling ill or those who may have come in contact with someone with flu-like symptoms or have come to know that they had contact with someone in the last 14 days who has subsequently developed flu-like symptoms to refrain entirely from receiving Holy Communion. Instead, as is the practice of the Church, one can make an Act of Spiritual Communion at the time others are receiving. (The Act, which can be offered for all those who have died or are suffering from Coronavirus, can be a simple prayer, such as, “My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.”)
• Consider postponing or cancelling non-liturgical, social events scheduled to take place in the immediate weeks ahead, especially those at which the elderly may be inclined to participate. As important and life-giving as some of these events can be for a parish or institution, looking out for the well-being of others is of primary concern.
• As people of faith, we want to place this entire crisis into the hands of the Lord. It is fitting, therefore, that the Universal Prayer at Masses include a petition to ask God’s mercy for those who have died from the Coronavirus, His healing for those suffering from it and His protection for all others against it.
• Remind your parishioners that if they are exhibiting flu-like or cold symptoms, they are not obliged to attend Sunday Mass. In fact, until there is more information about the Coronavirus and its spread, one should out of charity avoid public events if experiencing such symptoms. Also, the elderly and those with underlying physical conditions that would make them more susceptible to the Coronavirus are not obliged to attend Sunday Mass.