No immediate plans to suspend funeral Masses
BUT ALL PRIESTS OVER AGE OF 70 EXCUSED FROM PUBLIC MINISTRY WHILE BAPTISMS AND CONFESSIONS ARE NOT TAKING PLACE
There are no immediate plans to suspend funeral Masses in the Diocese of Ferns as has happened in other parts of the country but baptisms and confessions are no longer being held and priests over the age of 70 have been excused from public ministry and are advised to ‘cocoon’.
The Diocesan Office in Summerhill, Wexford and parish offices throughout the county have closed until further notice, with staff working from home.
There is ongoing concern about funerals but no immediate plan as yet to suspend Requiem Masses in the Ferns diocese. A number of other dioceses are advising that the bodies of deceased be brought directly to the cemetery for burial without a Mass being held.
‘We are not going to say no to funerals yet. Churches are remaining open’, said Diocesan Press Officer, Fr. John Carroll.
However, in guidelines to priests, the diocese recommends that funerals should be restricted to family and close friends only..
‘We also recommend that all Catholic funeral liturgies in the diocese be limited to the funeral Mass. In other words, there should be no removal to the church the evening before. The priest celebrating the funeral Mass should be the only priest officiating.’
Baptisms are being delayed until the coronavirus crisis is over, except where there is a danger of death. In cases where a christening ceremony is agreed with a priest, the numbers attending shold be minimal, with strict guidelines on hygiene and physical distancing.
Routine confessions have been discontinued but if a priest is approached by an individual seeking the Sacrament of Reconciliation, he should hear the confession in a large space, with the penitent at a distance of two metres.
In cases where someone is in danger of dying, every effort should be made to make confession available, while observing HSE requirements.
Catholic doctrine teaches that if a person cannot get to Confession, it is sufficient to confess one’s sins to God, seeking forgiveness and with the intention of going when it is possible.
Priests over the age of 70 are advised to refrain from public ministry and remain at home, and should contact their local Vicar to seek assistance for their parish, where necessary.
The broadcasting of Masses and other services by webcam or via social media has been welcomed with priests being thanked for continuing to offer daily Mass for parishioners.
House visits are not to take place, except in the case of priests anointing those who are dying, and are to be replaced by telephone converations with prayers and blessings.
In order to reduce the risk of a priest, who is attending the sick, becoming infected himself, strict guidelines should be adhered to.
If the call is to a person who is a confirmed or suspected Coronavirus patient in a hospital or care setting, full isolation procedures must apply and the priest attending will be supervised by staff in putting on personal protective equipment (gown, mask, gloves, goggles) which will be taken off and disposed of inside the isolation area immediately after the visit. In relation to Holy Week ceremonies, the Chrism Mass will be celebrated on Holy Thursday in the Cathedral in Enniscorthy, attended only by the priests of that parish. On Good Friday, after a closed celebration of the Lord’s Passion, churches can be opened to the public to allow them to venerate the Cross with a simple bow. The Easter Vigil is to be celebrated only in the Cathedral and in parish churches, where practicable.
IF A PRIEST IS CALLED TO A PERSON WHO IS A CONFIRMED OR SUSPECTED CORONAVIRUS PATIENT IN A HOSPITAL, FULL ISOLATION PROCEDURES APPLY