Coronavirus: LI Diocese Cancels Masses, Including Easter

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY — In response to the spread of the coronavirus around Long Island, the Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre said Monday it will cancel all Masses for a month — including all Holy Week and Easter services.

The diocese, which encompasses 134 parishes on Long Island and serves 1.5 million people, canceled Masses from March 16 to April 14. That includes Confirmations, First Communions and First Confessions. It also affects Easter services, since the holiday falls on April 12.

The move was announced after Gov. Andrew Cuomo banned all gatherings of more than 50 people, following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rescheduling events will be up to the individual parishes.

Earlier this month, the diocese took steps to prevent the spread of the virus when it announced changes to the Rites of Mass, including not shaking hands and not drinking from the chalice.

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Though Masses are canceled, the diocese will livestream services online from St. Agnes Cathedral. Mass streams will begin at 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays. You can watch the Masses here.

Individual parishes may also livestream their services. The Catholic Faith Network televises Masses daily on Optimum channel 29/137, Verizon FiOS TV channel 296 and Spectrum channel 162/471.

The diocese also said it will close its offices at Rockville Centre and Massapequa from March 18 through April 14. All employees will work remotely.

Though Masses were canceled, some services will continue. Weddings and funerals may be permitted but should be limited to only immediate family and have no more than 50 people, officials said. Baptisms should be postponed; if that's not possible, the events should stay under the 50-person limit.

Some parishes may remain open for private prayer at the pastor's discretion, the diocese said. However, if the parishes are open, they cannot have more than 50 people inside at once.

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