Fort Worth diocese continuing Mass without congregations, will offer communion
The Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth has suspended all public celebrations of Mass beginning Thursday.
Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson made the announcement in a pastoral letter to priests. All churches in the 28-county coverage area of the diocese will no longer hold Mass with a congregation present.
The bishop directed parishes to make communion available outside of church after Mass in designated spaces, while observing safe social distancing.
According to the release, “All other sacraments also will be available, but in keeping with directives from all civic and health officials. All parish offices will be available to serve the needs of the faithful whether the physical office is open or not.”
The bishop explains in his letter that it’s the responsibility of the church and its clergy to offer Mass even without a congregation “to ensure that the spiritual needs of the faithful continue.”
“After consultation with my priests and civic officials at local and state levels, and in cooperating with them for the good of society, I am informing you that Mass will continue to be celebrated at the scheduled times throughout the territory of the Diocese of Fort Worth, but without a congregation physically present in the church,” the bishop said in his letter.
Priests are ordered to distribute communion outside of church in designated spaces after Mass for those present and separated by a safe distance. Communion, the bishop orders, “is to be distributed in an open space with safe social distancing, in the hand, and not through a car window.”
If weather is an issue, Holy Communion may be distributed in the church with safe social distancing, without crowding “with due respect for the limits on gathering size.”
“Because of the extraordinary circumstances in which we are called to minister, I am requiring that Holy Communion be received in the hand to prevent the spread of contagion,” the bishop said. “Wherever possible, I am asking that parish Masses be livestreamed on websites and Facebook.”
Priests and deacons over the age of 60 have been asked to refrain from distributing communion “for the sake of their health.”
“They are free to exercise their own good judgment in this regard. Likewise, people over the age of 60 are encouraged to minimize contact as much as possible for the sake of their health,” he said. “Extraordinary ministers of Communion should be enlisted from confirmed, faithful and healthy people between the ages of 18 and 59. The circumstances current in our community are such that attendance at Mass borders on an impossibility and thus there is no obligation to attend.”
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 2:55 PM.
