Following the provisions already given incommunicated released yesterday evening 8 March 2020 on the prohibition of religious ceremonies, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Metropolitan Archbishop of Naples, in agreement with the Auxiliary Bishops, Mons. Lucio Lemmo and Mons. Gennaro Camping, announces that:

Funerals: arranging for the blessing of the corpse to the cemetery where possible, or outdoors in front of the deceased's house, while still avoiding gatherings; where the death occurs in a hospital facility, it is advisable to proceed with the blessing of the body on site;

Weddings and baptisms:  postponement is necessary. For serious and proven particular situations, the ordinary of the diocese must be consulted through the parish priest;

Extraordinary ministers of communion: communion for the sick is suspended. For particularly serious situations, the parish priest will provide;

Catechesis and parish training activities:as they are not possible in the parish premises and in order to continue the formative journey, we recommend using telematic tools such as streaming, facebook…

Parish secretarial services: remain active, like those of the curia, to satisfy every possible request;

Blessings of homes and businesses: postponement is necessary

Caritas services: essential services can continue , quality lies, the emporiums, the dormitories, the listening centers... with all the necessary precautions and the necessary prudence;

Popular piety: all public demonstrations of popular piety are suspended, like the via crucis, Lenten stations, pilgrimages, processions…

Ecclesiastical tribunal:the activity remains suspended as happens for civil courts.

 

“We live –underlines the Archbishop – the deprivations required asa great opportunity for inner growth in faith, through personal prayer and reading the word of God every day, like a Lenten fast from what we have most precious, to prepare ourselves with a new spirit for the celebration of Holy Easter.

I especially recommendDon't leave anyone alone, especially the elderly, the sick, the poor by making gestures of solidarity and closeness.

With such a soul, since as is known, all celebrations of community Masses are suspended, in any capacity and without exception, wanting to make every family feel the closeness of the Church, I thought I'd celebrate theHoly Sunday Mass at 09.30, live on television, taking advantage of the generous availability of the broadcaster channel 21 ( n°12 of digital terrestrial).          

Every priest, comunque, can celebrate the daily Holy Mass privately with the presence of 1 / 2  people to the max".

This emergency situation, if on the one hand it causes significant inconvenience to normal pastoral activities, on the other hand it offers us the opportunity for a more mature and responsible faith.

For this reason it was decided to formulate a prayerthat with "one heart and one soul" we want to confidently address to the Lord, good father and rich in mercy".

 

(During the "coronavirus" epidemic)

 

Dio, Our Father, full of infinite goodness, look at Your people tried by a serious epidemic.

May we still and always experience your great mercy and your paternal tenderness.

We entrust all the sick to you, the elderly, children and their families; protect doctors and all other healthcare workers who, with self-sacrifice, I am on the front line to help the many people affected by evil; give light and wisdom to those who seek new ways to safeguard our health.

We ask you, Good Father, to welcome all the victims of serious evil into the arms of Your Mercy.

The Maria, Mother, Teacher e, Let's throw the nets in the net ..., Queen of our People, and Te, We entrust our anxieties to Your Heart, the fears and fears of these days. Pray for us your children.

Walk alongside us and show yourself, which one are you, Our mother, Mother of thanks and consolation, Mother of fortitude and hope.

O mighty San Gennaro, Patron and immortal glory of our Earth, intercede for us and obtain us, with all the medical saints, the liberation from this epidemic to sing and thank the mercy of God the Father with a new heart, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen.