LITURGICAL GUIDELINES FOR HOLY WEEK 2021

The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has issued a Note to Bishops and Episcopal Conferences on the Celebration of Holy Week 2021. This Note gives to Bishops, as moderators of the liturgical life of their respective Churches, the ability to make prudent decisions concerning the celebration of Holy Week 2021 so that the liturgy can be celebrated fruitfully for the People of God and for the good of the souls entrusted to his care, while respecting the safeguarding of health and what has been prescribed by authorities responsible for the common good. Accordingly, the following instructions are for the celebration of Holy Week 2021 in the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa. 

PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD (March 28)

1. 1. All liturgical celebrations must follow established protocols, e.g., capacity for which the parish is certified, registrations, masks, etc.
2. 2. Parishioners are encouraged to bring their Palm Branches.
3. 3. The Second Form (Solemn Entrance) is preferred and may be used in parishes that can safely accommodate it. For the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, the Second Form (Solemn Entrance) will be used with minor modifications due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Second Form (Solemn Entrance):

a) The faithful are already in the pews holding their palm branches.

b) The priest and Deacon (if any) and other ministers begin the Solemn Entrance from outside the church at the entrance of church. (Antiphon, blessing of the branches, proclamation of the Gospel of the Lord’s entrance – see Roman Missal on Holy Week nos. 1 – 8 for the Rite of Blessings of Palms)

c) The procession to the sanctuary follows, and Mass continues with the Collect.

HOLY WEDNESDAY: (March 31) | CHRISM MASS

1. 4. Chrism Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday March 31^st at 7:00 PM at Mount Carmel Cathedral.
2. 5. All liturgical celebrations must follow established protocols, e.g., capacity for which the parish is certified, registrations, masks, etc.

HOLY THURSDAY: (April 1) | THURSDAY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

1. 6. All liturgical celebrations must follow established protocols, e.g., capacity for which the parish is certified, registrations, masks, etc.
2. 7. Presentation of the Oils is an optional rite and not mandatory. Pastors have the option to decide whether they want to include this rite in their respective parishes during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

Washing of Feet

1. 8. The washing of feet WILL NOT take place this year due to COVID-19.

Transfer of the Most Blessed Sacrament

1. 9. The Transfer of the Most Blessed Sacrament is to take place.
2. a) The Place of Repose is to be set up. A space large enough and with ample ventilation must be used to accommodate the faithful who wish to pray before the Blessed Sacrament.

b) Only a small number of people are to be involved in the procession (i.e., priest – led by incense, cross and candles ministers); masks are to be worn and social distancing is to be maintained.

c) The faithful who are not part of the procession will remain in prayer in the main church or another location until they are able to enter and pray safely before the Blessed Sacrament.

d) Employ the assistance of ushers to direct the faithful to the place of reposition.

e) The tradition of visiting churches to pray before the Blessed Sacrament after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper IS PERMITTED.

Note: Visitors are to sign in, wear masks, and maintain social distancing. 

           Use the assistance of ushers. Monitoring must take place – to ensure masks, 

sanitizing seats when an adorer leaves and before another person is allowed in, etc.

GOOD FRIDAY: (April 2) | FRIDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD

10. All liturgical celebrations must follow established protocols, e.g., capacity for which the parish is certified, registrations, masks, etc.

1. 11. Addition to Solemn Intercessions:

For an end to the pandemic

Let us pray, dearly beloved, for a swift end

to the coronavirus pandemic that afflicts our world, 

that our God and Father will heal the sick,

strengthen those who care for them,

and help us all to persevere in faith.

Prayer in silence. Then the Priest says:

Almighty and merciful God,

source of all life, health and healing,

look with compassion on our world, brought low by disease;

protect us in the midst of the grave challenges that assail us

and in your fatherly providence

grant recovery to the stricken,

strength to those who care for them,

and success to those working to eradicate this scourge.

Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

12. The cross is to be covered with a violet veil. (see Roman Missal: Good Friday, no. 15)

13. The Adoration of the Holy Cross is to take place.

        I: The Showing of the Holy Cross

a) Either the first or second form of the showing of the Cross may be used (see Roman Missal: Good Friday, no. 15 – 16)

       II. The Adoration of the Holy Cross 

   a) The Adoration of the Holy Cross will take place: 

“Only one Cross should be offered for adoration. If, because of the large number of people, it is not possible for all to approach individually, the Priest, after some of the clergy and faithful have adored, takes the Cross and, standing in the middle before the altar, invites the people in a few words to adore the Holy Cross and afterwards holds the Cross elevated higher for a brief time, for the faithful to adore it in silence. (Roman Missal: Good Friday, no. 19).

1. b) Because of COVID-19, the faithful may process to the front of the church but are to be instructed to venerate the cross with a bow or a genuflection only.

          INSTRUCTIONS:

1. 1. Ministers may hold the cross at the front of the sanctuary and the faithful may process forward single file, observing social distance, and venerate the cross by genuflecting or bowing without TOUCHING or KISSING IT.
2. 2. Consider holding cross at top of step into the sanctuary so people do not forget and automatically touch or kiss the cross.

14. The communion rite takes place as usual: the altar is covered with cloth and candles, and then the Blessed Sacrament is carried to the altar from its place of reservation. Following communion, the Sacrament is returned to the tabernacle or its previous place of reservation (Roman Missal: Good Friday, no.29). 

15. Following the liturgy, the altar candles are removed, and the altar is stripped; the cross remains in place for a time.

NOTE: For the Vigil: If the “Såntu Intieru” is to be put side by side with the venerated cross, the Venerated Cross should be replaced by another cross without the Corpus. (Guidelines & Directives for Lent, Holy Week & Easter Season for the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa: Good Friday, no. 14)

16. The tradition of visiting churches to pray before the Venerated Cross and “Såntu Intieru” after the service is permitted.

NOTE: Visitors are to sign in, wear masks, and maintain social distancing. Use the assistance of ushers. Monitoring must take place – to ensure masks, sanitizing seats when an adorer leaves and before another person is allowed in, etc.

If needed, barricade the Venerated Cross and the Såntu Intiero to avoid touching or kissing.

HOLY SATURDAY: (April 3) | EASTER VIGIL IN THE HOLY NIGHT

17.All liturgical celebrations must follow established protocols, e.g., capacity for which the parish is certified, registrations, masks, etc.

18. For indoor gatherings, the use of individual handheld candles by the ministers and faithful at the beginning and during the renewal of baptismal promises is permitted. 

Time

19.  The Roman Missal states: “The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil must take place during the night, so that it begins after nightfall and ends before daybreak on the Sunday” (no. 3, Easter Vigil in the Holy Night).

The Blessing of the Fire and Preparation of the Paschal Candle 

20. Due to social distancing requirements, the congregation should not crowd around the Easter fire. The faithful are to already be seated in the pews, while the blessing and preparation are to take place. 

21. Only the celebrant and ministers should be present for the blessing of the new fire.

NOTE: If possible some of the faithful would be able to see from their seats inside (i.e., keeping the doors open if weather permits). This will greatly depend upon the layout of each parish.

The Easter Proclamation

22. The Easter Proclamation may be made, in the absence of a Deacon, by the Priest himself or by another concelebrating Priest. If, however, because of necessity, a lay cantor sings the Proclamation, the words Therefore, dearest friends up to the end of the invitation are omitted, along with the greeting The Lord be with you.

23. For the sake of brevity, due to the ‘serious pastoral circumstances,’ the number of readings from the Old Testament may be reduced, always bearing in mind that the reading of the Word of God is a fundamental part of this Easter Vigil.   At least five readings should be read from the Old Testament, both from the Law and from the Prophets, and their respective Responsorial Psalms should be sung. Chapter 14 of Exodus and its accompanying canticle are never omitted.

NOTE: Seven Readings, namely five from The Old Testament and two from the New Testament (the Epistle and Gospel)

Baptismal Liturgy

24. You may choose to only have the Renewal of Baptismal Promises if there are no Elect or Candidates. 

25. If there are none to be baptized, it is still permitted to bless water in the font, provided it is emptied after Mass and not available for the faithful to bless themselves with. 

NOTE: After the Homily the Baptismal Liturgy begins. The Priest goes with the ministers to the baptismal font, if this can be seen by the faithful. Otherwise, a vessel with water is placed in the sanctuary (Roman Missal: The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night, no. 37)

26.  The sprinkling rite at the end of the Renewal of Baptismal Promises is encouraged. 

Initiation Rituals

27. For those who will be baptized, please keep in mind that new water is to be used for each person. Baptismal pools should not be used this year. A separate towel must be used for each person. 

28. When there are multiple people being baptized and confirmed, for Confirmation and pre-baptismal anointing, SANITIZE and DRY hands in between each anointing.

29. Baptism should occur by pouring, not immersion. Because of the brief nature of the interaction, it is not necessary for the elect to wear a face mask at the moment of baptism (it may get wet and wet masks are ineffective). 

PLEASE NOTE:

30.    Because of COVID-19, the following activities are hereby CANCELLED:

1. a.   Carrying of the cross to Mt. Tapochao on Good Friday.
2. b. Procession or “Lukao” on Good Friday.
3. c. “Sunrise Mass” on Easter Sunday at Mt. Tapouchao