The Diocese of Toledo has announced it will suspend all publicly celebrated Masses/liturgies, at least
through the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter.
“After serious consideration of the grave health risk involved in public gatherings and in order to curb
the spread of the Coronavirus, the bishops of Ohio have decided, effective immediately, to suspend
temporarily all publicly celebrated Masses/liturgies, at least through the celebrations of Holy Week and
Easter,” according to a news release sent Monday afternoon.
The bishops of Ohio dispense the Catholic faithful who reside in their respective dioceses and all other
Catholics currently in Ohio from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass through Easter Sunday.
“This decision is not taken lightly and, as your bishops, causes us great sadness. However, after
consultation with the governor and health officials we are convinced that this is the most prudent and
necessary action,” the release stated.
Science has proven that participation in public gatherings significantly increases the risk of contagion.
This poses a serious danger to those especially most vulnerable.
“As Catholics, in every Sunday Mass we celebrate the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord. The
Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. In this moment, we are experiencing in a unique
way the passion of our Lord as this pandemic prevents us from gathering for the Sunday Eucharist. In
this very difficult time, we encourage the faithful to turn to the Church’s treasury of prayer. Sunday
remains a holy day, and we encourage the faithful to pray using the rich resources of our faith,
including praying as a family or individually the rosary, divine mercy chaplet, the Liturgy of the
Hours, stations of the cross, etc. We also urge you to participate in prayer by way of radio broadcast
or televised or live-streamed Mass and make a spiritual communion.”
