Pandemic Messages from Archbishop

This page features pandemic messages from Archbishop Jackels regarding the celebration of Holy Mass.

You may find an archive of all his messages dating back to 2016 here.

Continued guidance on Church-sponsored activities

On 5 February 2021, the Governor decreed that the State of Iowa is still in a public health disaster emergency, to continue at least until 7 March 2021.

The same decree recognizes that the risk of COVID-19 transmission is substantially reduced by taking appropriate public health safety measures.

In fact, the Governor still strongly encourages that these reasonable measures be taken throughout the State of Iowa, even though there is no mandate.

Moreover, in some places, in spite of the Governor’s decree, these public health safety measures are still mandated by City or County ordinance.

With regard to Church-sponsored activities (Mass and meetings, school and RE, just to name a few), the public health safety measures will continue to be observed until the COVID-19 vaccine is available to all who are able to receive it, and the CDC announces that the pandemic is under control:

• Stay home if you are sick, frail from age or illness, or vulnerable.
• Wash your hands.
• Wear a mask.
• Avoid physical contact as much as possible.
• Keep a safe (social) distance from people outside your household.
• Sanitize commonly-touched surfaces.
• In church, holy water fonts should be emptied, and reusable materials should be removed from pews.
• At Holy Mass, singing should be kept to a minimum, liturgical ministers should be kept to a few, or none,
• And only the Host is distributed for Communion, and in the hand.

The COVID is a very contagious and life-threatening virus. For the love of God and neighbor, wear a mask even if it isn’t mandated, and get vaccinated when it becomes available to you.

Michael Jackels
Archbishop of Dubuque

Reopening of parishes in the Archdiocese of Dubuque

I am happy to announce that starting 30-31 May 2020, Pentecost Sunday, the parishes in the Archdiocese of Dubuque are able to gather for outreach to the poor, for faith formation programs, and for the public celebration of Mass and Sacraments - Thanks be to God!

This decision was based on receiving confirmation of our interpretation of the relevant data, namely, that there has been a 14-day downward trend in positive tests, hospitalizations, and deaths related to COVD-19 in the 30 northeastern counties in Iowa.

The priests in the Archdiocese of Dubuque are kindly asked not to start before the reopening date of 30-31 May 2020.

The parishioners in the Archdiocese of Dubuque are kindly asked to understand if Mass is not available locally, should the priest decide that it isn’t prudent to reopen on account of his own compromised health situation, or because the coronavirus is still raging in the area.

The reason for the delay between announcing the reopening and actually doing it is to give time to take the necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone. A checklist has been provided to parishes to suggest what needs attention before reopening.

We’re not yet out of the woods; the coronavirus is still with us. If we’re not careful, it could come back with a vengeance. We will continue to monitor the data.

Our policy remains: err on the side of caution. That’s why, at any gathering for outreach to the poor, faith formation, and worship we’ll be asked to do things like wear a mask, practice social distancing, and at Mass, for Holy Communion, receive only the Host, and in the hand.

Also, if we’re sick, or frail due to advanced age, or have an underlying medical condition, or nervous about getting COVID-19, we shouldn’t be gathering together for any reason.

With regard to gathering for a liturgy or a devotional in church, on account of social distancing, there will only be room for a smaller number of people to attend.

But not to worry, because everyone will still remain dispensed from the law to participate in Mass on Sundays and holy days, until further notice, probably when a vaccine is available. Those who want to receive Holy Communion can satisfy that desire at a weekday Mass.

When we open, remember to pray for those who died during the pandemic, and for those who haven’t been able to grieve their passing properly. And pray, too, for people who are sick, for caregivers, and for those who live in fear for their lives and their livelihood.

Gathering for faith formation programs, and for public celebration of Mass and Sacraments are important practices of our holy Catholic Faith. But so is charity, inspiring our care for the poor, and our devotion to the common good, which inspires the precautions we’re taking.

We eventually want the pews filled, and programs well-attended, it just might take some time. Prayers for the end of the pandemic’s threat, as well as patience and cooperation are what’s needed most right now. May God bless us all.

Michael Jackels
Archbishop of Dubuque

• News Release of the message below 
• Download a PDF of the message
• Lee el mensaje en español

A message from the Catholic bishops of Iowa

Our Dear People:
 
Since the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, Catholics in Iowa have been obliged by civil, scientific, and church authorities to sacrifice the opportunity to receive sacraments and worship in common.
 
With the lifting of restrictions against certain public gatherings, including religious assemblies, by Governor Kim Reynolds, members of the faithful are understandably renewed in their hope that they might safely return to church and resume some form of regular parish life. Yet the spread of the COVID-19 disease remains a real and present danger. In particular, the health and survival of the elderly and other vulnerable populations is still a grave concern. Many parishioners and priests fall within these groups.
 
In light of the expectation that positive cases of COVID-19 will peak in Iowa in the next few weeks, we have decided it would be most prudent for now to continue to follow the liturgical restrictions we have in place, including the suspension of public Masses. Without an effective vaccine or widespread testing and contact data that justifies a change in course, we simply are not at a place where we can resume our previous prayer practices.
 
The suspension of the Sunday Mass obligation remains in effect statewide, and all vulnerable persons, the sick, and those may who have been exposed to the virus are asked to look after their own welfare with the support of those who care for them. We ask parish, school and diocesan staff to continue to minister to the faithful, and the faithful to each other, in ways other than meeting in groups during this difficult time of the pandemic. We strongly encourage parishioners to visit the website and social media outlets of the parishes and schools to stay in touch as we look forward to gathering in person.
 
We will continue to closely monitor the statewide and respective regional situations through the weeks of May and beyond. When the time comes that we can gather in greater numbers while observing social distance, safe hygienic practices and other precautions without placing one another at serious risk, public Masses and other sacramental celebrations will be allowed to resume.
 
These days are not easy. We understand that many of you are frustrated with this situation; so are we. We want to celebrate Mass with our parishioners and get back to “normal.” However, we take the advice of Paul: “Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer” (Romans 12:12). Take comfort in knowing that Jesus is with us and with you, our faithful.

Your Brothers in Christ,

Most Rev. Michael Jackels
Archbishop of Dubuque

Most Rev. R. Walker Nickless
Bishop of Sioux City

Most Rev. Thomas Zinkula
Bishop of Davenport

Most Rev. William Joensen
Bishop of Des Moines

• Lee el mensaje en español.

Follow Jesus through the storm: an Easter message from Archbishop Jackels

Before becoming bishop of Dubuque, I was bishop of Wichita, Kansas. While there, on 4 May 2007, an EF-5 tornado hit the little town of Greensburg, Kansas, population 1500 souls.
 
The tornado was 2 miles wide – wider than the town itself – and was on the ground for 30 minutes, with winds of 200 miles per hour.
 
When the storm finally ended, nothing was the same afterwards: people died, others were injured, and 95% of the town was completely destroyed.
 
But though things were different afterwards, they were also better, for the town rebuilt according to the highest environmental standards of the time – Greensburg went green!
 
There’s a lesson there for us, in what we’re going through now: storms happen, but they end, and life resumes, perhaps different than before, maybe even better.
 
There’s a lesson there, too, for us as followers of Jesus in his Catholic Church.
 
What happened to Jesus that first Holy Week was like a storm, especially for his followers: they went home sad, despairing, not understanding Jesus’ death, or what resurrection is.
 
But the storm passed, and once they understood Jesus’ death and resurrection, life resumed, though different than what they were used to, and most certainly better.
 
Better, how? Better because, by the death and resurrection of Jesus:

• We are freed from slavery to sin and from the futility of suffering;
• And we know we’re loved without strings attached and without bounds;
• And we know we’ll enjoy eternal happiness, which comes from our desiring being quieted, which comes from our wants being fulfilled all at once, completely and forever, which comes from our perfect union with God. 

The life of Jesus’ followers is also different, because we live now, here, as if already united with God in heaven, living according to the mind and heart of God, which is modeled perfectly in the life of Jesus, and is memorialized in the Eucharist…
 
Where wheat is ground for bread, and grapes are crushed for wine – ground and crushed, but that’s okay, because that’s their fulfillment: they live to give to others.
 
And that’s our fulfillment as well: we live to give, and happy to do it! That’s the different, better life of those who follow Jesus through the storm, to risen life. Alleluia. Happy Easter.
 

• News Release of the message below
• Lee el mensaje en español.

Message from Archbishop Jackels to the Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, regarding the coronavirus
 
The President extended the restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic at least until the end of April 2020, in an attempt to slow down the spread of the disease and to reduce the number of people who get sick from it, so as not to overwhelm hospitals.
 
Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Keep your distance from other people.
 
As a consequence, we will not be able to gather as a community to celebrate the Holy Week and Easter services. Oh my.
 
Also, the provisions that were communicated a few weeks ago will remain in force until further notice:

• All public celebrations of Holy Mass are cancelled. All Catholics in the Archdiocese of Dubuque are dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
• During this time, the Archbishop will livestream a celebration of Holy Mass each Sunday, as well as the Triduum, and will lead the Rosary each week on Thursday. Click here for more information about these livestreamed events.
• Funerals, Weddings and Baptisms may be held, but limited to the immediate family, or at least no more than 10 people present.
• Communal penance services should not be held. One-on-one confession can be scheduled, but with provisions made for social distancing and keeping common surfaces sanitized. The use of general absolution during this pandemic is allowed.
• All in-person gatherings in the Archdiocese of Dubuque of more than 10 people are cancelled. If there are gatherings of 10 people or less, the standard coronavirus practices should be observed, especially social distancing.

 
All of the above-listed provisions are done out of devotion to the common good, and to give good example, contributing to the solution, not to the problem. 
 
This “fast” from Mass and sacraments does not show a lack of appreciation for them. We need God. Prayer and worship are essential practices of our faith in God, and they are ideally practiced with others, not alone. But we have to be good stewards, prudent, careful not to contribute to the spread of disease.
 
Pray. Do penance. Give alms to the poor.
 
Pray to God for speedy deliverance from the evil of the coronavirus, for those who are sick, for those who care for the sick and elderly, for those who fear for their lives and livelihood, and that we might all remain calm and confident in God’s wisdom, power, and goodness.
 
Do penance, if by no other way than to practice silence when tempted to pass on gossip, or to say something hurtful, or to murmur against God (and the archbishop).
 
And give alms, all of us, especially those who have the means, contributing to our parishes and to Catholic Charities, in their attempts to help people who are out of work, or who can’t afford rent, food, medicine, and other essentials.
 
God, come to our assistance. Lord, make haste to help us. Mary, health of the sick, pray for us. St. Raphael, patron of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, and patron of healing, pray for us.

• News Release of the message below
• Lee el mensaje en español.

Message from Archbishop Jackels regarding the dispensation from the obligation to abstain from meat on March 27 and April 3

Archbishop Jackels has dispensed the Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese of Dubuque from the obligation to abstain from meat on Friday, 27 March 2020 and on Friday, 3 April 2020. 

This dispensation does not apply to Good Friday, 10 April 2020.

This dispensation is granted in view of the difficulty people might have in finding meal alternatives to meat, or to go out for grocery shopping.

The Fridays of Lent remain days of prayer and penance. Those who are able to abstain from meat, should do so. Those who aren’t able to abstain, should perform some other act of penance.

An example of an alternative penance might be to bear up silently and with calm under the extra-ordinary strains and burdens of being cooped up at home.

• News Release of the message below
• Lee el mensaje en español.

• All public celebrations of Holy Mass are cancelled. All Catholics in the Archdiocese of Dubuque are dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
• The Chrism Mass will be celebrated, but with only the liturgical ministers present. The oils will be blessed, bottled, and distributed in some way to the parishes. 
• During this time, the Archbishop will live stream a celebration of Holy Mass each Sunday, as well as the Chrism Mass (and the Triduum, if the situation has not changed by then), and will lead the Rosary each week on Thursday. Click here for more information about these live-streamed events.
• The existing schedule for Confirmation is cancelled (the Archbishop’s office will contact the parishes to reschedule). 
• Funerals, Weddings and Baptisms may be held, but limited to the immediate family, or at least no more than 50 people present, according to the current CDC guidelines.
• Communal penance services should not be held. The present circumstances do not constitute the grave necessity required for use of general absolution. Private, one-on-one confession can be scheduled by appointment.
• All archdiocesan-sponsored events where 50+ people are gathered are cancelled.