Coronavirus Outbreak: Directives concerning services in churches 

Abu Dhabi 

Following the reception of guidelines from governmental authorities concerning gatherings within places of worship in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak, H.E. Bishop Paul Hinder, OFM Cap. has issued the following directions on how the essential prayers within parishes of the Vicariate are to be conducted.

The Bishop noted that it is thanks to the many effective precautions and screenings of the civil authorities that the spread of the coronavirus has been restricted in this country. Despite having a large international population, we have seen minimal disruption to regular life. Many public institutions, recreational facilities and places of worship still remain open to encourage people and provide spiritual, social and emotional strength. 

The Catholic Church takes seriously its role to aid in every possible way the efforts of the civil authorities to increase the spiritual and emotional well-being of society, and encourage prayer and calm. Our churches will remain open to the extent possible as advised by government authorities. We are working closely with the governmental authorities in each emirate, and even as services in some churches may be temporarily suspended, they will still remain open to strengthen our people in faith and hope, especially in times of uncertainty and worry.  Catholics have an obligation to follow the directions and information provided by the civil authorities, and avoid spreading panic and misinformation, especially through the social media. Let us increase our regular prayers for our civil authorities and cooperate with their efforts. 

To counter the spread of infections, several precautions were already ordered in all our churches in the last letter of the Bishop (e.g. regular disinfection of churches after every Mass, guidance for worshipers on hygiene, provision of sanitizers, etc.). We have also reduced the timing of our main prayers (the Sacraments and chief devotions).

For Catholics, the weekend Eucharist celebrated in the church is a source of great strength and prayer. At the same time, we remind everyone to participate in the Mass with concern for others. In view of the danger to others, there is a moral obligation to stay at home if unwell, or if one has any of the symptoms associated with the virus such as a cold, fever, cough, sore throat and breathlessness, or if one has recently travelled to countries with high outbreaks of the Coronavirus, or been in contact with an individual who has tested positive for Covid-19. The same directive applies to priests, religious and liturgical ministers.

At-risk populations (infants, elderly, those with weak immune systems, etc.) can also stay at home, and are encouraged to read the readings of the day, pray and even follow the services online. Parishioners are also asked to participate in only one obligatory mass over the weekend to prevent crowding in the larger parishes. A detailed advisory has published which gives further details on the various precautions to be observed by the faithful. 

We remain attentive to the civil situation and the guidance of the authorities and urge all to pray for all those affected by the novel coronavirus, and those working to control the outbreak. We request your whole-hearted cooperation to tide over the outbreak as a community, by following the relevant instructions from the government, which are issued in our best interests and with our safety in mind. 

DIRECTIONS FOR CONDUCTING THE MAIN PRAYERS IN THE PARISHES OF THE VICARIATE OF SOUTHERN ARABIA

Our governments are taking several measures to reduce the risks of community transmission of the Coronavirus. In line with their guidelines: to limit the gatherings held in places of worship to the main prayers and also to reduce the prayer time as much as possible, I have decided on the following exceptional modifications for the parishes in our Vicariate.

Although we may have to reduce the number and the length of many communal prayers, the dignity of the celebrations and the devotion of the people should be kept alive as much as possible. For this purpose, I am issuing the following rules to be adapted according to the local circumstances while respecting the basic requirements from the government(s).

1. The main prayers of the churches, especially the Sacraments, are to continue. Communal prayers by prayer groups/small communities in the various church premises are to be discontinued until further notice.  
2. Where the Morning Prayer or the Evening Prayer is celebrated before Mass it is prayed for 10 minutes. The presider proposes which parts can be shortened or dropped (e.g. only 1-2 verses of the Hymn, the responsory after the short reading etc.).
3. The rosary recited before Mass can be shortened from 5 decades to only 1 decade. It opens as usual and ends with “Hail, Holy Queen” and the concluding prayer.
4. The Stations of the Cross in Lent can be reduced to the Opening and Closing Prayers, and the essential part for each Station (“We adore you”, brief meditation and a single prayer). 
5. Novenas can be reduced to just the central (main) novena prayer, omitting the other prayers and hymns. If needed, a single hymn may be sung while people leave the church. Distribution of the blessed bread, sprinkling with holy water, etc. is omitted for the present.  
6. Holy Hours of Adoration can be reduced from 60 minutes to 15-25 minutes. Separate Adorations for small prayer groups should be cancelled in favour of the parish Holy Hour.
7. In most of our parishes the Weekday Masses already now are celebrated within 25 – 30 minutes. This timing can be kept easily if the homily is replaced by a 2-minute Gospel reflection or omitted if the readings are very long.
8. The Obligatory Masses should not exceed 40 – 45 minutes. This can be achieved by reducing some parts (e.g. incense, solemn entrance procession, the length of the singing during offertory and communion). The homily has to be short, especially when the readings are long. The Apostolic Creed can be recited instead of the Nicene Creed. The Prayers of the Faithful can be lesser in number and be kept short. There should always be a sufficient number of Communion ministers to shorten the time of distribution of the Holy Communion. The purification of the ciboria and communion plates can be done immediately after the mass in a dignified way. Finally, the announcements should be kept very short (with full text displayed on the notice boards and social media). Masses in the oriental rites need more time; the concerned priests will decide on the elements that can be shortened without affecting the devotion.
9. For the solemn celebrations of the Holy Week, further directives will be communicated in due course.

Keeping the rules of prudence and putting our trust in God we continue to pray that “we may be always kept free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ”.

Abu Dhabi, 10th March 2020

+ Paul Hinder OFM Cap

Apostolic Vicar for Southern Arabia

(UAE, Oman, Yemen)