St. Columban Catholic Church announces suspension of all masses until at least Easter in compliance with decision by Ohio Catholic Bishops Monday, March 16, 2020

LETTER TO ST. COLUMBAN PARISHIONERS FROM: PASTOR, Rev. Larry Tensi

LOVELAND, OH, Monday, March 16, 2020, 5:40 p.m. – Dear Fellow Parishioners,

Grace and peace to you as we continue this perilous journey of the effects of the coronavirus. 

The Celtic Cross – emblem of St. Columban Catholic Church in Loveland, Ohio (File) 

I just received the following memo from the Catholic Bishops of Ohio that I now, with personal sadness, share with you regarding the celebration of the Eucharist here at
St. Columban and around the entire State of Ohio. We will abide by this statement beginning today, March 16, 2020. When more information is forthcoming, you will be the first to know.
Continued blessings and peace,
Fr. Larry
On March 16, 2020. the Roman Catholic Bishops of Ohio issued a letter suspending all publicly celebrated Masses/Liturgies at least through the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter.
The letter follows: RE: Catholic Bishops of Ohio Suspend All Publicly Celebrated Masses/Liturgies
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
After serious consideration of the grave health risk involved in public gatherings and in order to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, the bishops of Ohio have decided, effective immediately, to suspend temporarily all publicly celebrated Masses/liturgies, at least through the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter. The bishops of Ohio dispense the Catholic faithful who reside in their respective dioceses and all other Catholics currently in Ohio from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass through Easter Sunday.
This decision is not taken lightly and, as your bishops, causes us great sadness. However, after consultation with the governor and health officials we are convinced that this is the most prudent and necessary action.
Science has proven that participation in public gatherings significantly increases the risk of contagion. This poses a serious danger to those especially most vulnerable.
As Catholics, in every Sunday Mass we celebrate the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord. The Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. In this moment, we are experiencing in a unique way the passion of our Lord as this pandemic prevents us from gathering for the Sunday Eucharist. In this very difficult time, we encourage the faithful to turn to the Church’s treasury of prayer. Sunday remains a holy day, and we encourage the faithful to pray using the rich resources of our faith, including praying as a family or individually the rosary, divine mercy chaplet, the Liturgy of the Hours, stations of the cross, etc. We also urge you to participate in prayer by way of radio broadcast or televised or live-streamed Mass and make a spiritual communion.
 
Please join us in praying for all who are suffering from illness or disease of any kind, for all health care workers, and for an easing of the anxiety and tension caused by this situation. Relying on the Motherly care of Our Lady, we unite our sufferings to those of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our healing and our hope.
 
Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr                                       Most Rev. Joseph R. Binzer       
Chairman                                                                      Auxiliary Bishop
Catholic Conference of Ohio                                        Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Archbishop of Cincinnati
Most Rev. Robert J. Brennan                                       Most Rev. Jeffrey M. Monforton
Bishop of Columbus                                                     Bishop of Steubenville
Most Rev. George V. Murry, S.J                                   Rev. Donald P. Oleksiak
Bishop of Youngstown                                                  Diocesan Administrator of Cleveland
Most Rev. Daniel E. Thomas
Bishop of Toledo