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This message from the archbishop is for the faithful of the Archdiocese of Vilnius due to the pastoral care in the churches of the most pandemic municipalities. New energy restrictions on both Palm Sunday and Easter.
Borders in the Vilnius region
Addressing the faithful of the Archdiocese of Vilnius, the Archbishop thanked him for being an active member of the Church.
“I listen and understand your pain due to the limitations that exist, and I invite you to sacrifice that pain for God, for yourself, for the whole world and especially for those who are sick or treating the sick. Unfortunately, with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 14-day morbidity per 100,000 inhabitants in several municipalities of the Archdiocese of Vilnius exceeded the limit of 500 new cases.
Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / Amber Grušas
Starting tomorrow, March 25, St. The celebration of Mass with the faithful is suspended in the churches and chapels of the following municipalities: Vilnius city, Vilnius district, Švenčionys district, Visaginas municipality. Furthermore, Mass with the faithful will temporarily not take place in the Alioniai Church and the Bartkuškis and Šiauliai Chapels in the Širvintos district belonging to the Archdiocese of Vilnius. S t. Mass without the participation of the faithful in these municipalities of the Archdiocese of Vilnius will take place until the second day of Easter (April 5) inclusive ”, reports G. Grušs.
Ask for vaccinations
According to the archbishop, it also hurts that a large part of the believers in the diocese of Vilnius Easter will not have to celebrate with the community of believers, but will only be able to invite them to join in a common prayer while watching St. Mass broadcasts online , on television or listening to the radio.
“I urge each of you to come to your parishes to pray privately, make a confession or arrange a spiritual conversation with a priest, receive the Blessed Sacrament. The priests are waiting for you. The churches are open. When we come, let’s try to keep our distance, maintain sneeze hygiene, wash our hands frequently, wear masks indoors, and if we feel at least the slightest symptom of a cold, let’s stay home.
Those who have the opportunity to use the vaccines offered by the state are invited. All COVID vaccines can be given; they do not contradict the teachings of the Church.
Those who have the opportunity to use the vaccines offered by the state are invited. All COVID vaccines can be given; they do not contradict the teachings of the Church. Vaccination is one of the ways to handle a pandemic and, at the same time, a good job for our society and the people around us, who cannot get vaccinated or it is not their turn yet, ”Archbishop G. Grush said for the vaccination.
The exact times when confessions are heard, communion shared, Masses broadcast, open-air verbs celebrated, or Easter blessed will be available on church websites, Facebook pages, or bulletin boards.
Elsewhere, judge by numbers
According to BNS, the Episcopal Conference does not plan to impose additional restrictions on churches during the Easter period, and services will be held in which the number of new cases will not exceed 500 per 100,000. population.
“There are no planned solutions, it is how it was decided that in those municipalities where the number of new infections in 14 days exceeds 500 cases per 100,000. population, there will be no mass. At present, the Archdiocese of Vilnius has spread through its districts, beyond the Širvintos district, Marijampolė district, ”said priest Mykolas Sotničenka, deputy general secretary of the Episcopal Conference.
Vitalijus Mockus, chancellor of the Lithuanian Orthodox Archdiocese, also said that worship services with believers throughout the country are not revoked, except where the epidemiological situation is worst: in the city and district of Vilnius, district of Švenčionys and municipalities of Visaginas. .
In Catholic parishes, where services are continued, the current order is that a person must be 20 square meters. Area meters.
“The shepherds have been told that they must ensure the number of participants, the distances, that there is a disinfectant liquid, that the masks are worn by everyone,” Stonichenko said.
In some parishes, according to him, pre-registration is carried out, in others the number of believers who come and more Masses are regulated. Meanwhile, consecrations such as Verbal or Food St. For Easter, will be held at another time, not after Mass, so that the faithful do not gather.
“Some people come to church on Easter just to dedicate food. This consecration of food can be done separately: we urge people to later watch the Mass remotely, and if they want to dedicate food, come sometime during the day, ask the pastor, and the pastor will actually consecrate the food. It is exactly the same with the verbs even in those parishes of Vilnius, in an area where there will be no services: the verbs will be celebrated, but separated from Mass, throughout the day, so as not to meet, ”said a representative of the Episcopal Conference .
“We trust the people, we ask that not only the priests be responsible, but also that the people themselves be responsible,” he added.
Last year, Palm Sunday and Holy Week were not uncommon either: during the first quarantine, religious services were not held with believers, nor were there processions, which are so typical of Palm Sunday and Easter.
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