As noted, the church will remain open for both Sunday and daily Mass. Other scheduled sacramental celebrations, e.g. weddings, funerals, etc., will continue as scheduled as will devotional services such as Stations of the Cross. However, please note that the faithful have been dispensed from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass until the weekend of April 4-5. This announcement will be uploaded through Flocknote, our website, and our other social media platforms later this evening. We will also empty the holy water fonts over the weekend.In addition to the liturgical modifications I directed take place throughout our parishes and other institutions, I am further directing that the following also be implemented immediately:
- It is important that the People of God have access to our churches for prayer and the celebration of the sacraments in this moment of anxiety for us. Until notified otherwise, all churches and public oratories within the Diocese of Metuchen are to remain open and Masses and other sacraments and liturgical services are to be celebrated as scheduled.
- To better contain the potential transmission of the virus, holy water fonts in our churches should be drained, cleaned, and left empty until notified otherwise.
- Although our regular mass schedules will remain in place, I am dispensing the faithful of the Diocese of Metuchen from the Sunday obligation until the weekend of April 4-5, when the situation will be re-examined as it unfolds. I am attaching the press release on this for your knowledge and posting it on your social media pages. Obviously, our faithful should be encouraged to continue to pray, as mentioned in the release.
- In order to limit possible community-based exposure to COVID-19, all unnecessary parish programs, meetings, and events should be cancelled or postponed until notified otherwise.