Catholic Church in SC cancels masses until further notice over coronavirus fears
Catholic masses across the state of South Carolina have been suspended until further notice in response to the growing COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston announced Tuesday.
Instead, masses will be live-streamed through Holy Week and Easter, the diocese, which covers the entire state, said.
Masses had previously been canceled until April 1. But as the number of COVID-19 cases reaches roughly 350 across the state, there’s no telling when services is safe to resume, Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone and his leadership team said.
“COVID-19 is a serious virus that continues to spread across our state,” Bishop Guglielmone said in a statement. “By continuing our efforts to bring the faith into people’s homes, we can safeguard everyone’s health while giving members of our flock the opportunity to participate in Mass and other devotions.”
Catholics make up approximately 10% of South Carolina’s population, according to the Pew Research Center, and are a growing segment of the population.
The S.C. Baptist Convention, S.C. Conference of the United Methodist Church, Seventh District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and S.C. Lutheran Synod have all canceled services in the face of the coronavirus crisis, as well, though many continue to stream or televise some form of services for members.
Gov. Henry McMaster has recommended public gatherings of three or more people be broken up outside of essential activities, and the Center for Disease Control has said there should be no gatherings of 10 or more people to curb the spread of the disease.
Masses and services will be streamed on the Charleston diocese’s Facebook and YouTube pages at the following times during Holy Week at the end of Lent:
Sunday, April 5
— 11 a.m. (English)
— 12:30 p.m. (Spanish)
Monday, April 6
— 8:30 a.m. (English)
Tuesday, April 7
— 11 a.m. (English)
Wednesday, April 8
— 8:30 a.m. (English)
Thursday, April 9
— 8 p.m. (English)
Friday, April 10
— 3 p.m. (English)
Saturday, April 11 (Easter Vigil)
— 8 p.m. (English)
Sunday, April 12 (Easter)
— 11 a.m. (English)
— 12:30 p.m. (Spanish)
