13 March 2020

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Please join me in praying for all those throughout the world affected by the Coronavirus. May those who have died rest in peace and may their families and friends be strengthened by God our Father’s loving care.

Please pray as well for all medical personnel assisting in the efforts to comfort those afflicted, giving thanks to God for their service to all of us.

After consulting with my advisors, including the Presbyteral Council, I have decided to mandate the following actions for all in the Diocese of Sioux City.

In an abundance of caution, the following events are cancelled:
• All Deanery Holy Hours and meetings
• The Women’s Conference on March 28th
• The Chrism Mass scheduled for April 2nd (Deans only will concelebrate with me at the Cathedral, Holy Oils will be distributed to pastors by the Deans) • The Men’s Conference on April 4th
• You will be updated on other cancellations as necessary

Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

I am dispensing all Catholics over age 65 and anyone, regardless of age, with underlying medical issues, from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Anyone who sincerely or seriously believes they are at risk or is not feeling well is also dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass.

Celebration of Mass

Pastors are mandated to follow these directives:
• Remove holy water from hand fonts and provide hand sanitizer at church entrances
Greeters should refrain from shaking hands or touching parishioners and should not hand out bulletins or other materials. These materials may be placed at the doors to be taken
• Remove missalettes, hymnals, papers, and other loose materials from the pews. If missalettes and hymnals are distributed at the door, those should also be removed.
• Remind the lay faithful, if possible, to sit with some distance between one another.
• Take the collection in such a way that eliminates handing the basket from person to person.
• Suspend the procession of the offertory gifts and keep them covered on the credence table.
• Do not hold hands during the Our Father, as there is no liturgical directive that requires this.
• Eliminate the Sign of Peace, as liturgical norms allow this to be omitted at Mass.
• Re-enforce the practice of hand sanitizing for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
• I strongly recommend that the Host be received in the hand as opposed to on the tongue.
• Suspend the distribution of the Precious Blood during Holy Communion.
• Be particularly mindful of cleansing the vessels used during Mass after each use.
• Refrain from greeting the priest and others after Mass with handshakes or physical contact.

Additional Recommendations
• Pastors are advised to evaluate all parish activities and determine whether they should be cancelled or postponed.
• Priests, deacons and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to the sick at nursing homes and hospitals should follow the guidelines established by those institutions.

Thank you for your understanding at this difficult time and know of my prayers for all of you. Please pray in a special way for our elderly and for me and all our priests and deacons.

In this time of need, I invite all the faithful to seek together the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and I share this prayer with you:

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe,
Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas.
We fly to you today as your beloved children.
We ask you to intercede for us with your Son,
As you did at the wedding in Cana.

Pray for us, loving Mother,
And gain for our nation and world,
And for all our families and loved ones,
The protection of your holy angels,
That we may be spared the worst of this illness.

For those already afflicted,
We ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance.
Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful,
Wipe away their tears and help them to trust.

In this time of trial and testing,
Teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind.
Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.

We come to you with confidence,
Knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother,
Health of the sick and cause of our joy.

Shelter us under the mantle of your protection,
Keep us in the embrace of your arms,
Help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Your brother in Christ,

Most Reverend R. Walker Nickless
Bishop of Sioux City
Please see the copy of the press release and annoucements from Fr. Mark under Documents on the home page of this website.