JEFFERSON CITY – Bishop W. Shawn McKnight has announced all public masses will be suspended in the Diocese of Jefferson City, beginning Wednesday, March 18 and until at least April 3.

“This is in keeping with the federal directives and other public entities in our area,” McKnight explained. “We offer this decision as part of our effort to help stem the spread of the coronavirus.”

This means all Catholics are dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday mass in person. Online opportunities are listed at diojeffcity.org/public-health, and some parishes will be able to provide online masses.

In addition, parishes have been instructed to make the following changes, beginning March 18:

• All public gatherings are cancelled or postponed. This includes public weddings. More information on baptisms, funerals and other liturgical protocols can be found at https://diojeffcity.org/blog/2020/03/13/liturgical-protocols-for-public-health-safety/.

• Confirmation masses will be rescheduled to be celebrated after Easter Sunday.

• During this time, churches will remain open as places of prayer and comfort. Priests will be available in the parishes to offer anointing of the sick and other sacraments. Catholics are encouraged to seek the sacrament of anointing of the sick before they go to the hospital, if possible.

• Catholics are asked to be mindful of their responsibility to serve the community, in their time, talent and treasure. Catholics may register their volunteer capacity at https://diojeffcity.org/parish-disaster-responders-team-volunteer-form/. Parishes are organizing disaster responder teams to serve those immediately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Catholics may provide their tithes to their parishes by postal mail or online, if the parish offers that option.

• Diocesan schools, which are suspending in-school instruction from March 18 to April 3, are providing ongoing instruction either online or packet-based, on a case-by-case basis. While diocesan offices and parish offices will remain open, some employees may work remotely or need to take leave to care for themselves or their families. Some parishes may reduce office hours. Regardless, all diocesan and parish employees will continue to receive compensation.

The 37 elementary and three high schools in the Diocese of Jefferson City will also close March 18 through April 3, in service to the common good and in collaboration with both state and local health care officials.

Principals have been provided with the following resources:

• To meet the educational needs of each student, each school is working towards providing either e-learning or packet-based instruction at the local level.

• All employees will continue to be paid without interruption.

• All extracurricular activities at the schools should be postponed/canceled, including athletics.

• Families and staff should be discouraged from traveling or hosting in-person gatherings of more than 50 people during this time.

For more information on what Catholic parishes and schools are doing in response to the coronavirus pandemic, visit www.diojeffcity.org/public-health.