Plan for Holy Week in the Diocese of Salt Lake City

Intermountain Catholic

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SALT LAKE CITY — Because public gatherings have been banned during the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Holy Week celebrations, including daily Mass, in the Diocese of Salt Lake City will be conducted without the physical presence of the faithful.

In addition, Bishop Oscar A. Solis, in a memo dated March 27, gave the following recommendations to clergy:

• Use simple rituals;

• Livestream or videotape the celebrations, if possible, so that parishioners can participate virtually;

• Announce the times of the celebrations so the faithful may prayerfully unite and participate spiritually in their homes with family members;

•  Provide resources for personal prayer and those for families;

• Announce the availability, in case of emergency, of the Sacrament of Anointing and Viaticum.

Additional information in the memo included specific details for individual celebrations.

– For Palm Sunday, the Blessing of the Palms will be optional. If palms will be distributed, they must be put in a designated place, and the person handing them out must wear gloves; those receiving the palms must maintain social distancing and should also wear gloves.

– The Chrism Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Madeleine without the participation of the faithful.

– For the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, there will be no procession or Washing of the Feet. A special intention for the sick, the dead and for those who feel lost or dismayed is to be added. At the conclusion of the Mass, there will be no procession of the Eucharist; the Blessed Sacrament will be retained in the Tabernacle. Priests may enhance their livestream after the Mass by focusing for two hours on the Blessed Sacrament for the faithful to adore in their homes. During that time, prayers may be posted on the screen and Eucharistic hymns played.

– On Good Friday, there will be no entrance procession. Additional intercessional prayers will be for those who are victims of the coronavirus pandemic: the sick, the dead, for those who feel lost or dismayed. The Veneration of the Cross will be for the celebrant only. Priests have the option of livestreaming the Stations of the Cross without the presence of the congregation; they also may broadcast Christ’s Seven Last Words.

– For the Easter Vigil, there will be no blessing of the fire. The celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation will be postponed.

– On Easter Sunday, priests again are urged to livestream their Mass, which is to be celebrated without the presence of the faithful. They may enhance the liturgy with an instrumentalist and/or cantor and no more than three singers.