The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson, which includes Yuma and La Paz counties, today called for a suspension of daily public Mass services in response to increased Centers for Disease Control recommendations against public gatherings.
On Sunday, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and Kathy Hoffman, the state Superintendent of Public Instruction, announced the temporary closure of all Arizona schools, including Catholic and other private schools.
In Yuma, this affects Yuma Catholic High School and Immaculate Conception and St. Francis of Assisi schools.
Tucson Bishop Edward Weisenburger announced that all parish-based public gatherings are either cancelled or suspended. The directives are in place for the next three weeks until April 6, at which time they will reviewed.
Bishop Weisenburger said other changes include:
-Confirmations scheduled during this time are suspended and will be rescheduled.
-There will be no parish events including religious education programs, community dinners (Lenten fish frys) and quinceaneras.
-Weddings should be restricted to 10 people and, if Mass is celebrated, only the bride and groom, if Catholic, are to receive Holy Communion.
-Funeral Masses should be restricted to 10 people and the congregation should not receive Communion.
In a released statement, the bishop said "I believe these directives, while a hardship and deeply regrettable for us all, are sensible, substantially consistent with directives for the other Catholic diocese in Arizona (the Diocese of Phoenix) and in line with the spirit of public health directives."
