As Bishop of the Diocese of Camden, in light of further restrictions by Governor Murphy and the Decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Disciple of the Sacraments, Bishop Dennis Sullivan promulgates the following regarding the liturgies of Palm Sunday and Holy Week throughout the Diocese of Camden to assist the clergy and the faithful in the spiritual celebration of the Paschal Mysteries.
On Palm Sunday there is to be NO PUBLIC GATHERING (inside or outside Churches, in cars, etc.). The Mass for Palm Sunday will be celebrated by the Bishop without a congregation, with palms blessed, and broadcast via the live-stream internet on the Diocesan website/YouTube/Facebook at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 5, 2020.
In parish churches, the Mass for Palm Sunday may be celebrated without a congregation (only one deacon; one person to operate the live streaming equipment if the liturgy is being live streamed; one lector; one cantor and one musician in addition to resident clergy) by the pastor/parish. Blessed palms can be made available for distribution at a later date – they are NOT TO BE DISTRIBUTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE at this time.
Holy Thursday: No public gatherings (inside or outside Churches, in cars, etc.). Televised or live-stream broadcasts should be live (not recorded).
The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated by the Bishop without a congregation and broadcast via the live-stream internet on the Diocesan website/YouTube/Facebook at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2020.
In parish churches, the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper may be celebrated without a congregation (only one person to operate the live streaming equipment if the liturgy is being live streamed; one lector; one cantor and one musician in addition to resident clergy) by the pastor/parish priest; pastors should notify the parishioners of the time for the live-steam.
Good Friday: No public gatherings (inside or outside Churches, in cars, etc.).
The Commemoration/Celebration of the Lord’s Passion will be celebrated by the Bishop without a congregation and broadcast via the live-stream internet on the Diocesan website/YouTube/Facebook at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2020.
In parish churches, the Commemoration/ Celebration of the Lord’s Passion may be celebrated without a congregation (only one deacon; one person to operate the live streaming equipment if the liturgy is being live streamed; one lector; one cantor and one musician in addition to resident clergy) by the pastor/parish priest; pastors should notify the parishioners of the time for the live-steam.
Holy Saturday: No public gatherings (inside or outside Churches, in cars, etc.). The Easter Vigil will be celebrated by the Bishop without a congregation and broadcast via the live-stream internet on the Diocesan website/YouTube/Facebook at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2020.
In parish churches, the Easter Vigil may be celebrated without a congregation (only one deacon; one person to operate the live streaming equipment if the liturgy is being live streamed; one lector; one cantor and one musician in addition to resident clergy) by the pastor/parish priest; pastors should notify the parishioners of the time for the live-steam.
Easter Sunday: No public gatherings (inside or outside Churches, in cars, etc.). Mass for Easter Sunday will be celebrated by the Bishop without a congregation and broadcast via the live-stream internet on the Diocesan website/YouTube/Facebook at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 12, 2020.
