Bishop says it’s OK for Catholics in SW Florida to skip Mass during coronavirus pandemic
Roman Catholics in the Diocese of Venice, which is comprised of southwest Florida counties that have seen more than a dozen people diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, have been excused from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
Bishop Frank Dewane had already offered dispensation to Catholics at risk of contracting COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, or those caring for them. On Saturday, he expanded his ruling to include all Catholics in the diocese, which that extends from Collier County to Manatee County.
“Now that a national emergency has been declared and the State of Florida has provided further guidance, many of the Catholic Faithful may deem it prudent to avoid large gatherings,” Dewane said in a letter issued Saturday “Therefore, out of an abundance of spiritual concern, I now extend the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass to all the Catholic Faithful until further notice.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised Florida officials to discourage gatherings in the state of more than 250 people, to reduce the risk of people contracting the novel coronavirus.
The latest Florida Department of Health statistics show that at least 13 residents of the 10 counties in the diocese, including four in Manatee County, have diagnosed with COVID-19. Two of the patients, both in Lee County, have died.
In his letter, Dewane also announced that all Catholic schools in the diocese, including St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Bradenton, would be closed until at least March 30. Public schools in Florida will also be closed until that date.
Dewane also said that all planned meetings and other events, such as youth group activities at parishes in the diocese, were being postponed or canceled until further notice.
Catholics can fulfill the Sunday obligation by watching the diocese’s weekly televised Mass, either on local TV stations or via the diocese’s website.
Text of bishop’s letter
In a letter to the faithful, dated March 14, Bishop Dewane stated:
“Out of pastoral concern, a dispensation has been issued from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass for those effected by the Coronavirus. Now that a national emergency has been declared and the State of Florida has provided further guidance, many of the Catholic Faithful may deem it prudent to avoid large gatherings. Therefore, out of an abundance of spiritual concern, I now extend the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass to all the Catholic Faithful until further notice.”
The letter continues: “The celebration of the Holy Eucharist will continue in our churches with the necessary precautions. All the Catholic Faithful are asked to observe the Lord’s Day with reverence and in spiritual communion with one another, whether you attend Mass or not during this time.”
Further, in an addendum to the letter, Bishop Dewane took the following additional precautions, which are effective immediately throughout the Diocese of Venice:
• Classes will be suspended in all Catholic Schools within the Diocese of Venice until March 30, 2020.
• All Parish Religious Education and Youth activities will be suspended until March 30, 2020.• Parish events should be postponed or canceled through March 30, 2020.
• Parish and Diocesan offices will remain open during this time.
The Diocese continues to closely monitor the situation and will issue updates as appropriate on the Diocesan website www.dioceseofvenice.org.
The Diocese of Venice in Florida has long produced a Televised Catholic Mass for the Homebound to fulfill the Sunday Obligation. For those unable to attend the Mass and seeking a spiritual connection to the Catholic Church during this time of difficulty, the Mass airs on the CW at 9:30 a.m. Sundays in the Northern Deanery (Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Hardee, Highlands counties) and on Fox 4 at 10:30 a.m. Sundays in the Southern Deanery (Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Glades, Hendry counties) and is also available on the Diocese website at www.dioceseofvenice.org.
Bishop Dewane concluded his letter to the faithful: “As Holy Mother Church makes her pilgrimage through the Lenten Season, please be assured of my continuing prayerful encouragement and support. Let us be united in prayer that God, who is our refuge and strength, will give us courage and perseverance in charity during this time, that we might remain healthy and encourage our brothers and sisters who are ill.”