Northern Ireland

Vulnerable people and those with underlying health conditions are being excused from attending Mass

Vulnerable Catholics and those with underlying health conditions are being excused from attending Mass
Vulnerable Catholics and those with underlying health conditions are being excused from attending Mass Vulnerable Catholics and those with underlying health conditions are being excused from attending Mass

Vulnerable people and those with underlying health conditions have been asked not to attend Mass.

New guidelines were issued by the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference in response to the ongoing Coronavirus scare last night.

While some existing restrictions will continue other measures to stop the spread of the virus have been introduced.

These include asking at risk groups not to attend funerals or confirmation and dispensing with the Sunday Mass obligation.

Priests and lay ministers will be required to sanitise their hands before and after distributing Holy Communion.

Hand sanitiser will be provided in churches.

Those attending church are also being asked as far as possible to “keep a safe distance from one another".

The bishops have also said that “priests are asked to provide an alternative to the practice of passing collection baskets through the congregation".

Holy water fonts will remain empty and the sign of peace continues to be suspended.

Those attending funerals have also been advised not to shake hands in a sign of sympathy.

The Sacrament of Confirmation “will continue for now but may have to be postponed at very short notice in the light of future advice from the public health authorities”.

The Catholic bishops said “those with underlying conditions and those who are considered vulnerable are dispensed from their Sunday obligation to attend”.

They also “strongly encourage” people with those conditions “to be spiritually united with their local community”.

“Where possible they should avail of parish radio broadcasts and webcam,” they added.