Roman Catholic Bishop Michael Warfel suspends all public Masses until March 30
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With the concerns for the most vulnerable and the elderly, Bishop Warfel, after consultation with priests, staff and other vital personnel has determined that the best process going forward was to collaborate with the government's attempt to contain the spread of this pandemic and suspend all public Masses in the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings until March 30, 2020. This includes the extension of a general dispensation for all the faithful from the obligation to participate at Mass on Sunday through this time. Public celebrations of the Liturgy of the Hours, Stations of the Cross, in-person Bible study groups (or devotional gatherings) are likewise suspended until the public celebration of Mass resumes. All parish meetings and gathers of any sort are likewise cancelled, including religious education programs.
St. Gabriel's in Chinook will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday for visitation and prayer in the Church. I will be available to hear Confessions during these times. Please use social spacing of 20 feet from other people when making a visit to the Church. Please keep the maximum of 10 people in the Church at any time.
Funerals are restricted to grave sides with immediate family during this time. If parishioners are sick and are in danger of death and would like to receive the anointing of the sick, please leave a message at the parish office. All planned penance services are cancelled.
As Catholics we hold the Eucharist to be central to our faith. During this time I would urge you to make an act of Spiritual Communion, expressing your love for the Lord, and your desire to receive Him. Our Lenten Season calls us to prayer, penance, fasting and almsgiving. This occasion presents us with an imposed confinement to increase our dedication to these practices. I would reference for you the daily sites' to listen to of kjcrradio.com; or to watch the daily Mass at wordonfire.org/daily-mass; and usccb.org for daily Mass readings in addition to reading your bible, praying the rosary, reflecting on the Stations of the Cross and other devotions and litanies that are great sources of intervention during this time.
