Novena for Protection Against COVID-19: https://www.praymorenovenas.com/pandemic-novena

Join us in Praying for the Protection of our Families:

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

Statement regarding the Closing of Churches from Archbishop Thompson (April 6, 2020)
Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ,
 
            I bid you grace, peace and hope in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen!  As the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic continue to take a great toll on our lives, especially the livelihood of so many, let us not allow our spirits to succumb to the virus or other any enemy visible or invisible. 
 
            In addition to the great efforts of healthcare workers and first responders, there are many unsung heroes continuing to provide care, assistance and encouragement to others.  Though there has been a great shift in the way in which we provide spiritual and pastoral care, necessity has spawned much creativity in reaching out to individuals and families particularly through the internet.  Many thanks to those who manage our archdiocesan and parish websites, and to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for providing so many wonderful resources.
 
            There has been quite a bit of speculation on social media about the closing of churches during the pandemic in many dioceses throughout the country and world.  Some have been supportive while others have been critical of these decisions.  To be sure, this is quite unprecedented in our lifetime.  It is most painful for all, clergy and laity.  As human beings, we are social by nature.  As Christians, we are drawn to gather as a community of believers.  As Catholics, gathering for Mass is our greatest form of prayer and worship.  The Eucharist is the source and summit of our identity and mission. 
 
Each bishop is responsible for his decision in this regard.  With that in mind, if it will help to bring about some understanding and appreciation for such action, I take this opportunity to explain the reasons for churches remaining closed in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
 
First and foremost, please be assured that the closing of churches and the celebration of Mass without community is a painful reality for everyone.  I know of no one among the clergy or the laity who does not lament this sad and difficult hardship.  Celebrating Mass in an empty cathedral or church is a surreal experience, especially during the apex of the entire liturgical year—namely, Holy Week, the Triduum and Easter.  So much in our Catholic culture has been disrupted during these special weeks such as Fish Fries, Stations of the Cross and Penance Services.  We can’t get these things back from this year.  Pope Francis has reminded us that the Church is missionary by nature.  As Church, rooted in memory of the past and assurance of divine promises made, we must always be readings the “signs of the times” in the present and looking toward the future of eternal life.  We have not lost what matters most; namely, the Good News of Salvation in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen.  With the Father and the Holy Spirit, He remains forever with the Church, His Body, carrying forth the mission for which He was sent.
 
The decision to close churches here in central and southern Indiana had nothing to do with fear or pressure from government.  Despite being dispensed from the obligation of Mass and being encouraged to remain at home just prior to the suspension of public Masses, many elderly and vulnerable persons attended Mass in very risky ways.  Crowds of people continued to gather closely together.  This was the same for communal celebrations of penance.  A number of people told me that their elderly parents or grandparents would not stay home unless everything was suspended and churches were closed.  Maintaining our primary focus on salvation of souls does not mean turning a blind eye to reason and prevention of serious harm.
 
As the data has shown, people who are asymptomatic, that is, not showing signs of having been infected, have passed on the virus to others before being diagnosed with Covid-19.  While it was first thought to be transmitted through touch, evidence now reveals that it is being transmitted by air (e.g. coughing, sneezing and even breathing).  There is further evidence that the virus can remain on various surfaces—wood, metal, paper, cardboard, plastic, etc.—for hours or days at a time.  That means everything being touched or breathed by someone unsuspectingly carrying the virus may be left for the next person coming along.  This may be the case in a pew, a confessional, a chair, a doorknob, a missalette or even palm.  A priest who wants to hear confessions or take communion from car to car in a parking lot cannot guarantee that he would not be an agent for transmitting the virus from one person to another or, even more devastating, from one family to another.  In the case of an invisible and vicious enemy like coronavirus, as I have said before, there can be a fine line between being heroic and being an agent of transmitting disease. 
 
Our priests continue to respond to sacramental and pastoral needs in danger of death, including entering hospitals and other places to hear confessions and administer the anointing of the sick, Viaticum and Last Rites.  We are most grateful to those hospital chaplains that are on the front lines to provide spiritual comfort and assurance to both patients and their families.
 
Finally, trying to do all that we can to support our healthcare workers and first responders, maintaining close churches at this time is one means of lessoning the curve of cases in our communities.  Marion County, as would be expected, has by far the most diagnosed cases and deaths from the virus.  While outlying counties within the archdiocese do not have so many cases, healthcare facilities in those areas are ill-equipped for any type of spike in such cases.  We owe it to them and one another, especially in light of the Church’s preferential option for the poor and vulnerable, to do all we can in support of this effort to overcome this pandemic.
 
Our Catholic faith, while we have some beautiful cathedrals and churches throughout the archdiocese and world, is not confined to buildings.  It is in buildings that we gather to pray, worship, learn Church teachings and gather in fellowship.  But the living of our Catholic faith takes place in all facets of society such as homes, places of work, schools, neighborhoods, athletic events, political arenas, cultural venues and on the streets.  While there has been a disruption in our ability to gather as a community of believers, we continue to be Catholic, Church, the Body of Christ, missionary disciples and stewards of God’s grace by carrying on the mission in whatever form circumstances make possible.  We need only think of the creative ways the first disciples were able to worship, learn and proclaim the faith in carrying out their call to holiness and mission in Jesus Christ. 
 
There are great challenges before us during this pandemic and, no doubt, “staying in place” and “social distancing” is taking it toll on us.   But there is also unique opportunity for us to delve deeper into prayer, spiritual reading, enriching our sense of devotion (via the Rosary, the Divine Chaplet of Mercy, the Stations of the Cross, Litanies, etc.), meditating on the Word of God (Lectio Divina), examination of conscience, learning more about our Catholic faith and discerning how to become more involved in the Church’s mission to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Whether inside or outside any given church structure, above all, may we remain Christ-centered in all we say and do.
 
With assurance of my prayers and blessings for everyone throughout the archdiocese, I remain
                                                                                    Sincerely yours in Christ,
                                                                                    +Charles C. Thompson
                                                                                   
                                                                                    Archbishop of Indianapolis
 
STATEMENT OF ARCHDIOCESE OF INDIANAPOLIS REGARDING HOLY WEEK (March 24, 2020):
Out of great concern for the health our people and as it is celebration of the entire archdiocese and the opportunity for the priests to renew the promises of their ordination in the presence of archbishop and the faithful, the Chrism Mass will be postponed until the current health crisis subsides. Newly blessed Holy oils will be distributed at that time.  Until then, the Holy oils blessed at the 2019 Chrism Mass may continue to be used.

Palm Sunday and Holy Week Liturgies will not be celebrated publicly in our parishes.

• There are to be no public celebrations, even outside – including live Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.
• There is to be no distribution of blessed palms; however, if a priest blesses palms privately, those palms may be reserved for distribution at a later date to be determined.
• Easter sacraments for RCIA candidates and catechumens and for Catholics who are to be confirmed at the Easter Vigil are to be postponed – guidance will be provided later on when they might be celebrated after this crisis subsides. (Please note: If a member of the elect is in danger of death, please follow RCIA Part II, no.3, “Christian Initiation of a person in danger of death.” The ritual book The Pastoral Care of the Sick also contains the rite for Christian Initiation of the Dying. Also, Canon 1183 §1 states, “when it concerns funerals, catechumens must be counted among the Christian faithful.”)
• The Mass of the Lord’s Supper (without washing of the feet), the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion, and the Easter Vigil will be celebrated by Archbishop Thompson and 2 or 3 concelebrants in Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral without a congregation and will be livestreamed on www.archindy.org.
• There should be no distribution of Holy Communion in any way outside of Last Rites currently or during Holy Week until we are cleared to return for public liturgies.
• Please continue to follow the stay at home order of Governor Holcomb.

The guidelines of the statement from March 17 regarding funerals remain in force. Please adhere to these, as well as the ongoing suspension of ALL public liturgies, which includes all Masses AND Communion services.
 

Statement of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis on the Suspension of Public Celebration of Mass and the Temporary Closure of the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center and Agencies (03/17/20): As the health and safety conditions in our archdiocesan community have shifted, the spread of the COVID-19 virus is a moment for Catholics and all people of goodwill  to offer special prayers of intercession for the healing of those infected, for the protection of the elderly and infirm who are at greatest risk, for the prevention of the disease’s spread, and for the courage and strength of care providers who minister to the sick, their families and those most in need.  With deep trust in the Lord and with a close attentiveness to the guidance given by experts in the fields of health and safety, the following decisions have been made about our operations and the liturgical life of those within the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Based on the recommendations from health officials concerning the danger of the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgency to stem the spread of the virus, the five Catholic bishops of Indiana have suspended effective March 18 and until further notice all public Sunday and weekday Masses throughout the Province of Indianapolis, which is comprised of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Dioceses of Gary, Evansville, Fort Wayne-South Bend, and Lafayette.  Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, the Archbishop of Indianapolis, has also suspended all other liturgical services and gatherings of the faithful effective Wednesday, March 18 and until further notice.  Of course, the archbishop’s dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass from March 13 continues until further notice. We encourage all priests to celebrate Mass privately for the good of the People of God, the Church and the intentions of the day. The archbishop has given permission (GIRM, 374) for the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions as well as Votive Masses on Lenten weekdays during this time. Televised and online Masses provide opportunities for the faithful to remain connected in some way to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass during this difficult time.  Parishes with the potential to broadcast their own Masses should do so.  All permission requirements for the online use of the prayers and readings of the Mass in both English and Spanish have been granted. The archbishop and some of the priests on his staff will be making online Masses available soon. Please visit the homepage of the archdiocese, www.archindy.org, for more information. During a time of prayer on Sunday or while viewing the Mass on T.V. or online, the faithful are encouraged to make an act of Spiritual Communion. This beautiful devotional practice in the Church is a real source of grace in communion with our Lord.  Below is an example of a prayer for spiritual communion: My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.  I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.  Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.  Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.  The faithful are also encouraged to prayerfully read the readings of Sacred Scripture for the day or to pray the rosary.   To provide for the pastoral needs of the people, pastors and parish life coordinators are invited to utilize staff in parishes in a safe and limited way to perform the most essential functions and to attend to routine maintenance. Out of an abundance of caution, parishes and chapels, including perpetual adoration chapels, should remained closed until further notice.   Decisions about the celebrations during Holy Week and beyond will be made in the coming days. As to the celebration of other Sacraments, whenever possible any scheduled celebrations should be postponed until further notice. This includes the celebration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Matrimony.   More information will be forthcoming regarding the health precautions that should be taken for the celebration of the Sacraments of Penance and the Anointing of the Sick (and other Rites in Exceptional Circumstances), which should be administered whenever possible for those in danger of death. Regularly scheduled visits to vulnerable persons and to the homebound should be suspended until further notice. Finally, the celebration of funerals should be postponed whenever possible.  If a funeral is offered, then it should be celebrated outside of Mass and in the presence of a very small number of the faithful who practice the prescribed precautions for hygiene and social distancing.  A Mass for the intention and the repose of the soul of the deceased may be offered privately by the priest.   Additionally, the archbishop has mandated the closing of the Catholic Center and related agency offices until further notice.   Those employees who are able to work remotely from home are encouraged to do so. All Catholic schools in the archdiocese will continue to be closed until at least April 6. Information related to compensation and care for our employees and for the financial well-being of our communities is being compiled.