Masses to be offered without congregation in Vancouver

Sign up for parish and archdiocesan updates on COVID-19 developments at rcav.org/coronavirus. 

Update: March 21, 2020

Archbishop J. Michael Miller Friday announced Masses will no longer be offered with a public congregation, joining dioceses across British Columbia and Canada. 

In a statement Friday afternoon, the archbishop said, “I direct that all Masses, whether Sunday or weekday, beginning on Saturday, March 21, are to be offered without a public congregation, until further notice.”

The decision also applies to other parish activities and celebrations, such as Stations of the Cross.

Only a day earlier, the archbishop had announced pastors could decide on the celebration of Mass with a congregation. He said March 19 that pastors should take into account the circumstances of their parish communities as they decide how to celebrate Mass, and discouraged the practice of distributing Holy Communion outside of Mass.

Friday’s decision, he said, was made after “prayerful consideration; and after no small amount of sadness; and after hearing from senior pastors and others about the need for a single directive for the entire Archdiocese.”

The archbishop said churches can remain open for private prayer and adoration “whenever the health and safety of the community can be scrupulously attended to,” although he asked seniors and those with serious medical conditions to remain at home and pray.”

On Wednesday, Archbishop Miller released a video message to Vancouver Catholics Wednesday, saying his priority is “to keep the faithful safe from harm while continuing to provide for their spiritual needs.”

In the three-minute video, Archbishop Miller said the archdiocese is monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation and that “We are in uncharted waters with regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”

Meanwhile, Vancouver’s Catholic schools are preparing for a return to teaching after spring break, although what that teaching will look like remains up in the air.

Deacon Henk Luyten, Superintendent of the Catholic Independent Schools of Vancouver Archdiocese, released a letter Wednesday saying his office is working “to be ready for student learning after spring break” and that more details will be coming in the next few days.

B.C. Education Minister Rob Fleming this week directed all public and independent schools to “immediately suspend in-class instruction until further notice.” 

Fleming said although “classroom lessons are suspended, it is expected that schools will implement a variety of measures to ensure continued learning for students.”

Deacon Luyten urged parents to read the minister’s letter and said his office is working with the Ministry of Education and Catholic schools to develop plans “that will ensure continuity of learning.”

Fleming’s letter offered assurances students would not lose their school year. “Every student will receive a final mark, and all students on track to move to the next grade will do so in the fall,” said the minister.

As for graduating students, he said “every student eligible to graduate from Grade 12 this year will graduate” and the ministry is working with post-secondary institutions to ensure a smooth transition to college and university.

Along with the suspension of schools this week came the cancellation of Lenten penitential services and further restrictions on Mass attendance, which Archbishop Miller addressed in his video message.

He reminded Catholics that being deprived of Lent and Easter liturgies is an invitation to live more faithfully the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and charity and to deepen their relationship with Jesus.

In the three-minute video, posted on the archdiocesan website and its YouTube channel, the archbishop urged Catholics to pray for those affected by the outbreak and to support civil authorities, volunteers, “and those who are committed to stopping the spread of the virus” and the “fear that is rampant here and around the world,” adding “perfect love casts out fear.”

The archdiocese’s cancellation of penitential services came with a reminder to parishes of the need to provide the sacrament of reconciliation for all who seek it. Confessions should not be heard in confessionals but in rooms large enough to provide a two-metre distance between priest and penitent without being overheard. A screen should also be available for those who prefer anonymous confession.

The decision to cancel the services came in response to the announcement Monday by B.C. health officials that gatherings of more than 50 people are banned. The archdiocese quickly responded Monday with a list of measures for parishes to follow, including maintaining a distance of two metres between people in the pews and in lineups to receive Communion; removing all hymnals, prayer cards, and other materials from the pews; and placing collection baskets without long handles at the back of the church rather than circulating them through the congregation.

The province’s attendance restrictions on events have led to the cancellation of numerous events, including the annual Women’s Retreat (set for mid-April) and various lectures and seminars.

Although Sunday and daily Masses are continuing, the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains lifted. Archbishop Miller sent a letter to the faithful saying, “In order to continue assisting local public health efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is lifted for everyone until further notice.”

The archbishop also encouraged parishioners to sign up for email updates from their parish and the archdiocese using the online form at rcav.org/coronavirus.

The government’s crowd restrictions are posing challenges to parishes, and in a March 13 letter, Archbishop Miller called for “creativity and compassion” from pastors and parish staff in finding ways to limit Mass attendance. He encouraged people over the age of 65, those who “feel even remotely unwell,” or those believe they might be at risk to stay home.

The measures are temporary “in order to get us through these challenging times,” he wrote, asking for prayer for members of the community who are especially vulnerable to the virus and for those who have died of COVID-19 and their families.

Earlier last week, the archbishop released a memo discouraging reception of Holy Communion on the tongue following a teleconference with government officials March 11 to discuss the coronavirus outbreak.

Archbishop Miller said, “As a result of direct consultation with the Public Health Officer, the faithful are strongly recommended to receive Holy Communion only in the hand.”

The archbishop acknowledged the right of the faithful to receive Communion on the tongue and said an announcement is to be made at Masses stating “those who wish to receive Communion on the tongue should come forward after all other communicants have received.” 

Alternatively, one priest, deacon or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion can be designated specifically to distribute Communion only on the tongue. 

Other highlights from the memo:

• Those distributing Communion should avoid skin-to-skin contact with communicants;
• Hand sanitizer or hand washing stations should be widely available and used before and after distribution of Communion;
• The elderly, those with an underlying health condition, and those who feel unwell are excused from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass;
• The Sign of Peace should be omitted.

This is a developing story.

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