KUALA LUMPUR: Public masses in Roman Catholic churches in red zones located within the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese will remain suspended in line with the implementation of a movement control order (MCO).
The diocesan territory covers four states including Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Terengganu and the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
The Archdiocese's Chancellor Reverend Father Michael Chua today said in a notice that several protocols adopted during the previous MCO and Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) had been updated.
He said the escalation of Covid-19 positive cases, teamed with great concern over the state of the country's healthcare system, had resulted in Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Most Reverend Julian Leow Beng Kim decreeing the following:
* For territories falling within the MCO (Kuala Lumpur and Selangor), public masses remain suspended from today until further notice,
* All other sacraments and services including baptisms (except in the case of emergency), confirmations, holy communion (drive through or home), weddings (masses, services, ratification) shall also be suspended with effect from today until further notice,
* Funerals - a short service may be done in the home or the funeral parlour in compliance with the National Security Council's standard operating procedures. There shall be no funeral Masses in church.
* Funeral parlours located in churches may be opened but there should be no wake prayers (except the funeral service by the priest mentioned above). Guests may visit and perform short private prayers and thereafter depart immediately. There shall not be more than five persons within the funeral parlour at any single time,
* Parish offices are to remain closed during the MCO and office employees are to work from home.
"In cases of emergency," Chua added, "the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, confessions and viaticum (the Eucharist given to a person near or in danger of death) may be given."
For the archdiocese's territories falling within CMCO (Negri Sembilan, Pahang and Terengganu):
* Public masses may resume in non-red zones from today with a capacity of not more than one third of the total capacity of the church in compliance with the SOP of the relevant authorities,
* Weddings are to be postponed until further notice,
* Funerals may be conducted in the church with a capacity of not more than one third of the total capacity of the church. Funeral parlours located within the church may be opened in accordance with SOP,
* Parish offices are to remain closed during the CMCO and office employees are to work from home.
"The Sacrament of Confirmation," added Chua, "may be administered by the parish priest following Appendix F of the Archdiocesan Guidelines for Celebrating Sacraments.
"His Grace, Archbishop Julian Leow hereby delegates the faculty to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to all parish priests and parish administrators within the territories located under the CMCO," he noted, adding that confirmation ceremonies are to be postponed if the parish falls within a red zone.
"Let us continue to pray for all victims of this pandemic and for the safety of all healthcare workers."