Episcopal Conference: from December 16. until January 3. public worship in churches

These days, our unity, solidarity and mutual respect are especially important. Given the seriousness of the situation and the restrictions announced by state authorities, we decided to suspend public services in the churches from December 16 to January 3. As it was in the spring, so it is now. We exhort believers to join the Mass, broadcast on television, radio or the Internet, ”said the press conference of the Episcopal Conference.

“The churches remain open so that the believers can pray in private, make a confession and receive Holy Communion in agreement with the priest. The priests will be of service in the churches or pastors and will receive the believers.

Dear ones, we understand that this is a very difficult decision. However, it should not deprive us of the joy and peace of Christmas. Although Christmas this year is lived in an unexpected way, it unites us with the Holy Family, which has experienced great trials on the way to Bethlehem. Difficulties did not block the way to the joy of the Savior born of the world ”, the bishops appeal to the faithful.

We announce the full speech of the Episcopal Conference:

Dear,

At Christmas, we celebrate a wonderful event: God has become Man, so that we can have an abundance of life-giving love, filled with heavenly peace and joy.

God entrusts himself as a weak baby in human hands. On Christmas night, a joyous hymn of angels is heard proclaiming the glory of God. As St. Irenaeus would say, the glory of God is a living man …

Shortly after Christmas, the angel will wake Joseph up and tell him: “Get up, take the baby to your mother and run to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, because Herod is looking for a child to kill him ”(Mt 2:13). I had to leave what was normal and go on a long journey, to experience its various inconveniences and dangers. This is all to save the baby’s life …

This Christmas invites us to proclaim the glory of God in a unique way: to take concrete care of human life. Not necessarily familiar, but very specific, next to us. The global pandemic has hit our country hard right now. We hear a cry for help from doctors about a situation that is pushing our extremely fast healthcare system to the limit of opportunity. This system is not a dead mechanism. It is made up of people: doctors, nurses and everyone who cares for the sick. Finally, the patients themselves and their families …

These days, our unity, solidarity and mutual respect are particularly important. Given the seriousness of the situation that has affected us and the restrictions announced by the local authorities, we have decided on December 16. until January 3. stop public worship in churches. As it happened in the spring, we now urge believers to join St. Broadcast on television, radio or the Internet.

The churches remain open so that the believers can pray in private, make a confession and receive St. Communion agreed with the priest. The priests will be of service in the churches or in the rectory and will receive the believers. Funerario St. The celebration of Mass or other sacraments will take place only in the environment of direct relatives.

Dear ones, we understand that this is a very difficult decision. However, it should not deprive us of the joy and peace of Christmas. Although Christmas this year is lived in an unexpected way, it unites us to the Holy Family, who has experienced great trials on the way to Bethlehem. Difficulties did not block the way to the joy of the born Savior of the world.

Pope Francis underground. December 8 throughout the Church proclaimed S. The year of Joseph. In response to the initiative of the Holy Father, let us remember this faithful guardian and renew the unity of our hearts once again, at 8:00 p.m. praying in prayer: “Blessed are you, Joseph;

Suppressing us Blessed. The Virgin Mary is the Mother of God, the Health of the Sick and Help of Christians!

Lithuanian Bishops