Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese now allows weddings, funerals, confession — with restrictions — during covid-19 pandemic

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has scaled back some of its safety protocols and will allow limited public celebrations of certain sacraments during the covid-19 pandemic.

Officials announced these changes Thursday:

• Weddings may now be celebrated, but with no more than 10 people including the priest/deacon officiant.

Couples must be advised that once the ritual of matrimony is celebrated it cannot be repeated, according to a release from the diocese.

A Mass of Thanksgiving sometime after the wedding ceremony may be planned if the couple wishes for no more than 10 people to gather for it.

• Funerals with a Mass, in exceptional circumstances, may be scheduled but limited to 10 people or fewer. Cemeteries are still closed for public interments until other restrictions are lifted.

• Confession may be heard, but only outdoors either in parking lots or another place where social distancing is respected. Confessions cannot be heard in church, in the rectory or within any parish.

Celebration of the Holy Mass remains suspended and church buildings are to remain closed.

The diocese had canceled all funeral Masses, weddings and baptisms late last month.

“We have been examining how we can best carry out our mission and ministry while maintaining compliance with government restrictions,” Bishop David Zubik said. “These changes represent a safe way for us to begin. We will continue to evaluate the evolving situation and update everyone about further changes.”

Officials said carrying out the directives will be at the discretion of individual parish administrators, who are expected to communicate with families to determine the best way to assist them.

Zubik said all local, state and federal guidelines must be observed.

“As we look forward to the day when we can all join together in our parishes to celebrate Holy Masses again, I remain concerned for the protection of the health of our community,” Zubik said. “We want to keep everyone healthy, and we want to make sure that we do not put ourselves in a position to advance the contagion.”