Northern Ireland

Churches to be hit by ban on mass gatherings

Fr Eugene O'Hagan, Fr Anthony McAleese and Fr Eugene O'Neill light the candle for lunchtime mass in St Patrick's Church, Donegall Street, Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann
Fr Eugene O'Hagan, Fr Anthony McAleese and Fr Eugene O'Neill light the candle for lunchtime mass in St Patrick's Church, Donegall Street, Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann Fr Eugene O'Hagan, Fr Anthony McAleese and Fr Eugene O'Neill light the candle for lunchtime mass in St Patrick's Church, Donegall Street, Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann

Irish Catholics have been excused from attending Sunday Mass as the Coronavirus crisis deepens.

Fresh guidelines issued last night by senior bishops have also limited all church gatherings to a maximum of 100 people.

The move came after Taoseach Leo Varadkar also capped indoor gatherings to the same number.

The ban will hit many services, particularly popular Vigil and Sunday morning masses.

A statement published on behalf of the Irish Episcopal Conference by Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly and Archbishop Michael Neary, the senior churchmen also confirmed the cancellation of all confirmation ceremonies until further notice.

As of yesterday all non-essential gatherings have been put on hold.

Attendance at funeral services and Masses should be limited to close relatives and must not exceed 100 people within the church building.

Weddings and baptisms have also been limited to 100 attendees.

However, the bishops have said that churches will remain open for prayer.

In the statement they said that “in the current emergency situation, all are dispensed from the obligation to physically attend Sunday Mass”.

“Parishes should inform parishioners of the local possibilities to participate in Mass via local radio and online,” they said.

“It may be possible for some parishes to facilitate attendance at Mass while still observing the health authority’s limit of 100 people.”

The bishops also urged people to pray.

“This is an occasion for all of us - especially in families - to pray more intensely for each other and especially for those who have succumbed to the illness,” they said.

“We should pray also for those at the frontlines – especially doctors, nurses and medical staff and other carers, including clergy – that the Lord will protect them as they place their own wellbeing at risk in the service of all.”

The Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference announced on Wednesday night that Mass-goers with underlying conditions and those who are considered vulnerable did not have to attend services.

In response to that Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown said church authorities wanted to protect the most vulnerable.

"There could be a million people at church every weekend across the island of Ireland - far more than are attending football matches," he said.

The Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland (ICCI) said Friday congregational prayer would be cancelled immediately until further notice.

The centre's chief executive Dr Nooh Al Kaddo and the Imam’s Council of Ireland, headed by Sheikh Hussein Halawa of the ICCI, urged Muslims to follow government and HSE (Health Service Executive) guidelines.

"These are worrying times for all of Ireland and the world; we must pull together and adhere to guidelines to successfully overcome this aggressive virus," they said.

"May God protect us all, and grant speedy recovery to those afflicted."