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Dispensations for the sick and elderly to stay at home instead of going to Sunday Mass and new protocols to reduce the likelihood of spreading COVID-19 are being announced in most US dioceses.
One brochure produced for parishioners takes a novel approach, combining prayer and Godliness.
“How to hand-wash Catholic style” reads the headline on a information sheet from the Diocese of Dallas.
It suggests Catholics say the “Our Father”, “Hail Mary” and “Glory Be” as they follow the protocol for hand-washing health authorities around the globe are recommending.
“Clean hands are life savers … and prayers save souls!” the diocesan guidance adds.
The most common preventative measures dioceses have announced include receiving holy Communion in the hand, suspending distribution of the Communion cup and exchanging the sign of peace without physical contact.
Denver’s archbishop says in addition to the commonly adopted measures, in Denver the gifts of bread and wine are being kept covered on the credence table — there is no offertory gifts procession.
Denver is also trying to find ways for the collection to limit the number of hands touching the basket.
In another diocese, the handshake between the bishop and people being confirmed has been removed from the ceremony.
Instead, “the sign of peace will be exchanged between the bishop and the confirmandi without a handshake”.
All dioceses agree people who are ill should not come to Mass.
“This is a situation in which one is not at fault for not attending Mass,” the archbishop of San Francisco said.
One diocese defines the people excused from Sunday Masses as those over age 50, or those with health conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, or chronic lung diseases such as COPD, “as well as those with severely weakened immune systems.”
People who can’t attend Mass are encouraged to follow the televised Mass, and to make an act of spiritual Communion.
Other ways they can enter into the spirit of observing the Lord’s Day include meditating on the day’s readings, praying the rosary, and (for those who have the availability) praying the Liturgy of the Hours.
Prayers for the recovery of those afflicted by the illness and for their family members and other caretakers are being called for.
“Let us also continue to pray for the repose of the souls of those who have died from this illness, for the healing of those who are ill, and for the protection of all our health care workers,” the bishop of San Jose said.
While echoing the preventative measures announced in other dioceses, the bishop of Ohio says these “are temporary measures that will be reviewed before Holy Week.”
Although Alabama’s bishop agrees it’s necessary to be cautious, he is also concerned about changing the liturgy.
“Worship of God is integral to the life of faith,” he said.
“Changes in the liturgy deeply affect people and must be carefully considered. I felt that people would make their own decisions when attending Mass.”
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