The Diocese of Greensburg has suspended public Masses, canceled Lenten fish fries and modified other church events due to the spread of coronavirus in the region.
“Tuesday will be our final day of public Masses until further notice,” diocese officials write in a news release Monday. “Where possible, churches will remain open for private prayer.”
Priests will continue to respond to all pastoral emergencies and provide anointing of the sick for the critically ill and dying.
“This is a seriously contagious illness,” Bishop Edward Malesic said. “We have trust that God will see us through but we must do our part to not overwhelm our hospital systems.”
The diocese release encourages priests to act with “sensitivity and work with parishioners to use common-sense measures to improve the safety of each event or postpone as many as possible.”
For baptisms, funerals and weddings, diocesan officials recommended scaling back attendance to immediate family if possible.
Masses will be streamed across the diocese at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings, with links available at DioceseOfGreensburg.org and its social media platforms.
Weekly fish fries, all faith formation programs and special observances (Stations of the Cross, morning/evening prayer, Rosary recitation) are suspended as well.
