Covid-19: Catholic Church in Peninsula temporarily suspends all public masses

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Catholic faithful wearing masks as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus, queue up as a nun (right) sprinkles ash on their heads during Ash Wednesday at a church compound in Manila in this file photo. AFP File Photo

MIRI: The Catholic Church in Peninsular Malaysia is suspending all public masses for about two weeks from this weekend in its bid to contain the spread of Covid-19, a news report said.

Citing an announcement by the Catholic Bishops of Peninsular Malaysia, The New Straits Times reported today that all weekend and weekday public masses will be suspended from March 14 or March 13, if the state’s weekend begins on Friday, to March 29, 2020.

“This coincides with the public school holidays. We therefore exempt all Catholics from fulfilling their Sunday obligation of assisting and attending mass during this period,” the bishops said in a statement.

The statement was jointly signed by Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Most Reverend Julian Leow, Bishop of Penang Right Reverend Sebastian Francis and Bishop of Malacca-Johor Right Reverend Bernard Paul.

“This move was in accordance with the recommendation of the Health Ministry issued on March 11 to postpone all mass gatherings,” they added.

The church also ordered the suspension or cancellation of other church activities such as catechism classes, meetings, gatherings, formations and fellowship sessions .

During this suspension period, weddings or funerals are to be conducted privately with guests limited to immediate family members and close friends, the statement added.

As an alternative, the bishops suggested parishioners to watch televised masses as a form of spiritual “devotion.

Sarawak’s Catholic Church has not made any announcement on the suspension of mass.