Beginning immediately and until further notice:

1. All church buildings must be securely locked with no exceptions. One of the things that we have been told is that the coronavirus can live on surfaces for an extended time.

The celebration of the sacraments must be regrettably suspended:

Baptisms: The celebration of baptism is to be suspended. For the health and safety of all, these baptisms are to be delayed until the Church is able to celebrate the sacraments publicly once more.

• In case of emergency (in danger of death), any person may baptize. It is essential to follow the rite of the Church in baptizing. As is indicated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “In case of necessity, any person can baptize provided that he have the intention of doing that which the Church does and provided that he pours water on the candidate’s head while saying: ‘I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the HolySpirit.’” (CCC, no. 1284).
• If baptism occurs, it is imperative to contact the parish immediately so that the proper information may be entered into the baptismal register and the priest may be notified so that the ceremonies may be celebrated afterwards.

 Confession: For the health and safety of all, the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation must also be suspended in all its forms: in church buildings, outside of church buildings, in parking lots, etc.

• Whenever the ban is lifted, priests will resume hearing confessions and granting absolution. Priests should remind the faithful the guidance from the USCCB: “Where the individual faithful find themselves in the painful impossibility of receiving sacramental absolution, it should be remembered that perfect contrition, coming from the love of God, beloved above all things, expressed by a sincere request for forgiveness (that which the penitent is at present able to express) and accompanied by votum confessionis, that is, by the firm resolution to have recourse, as soon as possible, to sacramental confession, obtains forgiveness of sins, even mortal ones (cf. CCC, no. 1452)”​​​​​​​
• ​​​​​​​Also as a reminder, the Holy See has offered a plenary indulgence for those who make some pious form of prayer and have the will to receive the sacraments when they are available under the normal conditions for an indulgence. That is, the indulgence is granted if the person has the will to receive the sacraments when they are available.

• In the interim, priests are to remember the dead in their private Masses and their prayer intentions and to share that information with the family of the deceased as a source of consolation.
• Also, cemeteries have already indicated the prohibition of even a small number of people gathering for burial.

Private Masses: will continue daily