Regarding the COVID-19 Coronavirus situation, Bishop Brendan Kelly has issued an instruction that all public Masses in this Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh, and Kilfenora, Sundays and weekdays, are suspended until 29 March 2020 or until further notice.
Baptisms, weddings and funerals may take place so long as the congregation is limited to 100 or fewer.
Anniversary Masses may be rescheduled, or Fr Hugh can offer the intention in a private Mass. (Families who had booked anniversary Masses for during this period can make their preferences known to the Parish Office.)
Bishop Kelly has also asked that the following norms for this period be circulated, issued for the Irish Bishops Conference by Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly, and Archbishop Michael Neary:
– All non-essential pastoral gatherings and meetings, such as formation gatherings, retreats and seminars are cancelled.
– All Confirmations are postponed until further notice.
– Every Catholic is entitled to a dignified Christian burial. Attendance at Funeral services and Masses should be limited to close relatives and must not exceed 100 attendees within the church building.
– Similarly, Church weddings and baptisms may be celebrated on condition that the attendance in Church does not exceed 100 people.
– In these difficult and uncertain times, people find strength, consolation and hope in prayer. Churches should remain open for prayer each day.
– In the current emergency situation, all are dispensed from the obligation to physically attend Sunday Mass. Parishes should inform parishioners of the local possibilities to participate in Mass via local radio and online. It may be possible for some parishes to facilitate attendance at Mass while still observing the health authority’s limit of 100 people.
– This is an occasion for all of us – especially in families – to pray more intensely for each other and especially for those who have succumbed to the illness. We should pray also for those at the frontlines – especially doctors, nurses and medical staff and other carers, including clergy – that the Lord will protect them as they place their own wellbeing at risk in the service of all.
Extract from Saint Patrick’s Breastplate
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence,
I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer. Amen.