Catholic Archdiocese in Kansas City, Kansas, cancels Masses ‘for the time being’
As concern over the spreading coronavirus mounts, and as Easter approaches, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas on Tuesday said all Catholic Masses, other than for funerals, would be canceled “for the time being.”
Cancellation of Mass could possibly include Easter Sunday Mass on April 12.
The Archdiocese represents 118 churches in northeast Kansas.
Catholic churches in Kansas City, Missouri, are represented by the Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph. On Monday, it, too, announced it would suspend all public masses, but so far only until April 3.
Since Wednesday, when the World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus, or COVID-19 contagion, to be a pandemic, churches have been working to adapt, offering Masses and services through live-streaming as they close their doors to large public gatherings.
On Monday, Mayor Quinton Lucas, in Kansas City banned the gathering of 10 people or more and instructed that restaurants only offer food for take out or delivery, as have other major cities. President Donald Trump also recommended gatherings of no more than 10 people.
In a news release, Archbishop Joseph Naumann of The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas said that even funeral Mass would be limited to no more than 50 people, including friends and relatives. No funeral luncheons would be held at churches.
“At no time should there be more than 50 people gathered in the church,” Naumann announced.
The same goes for baptisms, also limited to 50 attendees. “Only parents, godparents and immediate family members who are asymptomatic may attend,” Naumann said.
Confessions will still be heard, but in a throwback to the 1960s and 1970s, it will only be heard through a screen or barrier and not face-to-face.
Kansas City churches on the Missouri side of the state line on Monday also received updated edicts that include:
▪ Confirmation Masses with the bishop will be rescheduled.
▪ Public weddings need to be rescheduled, particularly those in April. Simple weddings and validations may be celebrated, but only with the minister, official witnesses and asymptomatic immediate family members.
▪ Funerals may be celebrated, but only with the minister and immediate family members. Pastors may use discretion on other requests from families on including others.
“I encourage all of the faithful to continue to join together in prayer for the health and protection of our entire community and nation, and for an end to this crisis,” Naumann wrote. He encouraged all families and individuals to “pray the rosary, invoking the intercession and protection of our Blessed Mother.”
