8 February 2021
The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship issued a communication about the celebrations of Holy Week 2021. It stated:
1) In view of the continued COVID pandemic, the norms and directives in the liturgical books are not entirely applicable.
2) The local Bishop should make prudent decisions about the celebrations of Holy Week this year, which allow for safeguarding the common good of public health.
3) The guidelines issued for Holy Week 2020 are also valid this year.
On 6 January 2021, one of these updates entitled “Liturgy Matters” was sent from the Archbishop, offering guidance for various liturgical celebrations, including Holy Week.
Palm Sunday: Only the third form, called the simple entrance, is to be used. As a result, there is no blessing of palms, and no procession either outside or inside the church.
Chrism Mass: The Chrism Mass will be celebrated at 1:00 pm, on 30 March 2021, by the Archbishop, in the Cathedral, with the participation of only a representative from each Deanery, who will collect and distribute the blessed oils to the parishes in the Deanery. The Chrism Mass will be live-streamed.
Holy Thursday: The washing of feet, which is optional, is to be omitted. The procession with the Blessed Sacrament at the end of Mass is omitted, and the Eucharist is to be kept in the tabernacle.
Good Friday: The Solemn Intercessions should include a prayer for an end to the coronavirus pandemic (see below). Do not present the Cross for a veneration that involves touching or kissing it as long as the pandemic is in play. The people may bow or genuflect in front of the Cross as a form of veneration, but they should practice social distancing as they approach.
Easter Vigil: The preparation and lighting of the fire is to be omitted. The Easter candle is prepared and lit. The procession is omitted, and the Exultet (sung or said) follows. After the Liturgy of the Word, the Baptismal Liturgy is omitted, except the Renewal of Baptismal Promises.
Prayer for an end to the pandemic
Let us pray, dearly beloved, for a swift end to the coronavirus pandemic that afflicts our world, that our God and Father will heal the sick, strengthen those who care for them, and help us all to persevere in faith:
Almighty and merciful God, source of all life, health and healing, look with compassion on our world, brought low by disease; protect us in the midst of the grave challenges that assail us and in your fatherly providence grant recovery to the stricken, strength to those who care for them, and success to those working to eradicate this scourge. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.
Confirmation during COVID-19 limitations (2 November 2020)
As long as Catholics are dispensed from participation in Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation, and safety precautions like masks, distancing and sanitizing are required…
… The priests in the Archdiocese of Dubuque are delegated to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation until further notice.
If the pastor decides to celebrate Confirmation himself, Sarah Otting should be notified.
If the archbishop celebrates, he will use the Rite of Confirmation during Mass only when the day and time can fulfill the precept for Sundays and holy days.
Otherwise, such as on a weekday or a Saturday before 4 pm, he will use the Rite of Confirmation outside of Mass.
People are asked to wear masks, and to practice social spacing, about 6 feet between individuals/households; at least every other pew should remain empty.
Missalettes/hymnals should be removed. Minimal singing, with few hymns, fewer verses, no Mass parts. People should take worship aids with them when leaving.
No processions in or out (if there is a Mass, no procession with the bread, wine, and collection). The archbishop will enter from the sacristy, if the church layout permits it.
Candidates are seated beforehand, at the aisle-end of the pew. The sponsor sits next to the candidate, with family members filling in the rest of the pew.
After the Gospel, the candidates are not presented individually, but as a group. The homily, the renewal of baptismal promises, and the prayer follow.
For the anointing, candidates can come forward to the archbishop, or can remain in the pews and the archbishop will go to them.
The sponsor places a hand on the shoulder of the candidate. The archbishop will use a clean cotton ball to anoint each candidate, avoiding any skin-to-skin contact with them.
What works best: Chrism in a bowl, held by the archbishop; someone (pastor, deacon, altar minister) next to the archbishop with a bowl of cotton balls (one for each candidate) and a bowl for the used cotton balls (to be burned afterwards).
The Sign of Peace after each anointing will be a verbal exchange only; no handshake.
(If Confirmation is celebrated during Mass, Communion can be distributed the regular way, or with people remaining in the pews, and the Communion Minister goes to them.)
A group photo should not be taken. Individual photos will be allowed, but they should be done quickly, so as to minimize the time of standing in close proximity.
There shouldn’t be a reception afterwards.
PAGE CONTENTS:
1. Livestream and Copyright details
2. Worship and Liturgy Resources
a) Praying the Liturgy of the Word
b) Prayers to Respond to Coronavirus
c) The Mass livestreamed
i) Mass with Archbishop Jackels
ii) Additional Masses
iiI) Prayer for Spiritual Communion
1. Music: Livestream and Copyright details
Livestreaming music protected by copyright requires the appropriate permissions. Generally this means:
- Music played (sung, accompanied, or intstrumental) requires permission to livestream. Failure to comply may result in assessed fees and possibly fines.
- Ownership of printed materials (e.g. books or sheet music) does not provide permission
- Acknowledging the license is necessary, whether embedded in the video, or in the description (e.g. YouTube) or Facebook post containing the video/livestream.
- This applies to Mass settings, excepting the chants in the Roman Missal are free use.
- Generally, this does not apply to music that is more than 75 years old. However, a new arrangement of an old song, like Pange Lingua, may be protected under copyright.
- For information on licenses: see OneLicense.net/how-it-works
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c. The Mass livestreamed
Various parishes are experimenting with livestreaming via Facebook, YouTube channels, etc.
Check with your parish website for possible offerings at the local level.
Many resources are available to livestream the Mass or watch on TV: