By Communications Department - Archdiocese of Miami

MEDIA ALERT

Archdiocese of Miami to celebrate the Lord’s Day but will be guided by prudence and best counsel of civil authorities and medical professionals in the coming days.

Miami.. . (March 13, 2020) Our parishes will celebrate the Lord’s Day this weekend and during the week for those who do wish to participate in the Eucharistic celebration, the source and summit of our Christian life. We pray that we will be able to continue to do so; but we will be guided by prudence and the best counsel of our civil authorities and medical professionals. If circumstances dictate in coming days that Masses be suspended the Archdiocese will make a timely announcement to that effect.

Archdiocese parochial schools and high schools will close on Tuesday, March 17th. (In order to provide parents the opportunity to arrange childcare and personal schedules, Catholic schools will be open on Monday, March 16.) Religious education programs (CCD) are also suspended. Retreats and other parish activities will be cancelled or postponed in an effort to increase “social distancing” in order to mitigate exposure.

“I continue to urge prudence. Those who are sick or are tending to the sick should not come to Mass this weekend. Those who have anxiety, or are caregivers to the elderly or young children, may decide not to attend Mass. Given these extraordinary circumstances, I dispense the faithful of the Archdiocese of Miami from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass,” Archbishop Thomas Wenski said.

As we prepare to celebrate the Third Sunday of our Lenten Season, our nation – and, indeed, our world – is facing unprecedented threat because of the Coronavirus Pandemic. We hold in prayer all those infected with the virus, their families and loved ones. We pray for the repose of the souls of those who have died. As a people of faith, we trust in the power of prayer and in the providence of our loving God; as a people of hope, we know that God will never abandon us in our need; and as a people of charity, we, despite our own fears and anxieties, stand in solidarity with all of our brothers and sisters infected or affected by this pandemic.

Let nothing disturb you,
let nothing frighten you,
he who has God
nothing lacks:
God alone suffices. (St. Teresa of Avila)

The Archdiocese of Miami
www.miamiarch.org

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Media contact: Maria A. Rivas, Media Coordinator, at (305)762-1046 or via e-mail to [email protected], or
Mary Ross Agosta, Director of Communications, at (305)762-1043 [email protected].

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Comments from readers

Lori Ventura MD - 03/18/2020 06:03 AM: I am a physician and have worked as a clinician scientist, but most of all, I am a Catholic concerned about saving lives in the face of an international pandemic that threatens our community and the world. I have been reading the communications that the Archdiocese has placed online, and it disturbs me that your website has not been updated in the last four days. Furthermore, the ADOM has issued bad advice to parishioners. A priest MUST NOT deliver communion to the mouth and touch the tongue of a potentially infected parishioner. The priest’s fingers and the tongue of the parishioner may carry coronavirus and the threat of transmission to other parishioners is far to great to risk. If our Archbishop fails to acknowledge this, he risks placing parishioners at risk. He also risks placing ADOM at the center of a scandal, which our Church cannot afford. This SHOULD NOT be left to the discretion of the priests. The directive must come from a higher authority to protect the lives of all Catholics, from the Pope or Archbishops. Our mission is to protect life. That’s why we oppose abortion. This is no different. Infected fingers at communion, or even gathering in groups for Mass become weapons that can potentially kill people. Miami, a center of international vacationing from all over the globe, is at greater risk of coronavirus infections that will likely skyrocket in the days and weeks ahead. The ADOM in particular, and the Catholic Church in general must embrace a forward thinking attitude about saving life. Online and televised masses, rosaries, and services can replace masses and other group activities until it is safe to reconvene. Please, please suspend masses and tell priests to refrain from communion on the tongue until this pandemic is finished. A concerned Catholic, Lori Ventura, M.D.

R Vertiz - 03/17/2020 01:20 PM: Thank you, Archbishop Wenski for keeping the churches open and the celebration of the Holy Mass available to those who need it and want it. I hope we have the ability to attend and receive the Eucharist as long as possible.

William Ferry - 03/16/2020 11:00 AM: I could not agree with Marlene MORE! I am so very disappointed and shocked by the church’s actions toward this pandemic. Communion by mouth should be HALTED IMMEDIATELY. The church should be ENCOURAGING communicants to stay HOME right now! The Archbishop should be telling us to pray at home, watch mass on tv, drop into the churches throughout the day, off times, when there are less people there in order to get comfort, to practice “social distancing “, etc. Look at what Pope Francis is going in Rome. He is a LEADER. The Archbishop is entirely out of touch! It is no wonder Mass attendance in GOOD times is down. Another example of how the church is failing its members.

Marlene - 03/16/2020 07:09 AM: I am completely in agreement with the previous post: “ I am very dismayed that receiving the Eucharist on the tongue has not been temporarily discontinued. I am so fearful that someone ahead of me has received on the tongue. That is so unsanitary and breeds contagion. These communicates have another choice and my only choice is to not receive the Eucharist. Please be reasonable. Please take heed.”

Gustavo - 03/15/2020 10:36 PM: Remember that all evils are the consequence of sin and allowed by God for a greater good.. This chastisement is long overdue. Our Blessed Lord will not be be mocked. Especially by those in charge of of teaching, defending ,and protecting the deposit of faith. Repent and believe in the Gospel!

Genny Mejia - 03/15/2020 05:41 PM: Thank you, Archbishop Wenski, for not cancelling masses in the ADOM! The faithful need the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in their lives especially in times of strife and distress. We should be able to turn to our faith made visible in The Real Presence. Individuals should decide for themselves whether or not to attend Mass. Additionally, in times of crisis, parishioners should be able to rely on the support and inspiration of our priests at Mass.

Geraldo Gustavo - 03/15/2020 01:46 PM: Amazing how Godless and fearful, absolutely weak, we have become as a faith. Our leaders are the weakest of all of us. God help us if we were ever to be persecuted for being Christian, the Church would tell us it's alright don't worry about standing up for the Faith. God help us all.

Annette - 03/15/2020 06:26 AM: Hi, you should all check with your parishes as some of those broadcast mass live on Sundays. Our Lady of Lourdes Church has live mass broadcasting on Sundays at 11:45 and 1:30. Check your parish’s website. Also, I appreciate the proactive measures being taken. Everyone should put effort And use social distancing. Also, communion should be given using hands only. This is for the safety of the community and also the Eucharist Ministers. I don’t think masses would be cancelled, what would be cancelled are parishioners “assisting” mass. Mass will continue to be celebrated probably with no parishioners in attendance. We have to continue to pray for everyone especially those who are sick and the elderly. God Bless and protect us all.

JR Pisula - 03/14/2020 09:04 PM: I agree with permitting each Parish and Parishioner determine how to move forward. Cancelling Mass would not be appropriate in this case. There are scant few cases. This is primarily psychological and not actually health related.

Jena King-Getchell - 03/14/2020 04:26 PM: Dear Archbishop Wenski, please do not suspend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, confession and the sacraments in the ADOM! Now, more than ever, the faithful need Christ's grace and supernatural fortitude to persevere in the face of this virus. Throughout the centuries our Church has rallied to the aid of those suffering in the face of hardships, even plagues. Our modern time should be no different. Proper CDC and other health protocols and precautions, as you have outlined in the ADOM website, are excellent mechanisms for individual Catholics to assess and manage their own risk of exposure at Mass based on their personal circumstances. Attendance should be a prayerful, personal decision and you already have given dispensation to those who choose not to. Please just don't cancel the sacraments for those who have no impediment to attending. Special Masses, Eucharistic processions, rosaries, consecrations, etc. are all efficacious means to call on God's protection too!

Ana Rodriguez-Soto - 03/14/2020 02:49 PM: Hi, Norma Check with your parish. I imagine classes would be canceled immediately. CCD is easier to suspend because children are not there all day (as in school) so parental arrangements would be less difficult. But always check with your parish to make sure.

Mary Arnold - 03/14/2020 11:00 AM: For those who cannot attend Mass in person, U-Tube has a number of opportunities to experience the Holy Mass online. Some churches may even send Eucharistic Ministers to the home to give the Holy Eucharist.

Norma Rodriguez - 03/14/2020 09:11 AM: No esta claro en el msg de Mon Wenski si hay Catecismo este fin de semana. Is CCD open or closed today, tomorrow and Monday?

Anna - 03/14/2020 08:29 AM: As a community leader, It is the church’s responsibility to cancel all events including the first communion celebration. We are in a national emergency, a worldwide pandemic. There are many people without symptoms who have the disease, which takes 24 day to incubate. If you continue to hold mass you will be responsible for spreading the virus, which may result in the death of those most vulnerable..

Cecilia Cabieses - 03/14/2020 07:54 AM: I hope that masses aren’t cancelled because in church history when we had plagues masses were never cancelled. All pastors of all parishes should process with the Monstrance throught their cities like they are doing in Italy to fight the devil.

Maria Alemany - 03/13/2020 11:27 PM: I am a practicing Catholic. I attend mass even when I travel internationally. Please consider suspending mass due to this Coronavirus. Unfortunately people don’t listen. When I went to mass a very sick person sat behind me last Sunday. Also when the priest is administering the Eucharist some people are still not taking it in the hands as you suggested. This should be mandatory. Mass is a large religious gathering. I am convinced that Jesus would prefer for us to cancel rather than have anyone lose their life.

Ana Rodriguez-Soto - 03/13/2020 09:41 PM: Hi, Maria The Masses - both English and Spanish - appear on this website on Saturdays beginning at 6 p.m. You can watch both here: https://www.miamiarch.org/CatholicDiocese.php?op=Television You can also watch them on our You Tube channel beginning at 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Here's that link: https://www.youtube.com/catholicmiami You can also check with at least three local parishes that livestream it. See the Q and A here for those links: https://www.miamiarch.org/CatholicDiocese.php?op=Article_coronavirus-q-and-a

vicky - 03/13/2020 09:06 PM: Would His Excellency consider asking the other 6 Bishops to join him in consecrating their diocese.parishes, and people and the State of Florida to IHM in a solemn mass at each cathedral at the same time and date to place us under God;s protection.? Would he also consider calling the laity across the state to pray a Holy Rosary in unison at the same time and date , even in an ongoing basis to protect us. PLEASE DON'T STOP THE CELEBRATION OF THE SACRIFICE OF MASS OR THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION IN ADOM.

Micaella - 03/13/2020 05:43 PM: I saw a comment where someone asked for online masses. I just wanted to share that there are catholic channels on YouTube that records daily mass. The EWTN post daily mass on YouTube (And is televised) another YouTube channel for daily mass is “daily TV mass” I know it doesn’t make up for mass attendance but it offers peace of mind and a sense of normalcy. I just wanted to share in case anyone else was interested.

Maria Kneipple - 03/13/2020 05:17 PM: It would be helpful if you could post links/schedules for online masses if we cannot attend in person. Thank you.

Statements | Friday, March 13, 2020

Archbishop Wenski issues statement regarding the celebration of Masses and suspension of other events

By Communications Department - Archdiocese of Miami

MEDIA ALERT

Archdiocese of Miami to celebrate the Lord’s Day but will be guided by prudence and best counsel of civil authorities and medical professionals in the coming days.

Comments from readers