Catholics across northern Wisconsin will have no Mass to attend under a directive from James Powers, the Bishop of the Diocese of Superior.
In a letter this week, Powers called off masses due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
In the letter, Powers called the celebration of the Eucharist, or bread and wine, the “indispensable source and summit” of Christian life.
That’s why, Powers said, suspending Masses was something he took very seriously.
Father Patrick McConnell, the pastor at Holy Rosary Catholic Parish in Medford, served as pastor at St. Peter the Fisherman in Eagle River for years.
He said the suspension of in-person celebration will be especially difficult for Catholics.
“It’s very challenging. The biggest thing is, especially the Catholics, Roman Catholics, we very much uphold the Mass as a very important part of what we do. Everything we do around the Mass is so important to what we do. But the reception of communion is a major part of our worship. As much as we can stream it and we can send homilies and record and all of those things, the physical presence is such an important part of worship,” McConnell said.
Bishop Powers said weddings, funerals, and baptisms could continue with limited attendance.
Before last weekend’s services, Powers told churches to stop offering wine and told parishioners not to hold hands during the “Our Father” prayer.
