ANNOUNCEMENT
------UPDATE-----
July 9, 2020
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Since early June, the number of cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma have increased rapidly, affecting many of our family members, friends and several priests, some of whom have spent time in the hospital. This increase has prompted civic leaders and health authorities to seek further protections to slow the spread of the virus as we head into summer. Thankfully, most of our cases have not been severe or resulted in loss of life. For that I am incredibly grateful. To keep our parishioners and our priests safe, we must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our parish communities.
With that in mind, and after much discussion and prayer, I am requiring masks (shields or face coverings) to be worn by all priests, deacons, parishioners, church staff and volunteers at public Masses, parish events and gatherings, and in parish offices, beginning Saturday, July 11, until further notice. This precaution applies to anyone age 6 and older. Masks already are required to be worn by chancery staff members at the Catholic Pastoral Center and during Daily Mass at the Saint Francis de Sales Chapel.
It is important to remember that this latest precaution is temporary. We will continue to monitor the health crisis and adjust implementation of the procedures accordingly. Please note that the precautions we have been following since the resumption of public Mass in May remain in place as does the general dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. If you are not comfortable attending Mass in person, I encourage you to consider live-streamed Masses.
The guidelines are available on the archdiocesan website (archokc.org/mass) in English and Spanish. I am asking all pastors to continue to implement these guidelines with renewed diligence. I ask that everyone follow them as carefully as possible, especially the importance of social distancing and proper hand sanitizing.
If a staff member at a church, including a priest, is known to have been exposed to the virus, becomes ill or tests positive, several steps must be taken. The pastor must inform parishioners immediately of the illness. Information also should be provided on possible exposure to the virus even if test results are not immediately available. If ill or with a positive result, the priest or staff member must quarantine for 14 days and, when necessary, parish offices can be closed and public Mass suspended. Parishioners are asked to not attend Mass or any church-related function if they do not feel well or are experiencing any of the symptoms of COVID-19.
Thank you for your cooperation and patience with these precautions as we do our part to assist in reducing the spread of the virus. It is a small act of charity that promotes the health and well-being of others and can help Oklahoma and the nation eventually emerge from this crisis.
By following these guidelines carefully, we will be able to continue to celebrate public Masses and receive the nourishment we need through Holy Communion.
Jesus promised that the Father would pour out his own Spirit upon us to guide, direct and protect us through all trials and tribulations. The gift of the Holy Spirit assures us of God's continued presence in our lives. No matter the circumstance, he is with us. Please know you are in my prayers as we work together to keep our parish communities safe.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley
Archbishop of Oklahoma City
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May 6th 2020-
OKLAHOMA CITY – Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City,
To remind us of God's faithfulness and to prepare to celebrate the birth of our beloved Church on Pentecost, we have determined to resume the celebration of public Mass in Oklahoma during the week of May 18th with Sunday Mass resuming May 23rd-24th.
Thank you for your faithfulness, generosity, sacrifice and patience as we do our part slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep our families and most vulnerable safe.
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May 6, 2020
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Dear Catholic Faithful of Oklahoma,
We have been heartened by the many stories of faithful Catholics witnessing to Jesus’ presence through their patience in suffering and in the good they are doing for their neighbors. Thank you! At the same time, we all to some degree are growing weary of isolation, threats to health and economic hardship. During this Easter season, we rely on Our Lord’s assurance: “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”
After the Apostles had experienced the shocking crucifixion of their beloved friend and teacher, everything they thought they knew with certainty was disrupted and they feared what might come next. After the triumph of the Resurrection, they found joy in the faith they shared in the Risen Christ. In their time of fear and uncertainty, Jesus came to them.
After his Ascension into heaven, these still timid disciples gathered to celebrate Pentecost in the same room in Jerusalem in which they had shared the Last Supper and first Eucharist. They had shared in his suffering and now they shared the hope of the glory of the risen Christ. Jesus had promised that the Father would pour out his own Spirit upon them to guide, direct and protect them through all trials and tribulations.
The gift of the Holy Spirit assures us of God's continued presence in our lives. No matter the circumstance, he is with us. Perhaps the greatest sacrifice for the lay faithful these past few months has been fasting from Christ’s body, blood, soul and divinity given to us in his real presence in the Eucharist. We pray that in this time of Eucharistic fasting, God has graced you with a profound hunger for this communion with Jesus and the members of his Body, the Church.
To remind us of God’s faithfulness and to prepare to celebrate the birth of our beloved Church on Pentecost, we have determined to resume the celebration of public Mass in Oklahoma during the week of May 18 with Sunday Mass resuming May 23-24.
Because of the unprecedented nature of these challenges, we will proceed with caution. The dispensation for attending Mass and the practice of live-streaming Mass will remain in place for anyone who wishes to wait longer before returning to public worship. We are dealing with an invisible threat to people’s lives, a virus that our brightest doctors and scientists are still figuring out. The ever-present temptation in our American culture is to want solutions immediately and to act quickly, because we want what we want, and we want it now. As a Church, we must proceed more deliberatively.
Based upon guidance from civic leaders and public health authorities as well as in consultation with local medical professionals, a taskforce comprised of priests and laity, and the Presbyteral Councils of both dioceses, we are issuing the “Timeline and Procedures for Resumption of Public Mass and Sacramental Life,” which will be in effect in both the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma until further notice.
The procedures and timeline provide general precautions such as limiting the number of parishioners at each Mass and guidelines for the distribution of communion while providing flexibility for every parish and priest to determine what works best for their community.
We will continue to monitor the health crisis and adjust implementation of the procedures accordingly. Frequent handwashing and social distancing remain vital precautions to slow the spread of this disease. Additionally, our pastors will learn from you and from each other as these guidelines are implemented, adjusting procedures according to what they learn. Just as the laity have sacrificed with their Eucharistic fast, the priests have sacrificed by their inability to provide the faithful with this heavenly banquet and celebrate the sacraments with them. They long to see the faces of their parishioners once again.
We encourage the faithful to pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit in preparation for Pentecost with the particular intention of asking the Holy Spirit to guide, direct and protect the Church in Oklahoma in the midst of these perilous times as we begin to publicly celebrate Mass again.
Whether separated by a virus or gathered in community, we remain brothers and sisters in Christ.
In darkness, he dawns. Come, Holy Spirit!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Paul S. Coakley
Archbishop of Oklahoma City
_________________________
April 29, 2020
The Feast of Saint Catherine of Siena
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Peace and joy to each of you this Easter season. Although in many ways it feels like the long Lent of 2020 continues, it is now Wednesday in the third week of Easter. Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Over the past few weeks as many Oklahomans have adjusted to a new, albeit temporary, way of life, we have come together in creative ways to stay connected with one another and participate in the celebration of the Mass. Through these trials we will come to recognize more clearly how God has been with us through it all. For the lay faithful, the greatest sacrifice has been fasting from Christ’s Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist. We pray that in this time of fasting, God has graced you with a profound hunger for this communion with Jesus the Way, the Truth and the Life.
As your shepherds, we have been in contact with state and local government leaders and public health authorities to assess when and how we could begin the process of offering public Mass and, more broadly, resuming the normal sacramental life of the Church. We have established a joint task force with the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa to explore the timeline and procedures for resumption of public Mass in Oklahoma. The task force consists of priests and laity in both dioceses in consultation with local medical professionals, including a leading infectious disease specialist.
On May 6, we will announce a timeline for how we will begin offering public Masses in Oklahoma and provide a detailed list of procedures and precautions for parishes. The dispensation from attending Sunday Mass will remain in place.
Thank you for your faithfulness, generosity, sacrifice and patience as we do our part slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep our families and most vulnerable safe.
Blessed Stanley Rother and Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Paul S. Coakley
Archbishop of Oklahoma City
Most Reverend David A. Konderla
Bishop of Tulsa
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April 21, 2020
by Archbishop Paul S. Coakley
For more than six weeks we have been adjusting to a rapidly shifting landscape brought about by the spread of COVID-19. This dangerous virus has affected virtually every aspect of our lives, including the way we work and worship, the way we teach and learn, and the way we socialize.
Life goes on, however. We have learned new jargon and adopted new practices to “flatten the curve” and “slow the spread” of this highly contagious virus for which there is still no vaccine or cure.
I have been inspired by the generosity of our health care workers and front-line responders who have continued to serve, often at great cost to themselves and their families. The effects of the contagion have been devastating in terms of lives lost, jobs lost, growing economic insecurity and a sense of fear and isolation.
Our pastoral life has certainly been affected as well. I have been inspired by the creativity of so many of our pastors and lay leaders who have found ways to connect with their parishioners and fellow Catholics through live-streamed Masses, Zoom meetings and even drive up Masses and confessions.
I applaud the hidden heroism of our priests who continue to offer Mass in empty churches for the salvation of the world and for an end to this pandemic. I suppose it will only be in retrospect that we will be able to assess accurately what we have learned and how we have grown through these trials. We will come to recognize more clearly how God has been with us through it all, often in and through the least of our brothers and sisters.
The challenges have been significant. But, we have shown remarkable resilience. In terms of the practice of our faith, I have a strong sense that a hunger for the Eucharist among the faithful has been deepening because of this prolonged Eucharistic fast. I pray this produces a renewed appreciation for the Mass and all of the sacraments as we begin to return to a more normal liturgical, pastoral and sacramental life within our parishes in the weeks and months ahead.
Due to some early trends indicating that in certain areas it might soon be safe to lift some social restrictions, conversations have begun about the proper timing for opening the economy while preserving the gains we have made in terms of public health. Similar conversations are underway to develop a plan to transition back to a more normal life within our parishes.
While the changes in parish life were sudden, once we recognized the dangers posed by the spread of the virus and received guidance from medical and civil authorities, it will not be possible to return to “normal” as quickly. Overnight, there were no more public Masses. Access to Holy Communion was suspended immediately. That was shocking for all of us.
Going forward, we will have to consult and plan for a gradual opening of our churches, taking necessary precautions to limit spread of the virus and maintaining social distances appropriate to the changing conditions. The governor has indicated that as of May 3 worship services may resume in Oklahoma. However, given the nature of Catholic Mass and the personal and physical contact involved in the sacraments, that will not be the case for us. I am consulting with the Priests Council and with medical and civil authorities as well as bishops in other parts of the country.
There is no playbook for how to do this. I ask for your prayers that the Holy Spirit will give wisdom and counsel as to the best way to proceed. Christ is Risen! Indeed, he is risen! Alleluia!
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April 21, 2020
by Archbishop Paul S. Coakley
For more than six weeks we have been adjusting to a rapidly shifting landscape brought about by the spread of COVID-19. This dangerous virus has affected virtually every aspect of our lives, including the way we work and worship, the way we teach and learn, and the way we socialize.
Life goes on, however. We have learned new jargon and adopted new practices to “flatten the curve” and “slow the spread” of this highly contagious virus for which there is still no vaccine or cure.
I have been inspired by the generosity of our health care workers and front-line responders who have continued to serve, often at great cost to themselves and their families. The effects of the contagion have been devastating in terms of lives lost, jobs lost, growing economic insecurity and a sense of fear and isolation.
Our pastoral life has certainly been affected as well. I have been inspired by the creativity of so many of our pastors and lay leaders who have found ways to connect with their parishioners and fellow Catholics through live-streamed Masses, Zoom meetings and even drive up Masses and confessions.
I applaud the hidden heroism of our priests who continue to offer Mass in empty churches for the salvation of the world and for an end to this pandemic. I suppose it will only be in retrospect that we will be able to assess accurately what we have learned and how we have grown through these trials. We will come to recognize more clearly how God has been with us through it all, often in and through the least of our brothers and sisters.
The challenges have been significant. But, we have shown remarkable resilience. In terms of the practice of our faith, I have a strong sense that a hunger for the Eucharist among the faithful has been deepening because of this prolonged Eucharistic fast. I pray this produces a renewed appreciation for the Mass and all of the sacraments as we begin to return to a more normal liturgical, pastoral and sacramental life within our parishes in the weeks and months ahead.
Due to some early trends indicating that in certain areas it might soon be safe to lift some social restrictions, conversations have begun about the proper timing for opening the economy while preserving the gains we have made in terms of public health. Similar conversations are underway to develop a plan to transition back to a more normal life within our parishes.
While the changes in parish life were sudden, once we recognized the dangers posed by the spread of the virus and received guidance from medical and civil authorities, it will not be possible to return to “normal” as quickly. Overnight, there were no more public Masses. Access to Holy Communion was suspended immediately. That was shocking for all of us.
Going forward, we will have to consult and plan for a gradual opening of our churches, taking necessary precautions to limit spread of the virus and maintaining social distances appropriate to the changing conditions. The governor has indicated that as of May 3 worship services may resume in Oklahoma. However, given the nature of Catholic Mass and the personal and physical contact involved in the sacraments, that will not be the case for us. I am consulting with the Priests Council and with medical and civil authorities as well as bishops in other parts of the country.
There is no playbook for how to do this. I ask for your prayers that the Holy Spirit will give wisdom and counsel as to the best way to proceed. Christ is Risen! Indeed, he is risen! Alleluia!---
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April 7, 2020
To the faithful of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City,
I continue to pray for you and for all of the faithful as we work to adjust to our new normal for the next few weeks. Thank you to everyone who has continued to offer private Masses, celebrated Mass and prayer online, and stayed connected in many other ways. The presence of our faith has lifted spirits, offered hope and made this time more faith filled.
In March, I issued a directive suspending public Masses until after April 16. Recently, Gov. Stitt and other civic and health leaders extended the safer-in-place and shelter-in-place orders until the end of the month. With the ever-changing situation, I am suspending public Masses in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City beyond Easter and until further notice. All other provisions and precautions remain in place.
We must remain steadfast in our faith and know that we are not alone. Let us pray for one another and for all those who are sick or affected by this virus. We will continue to keep you informed with further changes and adjustments as needed.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Archbishop Coakley
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March 17, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Diane Clay, Director of Communications
[email protected]
(405) 426-9075
archokc.org/health
Archbishop Coakley suspends Mass through Easter Sunday
OKLAHOMA CITY – Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City, has suspended public Mass in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City through Easter Sunday, April 12, as a precaution to protect at-risk parishioners and to slow the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
"I know this will be difficult for many of us, especially our priests for whom the Mass and the Eucharist are the very center of our lives. Due to the continued rapid spread of COVID-19, we must take further steps to protect the community and our most at-risk parishioners, so everyone can remain safe during this health crisis.
During this perilous time, I and all of our priests will continue to celebrate daily Mass and pray for your intentions, for the needs of the whole Church and for all those affected by the virus around the world.
This season of Lent is a time for prayer, fasting and works of mercy. COVID-19 casts a new light on how we are being invited to pray, fast and practice mercy. I urge you to dedicate yourselves to prayer with deep faith and perseverance. Pray for yourselves and pray for others. I recommend to you the beautiful prayer of the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet as well as spending time praying with the Church's daily readings for the Mass even though we cannot attend Mass in person. Make visits and spend time in prayer before the Lord who is present in the tabernacle.
Be assured, we will get through this together, relying on the riches of our Catholic faith and our trust in the Lord Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. You and your loved ones are in my prayers. May God bless you and keep you safe. Blessed Stanley Rother, pray for us."
Archbishop Coakley, pastors and chancery staff, in coordination with health officials, will continue to monitor the situation and make further provisions as needed.
Archbishop Coakley has implemented the following temporary precautions for churches in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City through April 12:
- All public Masses and liturgies, i.e. Stations of the Cross and Penance Rites, are cancelled through Easter Sunday;
- The Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance may continue as long it is behind a screen;
- The Chrism Mass will be closed to the public;
- Holy Water fonts should be emptied for the duration of the Lenten Season;
- Avoid physical contact;
- All should cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing or use the inside of the elbow;
- Social distancing should be practiced;
- Avoid, cancel or postpone non-essential events and meetings.
Find more information and updated resources at archokc.org/health