UPDATE: Diocese of Meath suspends all public Masses
Photo - Dr Tom Deenihan, Bishop of Meath.
A decision has been made by the Diocese of Meath to suspend all public Masses throughout the diocese for the immediate future.
Dr Tom Deenihan, Bishop of Meath, has instructed priests to say Masses only in private because the church cannot guarantee attendances of fewer than 100 people.
The new directive is effective immediately.
Starting tomorrow morning, Friday, the Cathedral of Christ the King in Mullingar will have its usual schedule of Masses; however, the public will not be admitted.
People will be able to view the Masses on the cathedral webcam.
That applies to Masses at 7.45am and 10am, and also the 9.15am Mass, normally at St Paul’s Church, will transfer to the cathedral because there is no webcam at St Paul’s.
The measure is to apply to all churches across the diocese.
Weddings and funerals will still be permitted, but attendance is restricted to family only.
The Cathedral will open to the public after the 10am Mass.
The church had earlier been confident it would be able to keep Masses going, but became concerned over the practicalities and the danger of breaching the 100-person limit.