Three More US Bishops Announce Return of Public Masses

Catholic News Agency ^ | 4/23/20 | Staff

[marshmallow]

CNA Staff, Apr 23, 2020 / 08:45 pm MT (CNA).- Three Catholic dioceses have announced this week they will resume public celebration of Mass, subject to the requirements of public health orders and social distancing.

The Montana dioceses of Great Falls-Billings and Helena both announced the re-openings on Thursday, April 23, one day after the bishop of Lubbock, Texas told his priests to prepare to restore access to Communion for Catholics in the diocese.

The public celebration of Mass has been prohibited in dioceses across the United States for over a month as part of efforts to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The decisions come one week after Bishop Peter Baldacchino of Las Cruces, New Mexico, became the first bishop in the United States to lift the ban on public celebration of Mass in his diocese.

In a short video posted on the diocesan website Thursday, Bishop Austin Vetter of Helena noted that the governor of Montana had initiated “phase one” of a readjustment of closure orders. “That does allow us to begin gathering for Mass,” the bishop said.

Governor Steve Bullock’s phased reopening plan permits limited reopening for some retail venues and public gathering places, including bars and casinos.

“Beginning on Sunday, those parishes that are able to comply with all that is necessary in phase one for a gathering are able to celebrate Mass,” said Vetter.

The bishop added that it was not possible to guarantee that every church in the diocese would be able to open this weekend, owing to the limitations of space in some places and of sourcing necessary cleaning materials to comply with state regulation in others.

“It is so important that you understand that not all parishes will be able to [reopen immediately]. Not because of lack of effort or.......

[EC Washington]

Ohio shut down all Masses for the entire month of May.