Miri Catholic Diocese suspends Masses from Mar 20 to April 3

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MIRI: The Catholic Diocese here has suspended all weekend and weekday Masses for two weeks starting March 20 to April 3 in the face of the rapidly increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Sarawak.

Miri Roman Catholic Bishop, Reverend Richard Ng, said yesterday the diocese will continue to monitor and review the situation to determine if the suspension needs to be extended beyond April 3.

All catechism classes, Sunday Schools, RCIA sessions and other activities like meetings, gatherings, faith formation and fellowships will also be cancelled during this period.

However, churches and chapels will remain open for private and personal prayers as well as Eucharistic adoration according to the times scheduled by the parishes.

“We are making arrangements to broadcast online masses over the weekends in the various major languages and will provide the links as soon as we have them.

“Although, a broadcast mass is no substitute for an actual mass, it can still serve as a form of spiritual devotion.

“The experiences of other countries have taught us that social-distancing can contain massive outbreaks.

“The current measures we are taking are also in accordance with the recommendation of the Ministry of Health and the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee to postpone all mass gatherings,” Ng said.