On Tuesday, 17 March, all parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia received the following two announcements:

 

ARCHBISHOP NELSON J. PÉREZ ANNOUNCES THE SUSPENSION OF
ALL PUBLIC MASSES IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA
EFFECTIVE AT NOON TOMORROW


Today, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced that Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez has suspended all public Masses in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia effective at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18th and until further notice.  Last week, the Archbishop dispensed the faithful from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.  Both decisions were made in response to the growing concern over the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the directives provided by government and health department officials at the local, state, and national levels. These measures will be re-evaluated pending future developments.


Archbishop Pérez said, “As the Archbishop of Philadelphia, my first priority is to ensure the health and welfare of those entrusted to the pastoral and temporal care of our Church.  So, in light of the developing Coronavirus pandemic, a decision has been made to suspend the public celebration of all Masses in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for the time being.  All of us need to do our part to slow the spread of this illness.  Like you, we are monitoring coronavirus developments and look forward to continuing our lives on a more normal basis.

 

While things may look and feel different during these uncertain times, I want to be very clear that the Catholic Church in Philadelphia is not closing down.  It is not disappearing and it will not abandon you.  Time and again as our history has proven the Church has risen to meet great challenges and provide a beacon of hope and light.


As your Shepherd, I promise that the Church remains steadfast and is prepared to walk with you and serve you.  Neither the Church nor its charitable works will stop. God is always by our side.  He never abandons us.  I invite you to join me in prayerful solidarity for the intentions of the sick, suffering, and their caregivers as well as government and health officials.  With God’s grace and blessing, we will navigate the difficult waters of this challenge as a united human family, for after all is said and done, we are people of Hope!”

 

Though public Masses are suspended in all churches in the Archdiocese, the right and need of the faithful to hear the Word of God and celebrate the Sacraments is not put aside.  Pastors, along with all those who work with them, will be as attentive as possible to all the spiritual, pastoral, and charitable needs of the people they serve.  Priests will continue to offer the sacrifice of the Holy Mass during this period and to honor all requested Mass intentions.


Churches can remain open as a location for private prayer at the discretion of the pastor. Baptisms, Confessions, Marriages, and Funerals will take place as usual but with due regard for the limitation of participants and reasonable social distancing.


In conjunction with directives already in force in hospitals and institutions, all visits to the sick with Holy Communion, including in private homes, by priests, deacons, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are suspended. In such instances, only priests will be available to celebrate the Sacraments for those in immediate danger of death.  In all circumstances, government and health agency directives for group size and social distancing are to be observed as the Archdiocese of Philadelphia strives to meet the pastoral and temporal needs of all those in need.


On Sunday, March 15th, the Archdiocese featured a live streaming broadcast of the 11:00am Mass on its website and Archbishop Pérez’s Facebook page for the benefit of those wishing to participate in the liturgy remotely. This broadcast will continue each Sunday on an ongoing basis.  Additional information regarding opportunities for prayer and devotions are available on the Archdiocesan website.

 

UPDATED DIRECTIVES IN RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS
OFFICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP


The work of the Church continues in all of its many dimensions during the Coronavirus
pandemic and perhaps with even greater force and zeal. This latest provision by Archbishop Nelson J. Perez, the Archbishop of Philadelphia, responds to many needs of the clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese in response to the growing concern over the spread of the virus and the directives of government and health officials. Even though public Masses are suspended in all churches in the Archdiocese as of Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at noon, the right and need of the faithful to hear the Word of God and celebrate the Sacraments is not put aside. Pastors, along with all those who work with them, are to be as attentive as possible to all the spiritual, pastoral and charitable needs of the people they serve.


As of noon on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, all public Masses in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are suspended until further notice. This includes Sunday and Weekday Masses with the faithful.  Priests are to continue to offer Holy Mass on Sunday and weekdays privately.  The public Mass schedule is to be adjusted locally to accommodate this new situation.  Justice and charity require that the Mass intentions already in place during this period be honored. If possible, priests are to offer Mass for these intentions during this period. If this is not possible, then the intention is to be transferred to a future
date.  Communion Services are not to be used as a replacement for the celebration of
Mass.  The Archbishop gives permission during Lent for priests to offer fitting Masses
from those in the Roman Missal for Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and
Occasions.

All churches are to follow their ordinary schedule for opening and closing during this period so that the faithful have opportunities to pray.  Public exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament may continue with adorers, with due regard for the limitation of participants.

Baptisms, Penance, and Marriages may take place as usual but with due regard for the limitation of participants and reasonable social distancing.  Confessions are to take place in church and not in rectories or offices.  Validations in preparation for the Easter Sacraments can take place without Mass.  Likewise, Funerals may take place with due regard for the limitation of participants and reasonable social distancing.  First penance and First Holy Communion are to be rescheduled.  Updates for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter will be forthcoming.


In conjunction with directives already in force in hospitals and institutions, all visits to
the sick with Holy Communion, including in private homes, by priests, deacons and
extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are suspended. Priests are expected to
celebrate the Sacraments for those in danger of death, and especially Holy Viaticum.

Information about live-stream opportunities for Mass, resources for prayer, devotions and
spiritual guidance during this period will be available as soon as possible for wide dissemination on the Archdiocesan website.  Pastors are encouraged to use social media as much as possible to minister to the needs of the faithful. These resources will also help the faithful remain connected to the Holy Eucharist.

 

In response to these new directives and guidelines, allow me to offer some suggestions:

 

WHAT SHOULD I DO WHILE I CAN’T GO TO MASS?

 

While you are unable to participate in the Eucharistic celebration in person, I encourage you to join us online; we will be live streaming our 9:30am Sunday Masses until further notice.  We are a strong faith community and our Lord calls us together to worship God.  We cannot, at this time, come together in person but, thanks to modern technology, we can come together virtually.  Our parish has a dedicated YouTube link; you will receive a direct link to each Sunday Mass via Flocknote a few days beforehand.  If you haven’t yet signed up for Flocknote, I strongly encourage you to do so.  Simply click here and you will be directed to the site where you can sign up; you can also sign up on our parish web site.

 

In the case when we are unable to attend Mass, we are encouraged to make a ‘spiritual communion’. St. John Paul II writes:

 

It is good to cultivate in our hearts a constant desire for the sacrament of the Eucharist. This was the origin of the practice of “spiritual communion”, which has happily been established in the Church for centuries and recommended by saints who were masters of the spiritual life. Saint Teresa of Jesus wrote: “When you do not receive communion and you do not attend Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice; by it the love of God will be greatly impressed on you.” (Ecclesia Eucharistia, no. 34)

 

HOW DO I MAKE A SPIRITUAL COMMUNION?

You can gather together as a family – after all, the family is the “domestic Church”.  Join the rest of your parish community by live streaming the 9:30am Sunday Mass.  If you are unable to join in our live streamed Mass, you can make a “spiritual communion” yourselves in the following way:

  • Gather with others in your household and begin a time of prayer with the sign of the cross.
  • Take time to read and reflect upon the readings from Sunday Mass. You can find the readings at org. Better yet, you can find the readings with my reflections on them under my name at our parish web site: www.stkatharineofsiena.org.
  • Share prayer intentions quietly or aloud.
  • Pray the Lord’s Prayer.
  • Pray the following prayer of spiritual communion (composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori):

 

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.  I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul.  Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you since you are already there and unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.

 

  • Close with the sign of the cross.

 

PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOUR PARISH

 

While COVID-19 requires social distancing, our parish and school continue to bring us together – in new ways – for worship and learning and community building.  With COVID-19, we are challenged to put our trust in God and reach out to those in need.  So, we need our financial base to remain strong.  While you are unable to attend Mass, I strongly encourage you to sign up for electronic giving through Parish Giving, if you have not yet done so.  Over 175 parishioners have already done this and we receive a reliable source of revenue from them; I’m very grateful for that.  With Parish Giving, you can easily arrange to have your contribution withdrawn from your bank checking or savings account or from your credit card.  Simply go to www.stkatharineofsiena.org and click on GIVE; it’s very easy to sign up.  We continue to rely on you to keep our parish alive and well.  Thank you for your continued support.

 

As Abp. Pérez indicated in his remarks, we are not shutting down; we’re just adjusting how we live and act as a parish.  Our church will be open from 6:00am until 4:30pm every day and I encourage you to spend some time before our Lord who is really present in the Blessed Sacrament reserved in our tabernacle.  Following the advice of the Office for Divine Worship, we will also hold our regular Monday Adoration from 8:30am until 4:30pm.  I rely on your common sense to stay home if you’re in a high risk group or not feeling well.

 

To make sure our parish activities continue as best as they can under these circumstances, I’m continuing to meet virtually through Google Meet; I’ve already met with both the Parish Pastoral Council and our RCIA group, and the four evangelization groups are also meeting in this way.  I encourage other parish organizations to find ways to stay connected electronically, as well.  It is important that we continue to keep our relationship to God and to each other strong during this time of national and, indeed, worldwide crisis.  God remains close to us; let us stay close to him.