PALM SUNDAY
On Palm Sunday there is to be NO PUBLIC GATHERING (inside or outside Churches, in cars, etc.).
The Mass for Palm Sunday will be celebrated by the Bishop without a congregation, with palms blessed, and broadcast via the live-stream internet on the Cathedral web site at https://www.stfranciscathedral.org/at 10:30 am on Sunday, April 5, 2020.
In parish churches, the Mass for Palm Sunday may be celebrated without a congregation (you may have one deacon; one person to operate the live streaming equipment if the liturgy is being live streamed; one lector; one cantor and one musician in addition to resident clergy) by the pastor/parish; pastors should notify the parishioners of the time for the live-steam; pastors should also notify the Diocesan Office of Communications so that a Diocesan calendar/schedule of events might be posted for access by the faithful of the Diocese. Blessed palms can be made available for distribution at a later date – they are NOT TO BE DISTRIBUTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE at this time. If one person who has the coronavirus even touches some of the palm which someone else will take, they could be infecting them. The risk is too high as doctors are telling us that the virus is very contagious. You do not want to be the one who endangers the lives of others, especially our elderly.
CHRISM MASS
The Chrism Mass will be postponed and re-scheduled for another date/time with the renewal of priestly commitment and the blessing/consecration of oils occurring at that time. Oils/chrism from the current supplies (currently in use) may continue to be used until a new supply is blessed/consecrated and made available. If the parish is running low on oils/chrism, contact Tony Varas, Director of the Office of Worship, tvaras@diometuchen.org.
PASCHAL TRIDUUM: the following liturgical directives are to be observed in accordance with the “Decree in Time of COVID-19” issued on March 19, 2020 by the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments by mandate of the Supreme Pontiff for the year 2020 only. The Paschal Triduum cannot be transferred to another time.
HOLY THURSDAY
No public gatherings (inside or outside Churches, in cars, etc.). Televised or live-stream broadcasts should be live (not recorded).
The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated by the Bishop without a congregation and broadcast via the live-stream internet on the Cathedral web site at https://www.stfranciscathedral.org/ at 7:30 pm on Thursday, April 9, 2020.
In parish churches, the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper may be celebrated without a congregation (you may have one deacon; one person to operate the live streaming equipment if the liturgy is being live streamed; one lector; one cantor and one musician in addition to resident clergy) by the pastor/parish priest; pastors should notify the parishioners of the time for the live-steam; pastors should also notify the Diocesan Office of Communications so that a Diocesan calendar/schedule of events might be posted for access by the faithful of the Diocese.
During the Evening Mass for the Lord’s Supper:
Priests who are unable to celebrate the Easter Vigil should instead pray Vespers/Matins/Lauds of the day from the Liturgy of Hours instead.
EASTER SUNDAY
No public gatherings (inside or outside Churches, in cars, etc.).
Mass for Easter Sunday will be celebrated by the Bishop without a congregation and broadcast via the live-stream internet on the Cathedral web site at https://www.stfranciscathedral.org/ at 10:30 am on Sunday, April 12, 2020.
In parish churches, Mass for Easter Sunday may be celebrated without a congregation (you may have one deacon; one person to operate the live streaming equipment if the liturgy is being live streamed; one lector; one cantor and one musician in addition to resident clergy) by the pastor/parish priest; pastors should notify the parishioners of the time for the live-steam; pastors should also notify the Diocesan Office of Communications so that a Diocesan calendar/schedule of events might be posted for access by the faithful of the Diocese.
Priests are otherwise asked to celebrate Easter Sunday Masses
without a congregation.
**At this time all public worship is suspended until further notice. We will continue to monitor the status of when masses and other services may begin again according to the directives from civil authorities.
This decree is given by mandate
of the Most Reverend James Francis Checchio,
Bishop of Metuchen,
March 26, 2020
for the Diocese of Metuchen