Announcements from the Diocese and Msgr. Sullivan
Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic
 

In light of Governor Baker’s executive order, Bishop McManus, in concert with the Presbyteral Council (the Deans of the Diocese), has announced the following changes which go into effect until further notice (at least several weeks from now, 3/16):

 
* All daily and Sunday Masses are suspended. The obligation to take part in the Mass on Sundays and Holy days of Obligation is thereby lifted.
 
* During the period of this suspension the commitments we have made for Mass intentions will be honored as we can. Priests will be offering private Masses for these intentions.
 
* The church will be open for private prayer between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm as long as the number of persons present at any time does not exceed 25 persons.
 
* Parishioners are encouraged to watch Mass on television. A live broadcast of the Sunday Mass will be offered by Bishop McManus at 10:00 am on Sunday mornings on Charter channel 193. It will be repeated at 6:00 pm. Weekday Masses will be offered at 9:00 am on Charter channel 193. A schedule is being developed for Masses in Spanish.
 
* The readings for the Mass each day can be found on the main page of the CTK website.
 
* Parish priests will not have access to our hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers and assisted living facilities. In the hospitals only existing in-house chaplains will provide pastoral care. Two priests in each deanery (or defined area) will be trained and assigned to all serious pastoral emergencies for at-home visits. They will be relieved of all other pastoral duties.
 
* All confessions are suspended. In the case of the dying only those two trained priests (above) will be hearing confessions.
 
* ALL religious education classes and all meetings at Christ the King are suspended.
 
* Priests are urged to remain in the rectory and maintain phone, email and social media contact with parishioners.
 
* Parishioners and visitors should not visit the rectory at this time. All priests have been asked to safeguard their health so as to be available for emergency situations and their (now more) limited pastoral duties. The Chancery Offices of the Diocese will be closed to the public during this period.
 
* Funeral Masses may be celebrated with the immediate family only (limited to 15 people). Staggered seating will be necessary for these funerals. The doors of the church will be locked once the family has arrived. Families will be provided the opportunity to celebrate only the Rites of Committal at the cemetery (with a Funeral Mass to be scheduled sometime in the future when the crisis is over).

 
A Prayer in Time of Pandemic
 
O God, whose Only Begotten Son bore the weight of human suffering for our salvation, hear the prayers of your Church for our sick brothers and sisters and deliver us from this time of trial. Open our ears and our hearts to the voice of your Son: Be not afraid, for I am with you always. Bless all doctors and nurses, researchers and public servants. Give us the wisdom to do what is right and the faith to endure this hour, that we might gather once again to praise your name in the heart of your Church, delivered from all distress and confident in your mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.