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Bishop David Zubik Announces Changes for Holy Week Amid COVID-19 Concern

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  In respect of, and in cooperation with, government health and safety guidelines related to the coronavirus (COVID-19), Bishop David Zubik is releasing the following details for Holy Week in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.  The directives represent changes in the observances of long-standing, honored traditions in the Catholic Church.  
  
  “Although we will observe Holy Week in a different way, the heart of the sacred week remains intact.  Jesus is bringing people together in new ways to honor the great sacrifice of Jesus in His Passion and Death,” Bishop Zubik said. 
    
  Liturgies leading up to and including the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday mark the most important week in the Catholic Church. The holiest three days of the year, known as the Triduum, are celebrated from the evening of Holy Thursday through the Easter Vigil.  The focus of Holy Week is a remembrance of the suffering and death of Jesus, leading to a deepened experience of the joy of His Resurrection on Easter.  
    
  For this year’s Holy Week in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh: 
  • Bishop Zubik will live stream Masses and Prayer Services that people will be able to watch through the diocesan website.  A list of parishes with live stream schedules will also be shared at www.diopitt.org.
  • All previous directives will remain in effect to adhere to the current government recommendation of no more than ten people gathered. For this reason, there will be no public celebration of liturgies.
  • Churches will not be open during scheduled Masses/liturgies but may remain open at other times for individuals who wish to make a short visit. People should contact their parishes to confirm times. 
  • Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020:  Bishop Zubik will celebrate a Mass that will be live streamed at 10 a.m. Priests throughout the diocese will also celebrate private Palm Sunday Masses and bless palms which will be made available for people to pick up at a later date when restrictions are lifted.
  • Holy Thursday, April 9, 2020:  Bishop Zubik will celebrate the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, live streamed at 7:00 p.m.  The Washing of the Feet, which is optional, will be omitted from observances this year.
  • Good Friday, April 10, 2020:  Bishop Zubik will celebrate Friday of the Passion of the Lord, live streamed at 3:00 p.m.
  • Holy Saturday, April 11, 2020: The traditional ecumenical blessing over the City of Pittsburgh is postponed and will be rescheduled once the restrictions are lifted.  There will be no blessing of Easter baskets. Bishop Zubik will celebrate the Easter Vigil, live streamed at 8:30 p.m.
  • Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020:  Bishop Zubik will celebrate Holy Mass, live streamed at 10:00 a.m. The annual Blessing of Families at St. Paul Cathedral is cancelled.
  “Our commemoration of Holy Week is always meant to reawaken in our hearts the great sacrifice of the Passion and Death of Jesus leading to the exhilarating experience of His Resurrection.  This year, and in light of the unusual sacrifices we have had to make because of COVID-19, it is my hope that we can more deeply cherish the sacrifices Jesus has made for us as we hope to share in His Resurrection when we breathe our last,” Bishop Zubik said. 

The Secretariat of State of the Holy See has requested that all local Churches be informed that all members of the faithful and other Christians are invited to participate in the special prayer of the Holy Father taking place in Saint Peter’s Square this Friday, March 27, 2020. The Apostolic Nunciature further conveys that during this Statio orbis, which will be broadcast by Mondovision and streamed on the website of Vatican News:https://www.vaticannews.va at 6:00pm in Rome, 1:00pm (Pennsylvania time), the Holy Father will grant to all participants the Plenary Indulgence before imparting the Urbi et Orbi Blessing. You are kindly requested to publish this information to your people through email lists and social media channels

Your Diocesan Update March 22, 2020 Hello! Thank you to those of you who tuned into our YouTube channel this morning to watch Mass live streamed with Bishop Zubik.  As you saw, due to massive Internet volume, we unfortunately experienced some technical issues that impacted video and audio quality. We appreciate your patience as we work to make sure our system is able to handle the extra volume during this time. Looking ahead, we will be bringing you Masses, prayer services, recitation of the Rosary, reflections, and more. Click here to discover spiritual resources on our website. As we wind down on this Sunday evening, we thought you might like to connect with: Bishop Zubik's sermon from today's Mass A virtual tour of the seminary chapel where today's Mass was held An important reminder about some special days coming up this week  Be assured of our continued prayers for you and your family every day. God bless you. The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Register Here to Keep Receiving Our Newsletters Bishop Zubik's Homily: March 22, 2020 "It’s maybe this moment when we can, in our quietness, open our minds and especially our hearts, to see each other the way that God sees us. Yes, we’re all sinners. God knows that. But He sees something much more than that; He sees into our own hearts." Bishop Zubik looks at the Scripture readings from today's Mass in light of the challenges of the coronavirus and social distancing. Explore the St. Paul Seminary Chapel:  Our Streaming Home Base Bishop David Zubik, Seminary Rector Father Tom Sparacino, and seminarians Erik Pintar and Loc Van Tran give us a tour of the gorgeous and historic St. Paul Seminary Chapel.  Important Reminders:  Day of Fasting and Day of Prayer We have an important week coming up!  Tuesday, March 24: a Day of Fasting for protection against the coronavirus and for all who are suffering in its wake.  Wednesday, March 25: a day of prayer on the Feast of the Annunciation. All churches in the diocese will ring their bells for 5 minutes at 3:00 pm, the hour of Divine Mercy. The faithful are asked to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet then, available here. Click to watch Bishop Zubik's video for more information about these special events, the spiritual resources available on the diocesan website, and in his new pastoral letter, "The Other Side of Corona." Get the Worship Guides Your News Hub: diopitt.org. Click here for COVID-19 updates and spiritual resources.  Connect with us! Follow, like and subscribe @diopitt on social media   ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌

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Your Diocesan Update

NEW! Your News Hub: diopitt.org. Click here for COVID-19 updates and spiritual resources.

Sacramental changes: Faithful are allowed to eat meat on Fridays in Lent, except Good Friday. Priests can offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation in church parking lots. In hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities, where a priest is not allowed to personally interact with patients or staff due to COVID-19 restrictions, he may grant general absolution.  Get more details here Quick Links: Pennsylvania Department of Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention World Health Organization "The Other Side of Corona" Bishop Zubik has written a new Pastoral Letter about the impact of the coronavirus. Click here to read Bishop Zubik's Pastoral Letter

NEW! Live Stream Mass with Bishop Zubik

Click here to watch Every Sunday at 10 am on YouTube The coronavirus won’t stop us from coming together virtually as a community!  Bishop Zubik will live stream Mass every Sunday at 10 am via the diocese’s YouTube channel, from a private chapel at St. Paul Seminary.  STARTS SUNDAY, MARCH 22nd!

Days of fasting and prayer on March 24 and 25

Respond to the Crisis with Faith Tuesday, March 24, 2020:  Day of Fasting Bishop Zubik has announced a Day of Fasting for protection against the coronavirus and for all who are suffering in its wake.    Wednesday, March 25, 2020, The Feast of the Annunciation:  Day of Prayer A number of prayer resources are available here.

Connect with us!

"God is nearer to us than we are to ourselves." Bishop David Zubik encourages us to cling to St. Augustine’s words during these difficult days. Even amid fear and loneliness, God will never leave or abandon us.

"No matter what's going on right now, God is always true to His promises." Father Adam Potter offers words of hope amid the uncertainties of the coronavirus outbreak. He encourages us model of the Blessed Mother and to trust in God's promises as she did.

Mar 20, 2020 Fri 7:02 PM

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is dispensing the obligation to abstain from eating meat on Lenten Fridays — except for Good Friday — amid the coronavirus outbreak. 

“As you are aware, many of the shelves and cases in our supermarkets are sparse if not empty. This is a time when pastoral necessity has informed my decision effective today,” Bishop David Zubik said in a press release. 

The Diocese of Pittsburgh has already cancelled all its fish frys.

In a press release, the diocese also says priests are permitted to hear confessions in church parking lots, “following specific guidelines to preserve the
sanctity of the sacrament.”

Coronavirus Cancellations: Diocese Of Pittsburgh Cancels All Fish Frys 

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Diocese of Pittsburgh is cancelling all its fish frys amid the coronavirus outbreak.

“As a clarification of a previous announcement regarding the cancellation of all parish activities in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, fish fries and the Stations of the Cross are to be cancelled effective immediately,” the diocese said in a news release. 

“”My main priority and consideration with these decisions is for the safety and well-being of our priests, deacons, parishioners, and, indeed, the whole community,” Bishop David Zubik said in the same news release.

On Monday, the diocese said all first reconciliations and first communions in March are postponed and rescheduled. The diocese said the availability of those April events will be determined in the future.

All scheduled confirmations in March are also postponed and will be rescheduled. The status of confirmations in April is TBD.

Communal anointing of the sick is suspended until further notice, but priests will offer annotating of the sick on an individual basis.

Weddings and funerals may proceed with limited attendance.

Parishes must cancel all scheduled events until further notice, the diocese says, and baptism is permitted outside of Mass.

 For Release: March 16, 2020
 Bishop David Zubik Issues Directives
 for Sacraments and Parish Activities in the Diocese of Pittsburgh

With a continuing commitment to protect health and safety due to coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns, and in the wake of suspending all public Masses in the diocese until further notice, today Bishop Zubik issued directives regarding sacraments and other parish activities.
The following guidelines are effective immediately and until further notice:

Baptism
 The celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism, outside of Mass, is permitted. In order to limit any potential spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) to a vulnerable population, only a small private family baptism should be held. Multiple baptisms of several children from different families is not permitted. All state and local government-imposed restrictions on the number of people at public gatherings are to be obeyed.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults ( RCIA)
RCIA Instructors will communicate with those preparing to be received in the church with further details.
Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion
All First Reconciliations and First Communions for the month of March are to be postponed and rescheduled at another date. Dates for First Reconciliation and First Communion after April 1, 2020 will be determined in the future depending on the circumstances surrounding the coronavirus.

Sacrament of Confirmation
All scheduled confirmations for the month of March are postponed and will be rescheduled. Confirmation dates after April 1, 2020 will be determined in the future depending on circumstances surrounding the coronavirus.

Sacrament of Reconciliation
The Light is on for You, scheduled for April 1, 2020 has been cancelled. Parishes will be offering regularly scheduled times for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Health guidelines regarding social distancing will be followed.

Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
Communal celebration of the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is suspended until further notice. Priests will offer Anointing of the Sick on an individual basis following health and safety guidelines related to coronavirus.
    
Funerals and Weddings
Until further notice, weddings and funerals may proceed but attendance should be limited to immediate family. All state and local government-imposed restrictions on the number of people at public gatherings are to be obeyed.

Parish Events and Activities
In compliance with the requests of governmental leaders and sound medical practices, parishes must cancel all scheduled events until further notice.

Church Buildings
While churches will remain open for private prayer, including adoration, there will be no scheduled “services” that would bring people together at a specific time. Social distancing must be maintained if people attend church for private prayer.
 

“During this time of unknowns, concerns about access to the sacraments have created anxiety among the faithful. We will be working to reassure people and help them with ways to live and strengthen their faith during this unprecedented time. I continue to ask all of us to come together in prayer, especially with the intercession of the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph to guide and protect us,” Bishop Zubik said.