“From the beginning of the pandemic until today, in our diocese, we currently have the most difficult period in the fight against coronavirus and the most infected per day,” Msgr. Mate Uzinić wrote in his decision the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Dubrovnik, stating that for this reason from April 11 to May 16 in the Diocese of Dubrovnik, “the distribution of the sacrament of First Communion and Holy Confirmation is postponed, and Masses and all other celebrations, regardless of whether they are indoors or outdoors, can to be celebrated exclusively following the prescribed epidemiological measures in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County.”
Večernji List reports, as Archbishop of Rijeka, Coadjutor Mate Uzinić sent a letter to parishioners and priests in the Archdiocese of Rijeka on Saturday, April 10, regarding the official Decision on Amendments to the Decision on Introducing New Epidemiological Measures for the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, which enters into force on Monday, April 12. 2021 and lasts until April 26, 2021, stating that “we could not influence this decision so that we can think about this and that, but we are obliged to abide by it, like all other citizens of this society, in all situations, even in those relating to our religious gatherings and Mass celebrations.”
“Namely, although the Decision does not explicitly mention Masses and other religious gatherings and celebrations, it is obvious, since none of them is mentioned in the exception, that the provisions prohibiting” holding all public events also apply to Masses and other religious public gatherings. ”Starting from this, please adapt to this and in the mentioned period of Mass and other celebrations that are not explicitly forbidden, celebrate exclusively privately, i.e., with the church door closed.
Since the mentioned Provision still allows private gatherings and ceremonies where “there can be a maximum of eight people from a maximum of two households,” I believe that this does not exclude the possibility to allow believers to participate in these masses, of course, subject to all epidemiological measures. No Mass or other prayer gathering shall be attended by more than eight persons from a maximum of 2 households, as provided for in the Ordinance.”, said Archbishop Uzinić in the Rijeka Archdiocese.
Other dioceses have not yet made such decisions. Namely, at the CBC level, it was decided that each diocese chooses to for itself, depending on the situation in its area. In Zagreb, for example, some parishes are planning confirmations and first communions next weekend, but if the epidemiological picture worsens, new instructions from the Archbishop’s Spiritual Table will arrive.
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