PITTSBURGH — As government leaders develop reopening plans for Pennsylvania, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has come up with a plan to offer some sacraments with restrictions.
The changes are effective immediately, the diocese announced Thursday.
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Weddings, funerals and confession are the sacraments being addressed by the diocese.
Here are the restrictions:
- Weddings: They can be celebrated with no more than 10 people, including the officiant. Couples are advised that once the ritual of matrimony is celebrated, it cannot be repeated, so a Mass of Thanksgiving sometime after the actual wedding ceremony can be planned if the couple wishes for more than 10 people to gather.
- Funerals: In exceptional circumstances, funerals with a Mass can be scheduled, but with a limit of 10 people or less. The diocese noted that cemeteries are still closed for public interments.
- Confession: The Sacrament of Penance can be celebrated, but only outdoors, either in parking lots or another place where social distancing is respected. It cannot be done in churches, rectories or any parish buildings.
Carrying out the directives will be at the discretion of individual parish administrators, according to the diocese. People should contact their pastor with questions.
Until further notice, church buildings are not being reopened and public celebrations of Mass continues to be suspended.
“As we look forward to the day when we can all join together in our parishes to celebrate Holy Masses again, I remain concerned for the protection of the health of our community. We want to keep everyone healthy, and we want to make sure that we do not put ourselves in a position to advance the contagion,” Bishop David Zubik said.
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