COVID-19 Update from Bishop Fabbro (Update #19)

A printable PDF of this letter, with the appendices noted below, is at this link. 

COVID-19 UPDATE FROM BISHOP FABBRO (Update #19)

Having consulted the Episcopal Council, I would like to announce the following: a request to celebrate a Mass for all who are suffering during the pandemic and the continuation of the dispensation from the Sunday obligation and of permission for General Absolution.

1. Mass for All Who are Suffering During the Pandemic
Throughout the world this month, we are united in a special way in praying through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother for the end of the pandemic. When announcing this intention, Pope Francis asked that we pray the Rosary throughout the month of May for all who suffer in any way related to the pandemic. The pope asked that Marian Shrines around the world promote this prayer, listing 29 of these shrines where the Blessed Mother is honoured. You can see this list with the daily intentions in Appendix I.

In this spirit of humble prayer and recognizing that locally we recently observed “Mental Health Week”, the members of the Episcopal Council thought it providential to combine these intentions. Therefore, I am asking that in every parish or family of parishes, there be a Mass celebrated for the intentions of “all who are suffering during the pandemic” on one of the days of the last week of May, from 24 May to 28 May. This Mass will be an opportunity to be united in prayer across the Diocese and across the globe, even though we are still in lockdown and our churches are closed. I will be writing a letter to the faithful regarding this initiative.

Fr. Michael Béchard, diocesan Director of Liturgy, has provided a suggested Mass formulary that can be used, as well as readings from Scripture and universal prayers. These are in Appendix II.

2. Continuation of Dispensation from the Sunday Obligation
From the beginning of the pandemic, with the closure of places of worship and restrictions on them, bishops around the world have been mindful of the difficulty the faithful would have in fulfilling their Sunday obligation. I joined with the Holy Father and other bishops in giving this dispensation. In light of continuing constraints due to COVID-19, I hereby extend the dispensation from the Sunday obligation up to and including Sunday, 5 September 2021. We are grateful for the many ways that the Mass is offered online through our parishes.

3. Continuation of Permission to Celebrate General Absolution
With so many of the faithful desirous of celebrating God’s forgiveness, I also extend the permission to celebrate the third rite of the sacrament of Penance, known as “General Absolution”, up to and including Sunday, 5 September 2021. I understand that the sacrifices we have all been asked to make to help stop the spread of the coronavirus have been difficult. We are all encouraged by the decreasing number of cases and hospitalizations. I thank you for your prayers, your patience and your efforts to help protect one another. Your perseverance and dedication are signs of God’s action in our midst.

The opening words of Psalm 20 (vv. 1-5) express well our gratitude in these trying times:
Most Rev. Ronald P. Fabbro, CSB
Bishop of London