Weddings, Funerals, Baptisms On Hold In North Jersey: Archdiocese

NEWARK, NJ — The Newark Archdiocese officially put weddings, funerals, baptisms and other services on hold Wednesday evening due to the new coronavirus.

The archdiocese, which serves an estimated 1.5 million Catholic residents of Essex, Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties, has ramped up its earlier suspensions of several cherished events such as Sunday Mass, Confirmations and celebrations of First Communion.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin announced the following new directives on Wednesday:

• Wakes and funerals must be postponed until further notice. There are no exceptions to this, regardless of the size of the group. Burials may take place with only the priest.
• All baptisms must be postponed until further notice with the exception of an extreme emergency.
• All weddings are postponed until further notice.
• The Sacrament of Reconciliation is suspended until further notice with the exception of an extreme emergency.
• All churches and adoration chapels must be closed and locked until further notice. Private prayer in any parish building must be discontinued until further notice.
• Parish offices must be closed until further notice. Employees who provide essential services should be limited and on staggered schedules.
• Pastors should see that the Blessed Sacrament is renewed in tabernacles regularly from celebrations of private Masses.

The new directives are in addition to previously announced changes, which remain in force, Tobin said:

• All public celebrations of daily and Sunday Mass suspended until further notice.
• All public celebrations of the Sacraments and other public forms of worship suspended until further notice. This includes, but is not limited to, previously scheduled Confirmations, celebrations of First Communion, penitential services, Communion services, and Liturgies of the Word.
• Anointing of the Sick: A priest may use a cotton-tipped swab or cotton ball as an instrument to anoint the sick person.
• Holy Water should be removed from all fonts.
• Celebrations of Mass should continue via live-streaming. Parishes are urged to enroll in the archdiocesan Parish Support Initiative (www.rcan.org/parishsupport ) that provides one online platform for the faithful to support the critical needs of their parish communities and other parishes in need. Contributions also are gratefully accepted through usual channels including mailed envelopes, other online giving, Annual Appeal, etc.
• The Archdiocesan Center remains closed with limited and staggering of hours.
• Catholic Schools remain closed as directed by the State of New Jersey.
• All Archdiocese of Newark Catechetical education and events sponsored by the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) are suspended.

“Anyone who has had direct exposure or potential exposure to COVID-19 is advised to carefully follow the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding isolation and quarantine protocols,” the archdiocese stated.

As of Thursday, New Jersey had a total of 4,402 cases and 62 deaths linked to COVID-19, according to the state department of health. READ MORE: NJ Coronavirus Updates (Here's What You Need To Know)

Cardinal Tobin offered a message of reassurance to worshippers last week (watch the video below).

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