
March 13, 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we continue to receive reports about the spread of the Coronavirus in our
communities, I write to you today with some news that may be difficult to hear.
After consultation with health care professionals and government officials, I
am temporarily suspending all public Masses in the Archdiocese of Detroit until
Monday, April 6.
The celebration of Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of the Catholic
faith, through which we encounter and enter into sacred Communion with the
Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. The decision to temporarily
suspend this practice was not and must never be taken lightly. As Mass is a
commemoration of Christ’s great act of love for us, we take this unprecedented
measure with eyes fixed on him and his greatest commandment to love one
another, which in this difficult time means that we ensure the health and
safety of our community by following the wise counsel of local, state, and
federal government and health officials.
During this growing spread of COVID-19, we must redouble these efforts,
particularly of prayer and fasting. We should pray and fast for God’s mercy on
our local community and the whole world to end the Coronavirus pandemic. We
should pray for medical professionals, researchers, and government leaders that
the Lord would give them wisdom in their work and that we would heed their
advice and directions for the good of society, especially for the least among
us, those who are most susceptible of contracting this virus and other
illnesses. You can find prayer resources here. More resources
will be forthcoming
The decision to temporarily suspend public Masses has been communicated to your
pastors in a separate correspondence with more details. Effective Saturday,
March 14, all Sunday and weekday public Masses, faith formation
courses, communal Penance services, and all other parish events will be
suspended in the Archdiocese of Detroit until Monday of Holy Week, April 6.
Mass will be available to you each day via live-stream and other media
channels. You can find these on our website www.aod.org. Be assured
that our priests will be offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each day in
private so as to harness and direct the great spiritual grace and power
contained therein.
As you temporarily participate at Mass in this
different way, you and your families are encouraged to make a daily Spiritual Communion by praying:
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in
the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love you above all things and I desire to
receive you in my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive you
sacramentally,
Come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace you as if you were already there
And unite myself wholly to you.
Never permit me to be separated from you.
Amen.
At the discretion of pastors, churches
may be open for private prayer so that you can approach Our Lord who is fully
present in the Tabernacle. Whenever the church remains open, it is the
responsibility of the pastor (or the one whom he designates) to ensure that no
more than 100 people are present at one time. This directive is given by local
government so that the number of cases of those infected with COVID-19 does not
spike. Therefore, so as to refrain from large gatherings, there will be no
posted times for collective prayers, recitation of the Rosary, or other set
times for gathering.
Funerals, weddings, and baptisms are at the
discretion of the pastor but are not to exceed 100 people in attendance. Holy
Communion, except as Viaticum, will not be distributed to the faithful at any
liturgy during this time.
Individual confessions, anointings, and other
forms of pastoral care can be offered in a case-by-case basis. Consult your
local parish for any of these needs during this time.
As I mentioned in my letter yesterday, let us entrust ourselves to
Our Lady of Lourdes, patron for those who suffer illness. Through her
intercession, may God grant healing and protection to the people of southeast
Michigan and beyond. And let us, by the courageous hope with which we face the
challenge of the virus’ spread, give witness to our confidence in the good news
of the Lord’s victory over suffering and death.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron
Archbishop of Detroit