Funerals will not be held in Catholic churches in bid to halt coronavirus

Funerals will not be held in Catholic churches in bid to halt coronavirus

1 April 2020

FUNERALS in the Down and Connor diocese will no longer be held inside churches during the coronavirus crisis, Bishop Noel Treanor has confirmed.

Instead, the deceased will be taken directly to cemeteries for burial where there will be a short funeral prayer 

service. Requiem Mass in memory of the deceased will be postponed until further notice.

In a statement, Bishop Treanor said he realised the pain that this would cause to bereaved families, explaining that it is “simply too risk-laden to gather inside buildings even in small numbers.”

The latest restrictions were announced last week in a pastoral letter circulated widely on social media and an online video message from the bishop.

Funerals have already been restricted to immediate family and parishes are advising against holding wakes as part of efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Bishop Treanor said that he decided on the latest restrictions “after much thought and prayer” and confirmed “sisters and brothers in Christ, who die will be taken directly to the cemetery for burial”.

In the cemetery, a short funeral prayer service will take place, respecting the determinations of the public authorities in regard to inter-personal social distancing and any other provisions deemed necessary, the Bishop explained.

“Requiem Mass will be celebrated in memory of the deceased person at a later date, when this pandemic has passed and when the conditions permitting gatherings of people in buildings and in churches prevail,” he continued.

“It is simply too risk-laden to gather inside buildings even in small numbers. We must proactively exercise extreme care for each other and for ourselves. To do otherwise would be unchristian.”

Bishop Treanor said that he recognised the pain the decision to no longer hold funerals inside churches would cause to many families and individuals, asking for their “forbearance, charity and care for others.”

Prior to last week’s statement, the Down and Connor diocese had already issued a raft of changes as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Churches have been closed, although Mass is being celebrated in private and streamed online where possible.

Parishes remain contactable by telephone or email, but parish offices, parochial properties and parish centres are closed to public access and non-essential staff are working from home.

In addition, funerals have been “restricted to the immediate family” and the diocese has strongly advised against holding wakes.

The Church of Ireland is advising that numbers attending funerals should be kept as small as possible and that consideration should be given to all funerals being private with no public announcement of arrangements.

The Presbyterian Church has discouraged the announcement of funeral details to prevent large attendances. Services in churches should follow social distancing rules and be limited to ten people. It is advising against holding services in private homes.

The Methodist Church said its funerals will be restricted to small graveside gatherings.