Dear All:

In light of the growing number of confirmed and investigated cases of COVID-19 in our area and in the four counties of the Diocese of Metuchen, Bishop Checchio issued a communique today to our priests about further precautionary steps we need to take to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus. They are as follows:

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.

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. 

For now, I am canceling the following parish events: Religious Education classes, RCIA sessions, and The Sunday Cafe series on the Church Fathers.  Religious education materials using FORMED can still be accessed online. Parents should be encouraged to work the program with their children at home. RCIA materials can be scanned and emailed to the elect so that their proximate formation for initiation can continue. The series on the Fathers will be rescheduled to another time. I am weighing whether to proceed with 40 Hours or not. I will make a decision about this shortly. Campus Ministry events are following the RU schedule which has students off campus at least until April 1. Let’s continue to monitor this and other communiques from the bishop to make informed decisions about how we will proceed in the coming weeks. Other cancellations may need to follow. 

Below is a press release from Bishop Checchio for you to see together with a prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe asking for her intercession and protection during this uncertain time. Please do what you can to turn people’s hearts to trust in God, observe preventative measures like frequent hand washing and restricting their participation in group events for now, and assure people that we are monitoring the rapidly changing information on the Coronavirus and will respond according to new directives from the bishop.
 

Press Release from Bishop Checchio

Prayer to Our Lady fo Gualdalupe

With my thanks for your leadership and cooperation during this uncertain time, 

Msgr. Joseph G. Celano
Pastor