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Statement on Worship – Communal and Personal in the Covid-19 Pandemic

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DIOCESE OF DUNDEE

POSTNET SUITE 95, PRIVATE BAG X6603, NEWCASTLE 2940
KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA

TELEPHONE: (034) 312 6591 – TELEFAX: (034) 312 6592
e-mail: dundeediocese@gmail.com
NPO 243-382 PBO 930000779

We understand the severity of the situation – we are living in a Pandemic unparalleled in living memory.
We understand too that similar drastic measures are being adopted universally, throughout the Catholic and Christian Community.
We seek to find a way to both exercise our need for Worship and Prayer and to protect Health and Life- both are absolutely essential.

Introduction

  1. The Bishop grants a dispensation from the normal obligations to attend Sunday Mass and the other Celebrations of the Easter Season to the Aged, Young Children (who can be carriers) the Sick and also perhaps especially to those who are Fearful at this time. There should be no sense of guilt rather a spirit of understanding.
  2. All Deanery, Diocesan and Parish gatherings are cancelled. All unnecessary travel is avoided.
  3. It is an opportunity for us to renew our appreciation of the value of Prayer at Home and in private – this has as we know a particular relevance in Lent where we are encouraged “when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret, will repay you.” (Matt 6: 6) We are encouraged to read our Bibles and to hold Services of the Word; we are able to be in “spiritual communion” with our Lord in the Eucharist and in our Neighbour.
  4. It is suggested that as the Catholic Community we make a commitment to gather daily in our Homes and meet spiritually to pray at a particular time – say between 18h30 and 20h30.
  5. We should do all in our power to infonn People about what is available on the Media.(Radio Veritas and other DStv Channels)

We are particularly mindful of the call of the President and the Health Authorities that there is a need for physical “distancing” so as not to !>pread the virus. As we know meetings of more than a 100 People are now banned – the seriousness of this might be better appreciated when we know that this number has been reduced to 50 in some countries.
Let us be mindful that we are faced with a fluid situation which will need daily evaluation.

The following Directives are made to Priests in Parishes and to their Parish Pastoral Council. (Where desirable Priests are encouraged to celebrate Mass in their local Religious Communities.)

  1. Weekdays
    Priests should be encouraged to celebrate the Weekday Masses where the numbers are normally lower and below 100. People could be encouraged to attend one of the Weekday Masses to fulfil their “Sabbath Obligation”.
  2. Sundays
    The numbers might be restricted to below 100 by allocating times to different Wards or Small Christian Communities or in another way devised by the Priest.
    • Services for numbers below 100 could be held as follows: Saturday evening; and say three or four times on the Sunday ( depending on the size of the Parish)
    • These Services would vary (depending on who leads them) from the Holy Mass led by the Priest; a Eucharistic Service or a Service of the Word led by an appropriate Minister
    • The Services would clearly be shorter and simpler than normal
  3. Retreats and Workshops
    These should be suspended
  4. Weddings and Funerals
    It is suggested that these ceremonies be attended only by immediate family members and close Friends. All night vigils are to be suspended.
  5. Lenten Services
    Penitential Services-Priests are encouraged to increase the number of these services in order to maintain the numbers below 100. The Priests presiding over these formal Penitential Services are authorized to grant a General Absolution for the duration of the Pandemic. Stations of the Cross – these could be conducted in private in the Family or in small Groups like the Ward or the Small Christian Communities
  6. Easter Week
    Chrism Mass– attended by the Priests, Religious and Seminarians only (obviously this would vary according to the Numbers in the Diocese)Palm Sunday (with Simple Entrance); Holy Thursday; Good Friday For these ceremonies, in order to limit the num bers, the following is suggested:
    • Each Family in the Parish be represented by ONE Family Member only; (given that our Religious Communities are small, they are welcome)
    • The Family at Horne accompany their Representative by e.g., reading the Passion; praying at the same time as the Parish Ceremony … etc.
    The Priest will have to adapt the ceremonies where appropriate e.g., the Washing of the Feet on Holy Thursday might be done in a short drama/ sketch without the actual Washing of the Feet
  7. Easter Vigil
    8. – this ceremony should be attended by a small number perhaps including the PPC Members and the local Religious Community, and the close Family of those being initiated into the Church Easter Sunday- as on “Sundays” in II above.
  8. As in (B) above the absence from the Parish Church should be compensated for/complemented by Special Prayers and Home Liturgies. These could be specially prepared – we still have time for this.

      9. PS. Appropriately this is added as a POSTSCRIPT!
      The Church will continue, and the Parish still has financial commitments that have to be met. Please do not.forget to make your regular contributions towards the material support of the Church. 

      Statement on Worship

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