In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world. We come to You today with our fears and concerns. You know what is in our hearts. We love You, we trust You, we need You. We ask You to be with us, to stay with us. Help us through these times of uncertainty and sorrow.

We know you are the Divine Physician, the healer of all. We ask You to bring your loving touch and healing presence to all those who are sick and suffering right now from the coronavirus. Please comfort them.

Please stand at the side of all medical professionals who are putting themselves at risk while they work to bring healing to others.

Please have mercy on those who have died, may they be with You in heaven. 

Please be with the grieving families of those who have passed away. 

Please be with those who are trying to find a remedy to this pandemic.

Lord, we are afraid and we are sorrowful. Please heal us. Send us your peace and overwhelming presence. 

(if you have a special intention mention it here)

Jesus, we thirst for You. You chose to enter this world as a vulnerable baby. Be with the most vulnerable now. Help us to continue to return to You with our whole hearts throughout this ordeal. Amen.

Mary, our Mother, Untier of Knots. Pray for us.

St. Anthony the Great, patron of those affected by infectious diseases. Pray for us.

St. Edmund, patron of the victims of pandemics. Pray for us.

St. Damien of Molokai, who put himself at risk to minister to lepers. Pray for us.

St. Roch, who prayed for those suffering from infectious diseases. Pray for us.

St. Joseph, patron of the dying. Pray for us.

St. Jude and St. Rita, patrons of impossible causes. Pray for us.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, who was dedicated to caring for the sick. Pray for us.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
 

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now 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.

“O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.

We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
You…know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows to lead us, through the cross, to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.

Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of those of us who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.”

Spanish Version

Oh María,
tu resplandeces siempre en nuestro camino

como signo de salvación y de esperanza
Confiamos en ti, Salud de los enfermos,
que junto a la cruz
te asociaste al dolor de Jesús,
manteniendo firme tu fe
Tú…sabes lo que necesitamos 
y estamos seguros de que proveerás
para que, como en Caná de Galilea
pueda volver la alegría y la fiesta
después de este momento de prueba
Ayúdanos, Madre del Divino Amor,
a conformarnos a la voluntad del Padre
y hacer lo que nos diga Jesús
que ha tomado sobre sí nuestros sufrimientos

y se ha cargado con nuestros dolores
para llevarnos, a través de la cruz
a la alegría de la resurrección. Amén.

Bajo tu amparo nos acogemos,
santa Madre de Dios;
no deseches las oraciones
que te dirigimos
en nuestras necesidades,
antes bien
líbranos de todo peligro,
¡oh Virgen gloriosa y bendita!
¡Amén!
 

Polish Version

O Maryjo, 
Ty zawsze oświecasz nasze drogi jako znak zbawienia i nadziei.
Poświęcamy się Tobie, my zdrowi i chorzy, 
Którzy współuczestnicząc w cierpieniach Jezusa przy krzyżu, trwamy w twojej wierze. 

Ty, zbawienie… 
wiesz czego potrzebujemy, i ufamy, że obdarzysz nas łaskami o które błagamy, abyśmy jak w Kanie Galilejskiej powrócili do radości po tym czasie próby i zmagania.

Pomóż nam, Matko Boskiej Miłosci, przyjąć wolę Ojca Niebieskiego, abyśmy za wskazaniami Chrystusa, który przyjął na siebie nasze cierpienia i niósł w sobie nasze boleści, przez drogę krzyża, mogli dojść do radości zmartwychwstania. 
Amen.

March 19, 2020 - Additional Health and Safety Measures

By Mandate of the Bishop

As events and civil guidelines continue to unfold the following Health and Safety Measures are effective immediately.

Deferral of Baptism

Until further notice all baptisms administered by the ordinary minister of the sacrament within the parish setting are deferred except in case of urgent necessity. Should an urgent necessity arise, the faithful should contact a priest immediately.

Funeral Rites

Because of the impossibility of limiting large gatherings of family and friends for a Funeral Mass, all Funeral Masses are to be discontinued until further notice. The Rite of Committal as established in the Order of Christian Funerals may be used for a graveside service with no more than 8 members of the immediate family present. All are to keep the recommended social distance. The priest is to offer a private Mass for the repose of the soul of the departed. A public Memorial Mass can be arranged for a later date when restrictions on the gathering of large crowds have been lifted.
_______________________________________
Most Reverend Arthur J. Serratelli, S.T.D., S.S.L., D.D.
Bishop of Paterson
_______________________________
Reverend Stephen T. Prisk
Ecclesiastical Notary

Updated MArch 19, 2020

Health and Safety Measures for Pastoral Life
in the Diocese of Paterson

Effective Immediately

By Mandate of the Bishop

As the cases of coronavirus increase exponentially, it is a moral imperative for all people to do what is humanly possible to prevent the spread of the illness. Large gatherings of people have rapidly become a grave health risk. Therefore, I am making the following provisions for the Diocese of Paterson, effective immediately.

Suspension of Public Masses 

All public Masses are hereby suspended in the Diocese of Paterson until further notice. Since the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life, all priests of the Diocese of Paterson must celebrate Mass privately for the good of all of the Christian faithful entrusted to their care and for all people during this critical time. Priests should celebrate this private Mass even if another priest or deacon cannot be with them to assist.  Priests are reminded of the obligation to offer Mass for the intentions of those who have made an offering for the Mass.
             
We take to heart the admonition of Saint Paul: "Rejoice in hope, endure in afflictions, persevere in prayer."  (Romans 12:12). This would be a time to encourage families to pray the Rosary at home, and to make the grace before meals a time for fathers and mothers, and all families, to center their homes on prayer and reliance upon God’s mercy.

Suspension of Welcome Home to Healing Confessions, Lenten Penance Services

The Welcome Home to Healing initiative of Monday night confessions is suspended. Any scheduled Penance Services or Penitential Liturgies are suspended. Any gatherings of the faithful for private devotions such as the Stations of the Cross are also suspended. Our churches are to remain open to the faithful for private prayer. Please note that praying in large clusters or groups of people is prohibited. You must observe the government curfews.

Adoration and Private Prayer

 Parishes are encouraged to expose the Blessed Sacrament for at least three hours each day so that the faithful may come and pray and unite themselves in spiritual communion with the Lord. The hours for Exposition and Adoration should be posted. Priests should administer the Sacrament of Penance or the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to the Christian faithful who legitimately request those sacraments.

Suspension of the Sacrament of Confirmation

The celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation is hereby suspended in the Diocese of Paterson. Confirmation retreats should be deferred. As developments continue to unfold, we will assess the situation. When it is prudent, we will make the necessary arrangements for the celebration of the Sacrament.

First Penance and First Holy Communion

Since the celebrations of First Penance and First Holy Communion bring together large groups of people, both celebrations are to be deferred in all parishes until further notice.

Weddings

The celebration of weddings is left to the discretion of the local pastor. The pastor must take into account the ongoing guidance from civil authorities regarding the acceptable size of crowds in public spaces. Every effort to guide couples with pastoral sensitivity must be made. Should questions arise, please contact the Office of the Vicar General.

Deferral of Baptism (updated March 19, 2020)

Until further notice all baptisms administered by the ordinary minister of the sacrament within the parish setting are deferred except in case of urgent necessity. Should an urgent necessity arise, the faithful should contact a priest immediately.

Funeral Rites (updated March 19, 2020)

Because of the impossibility of limiting large gatherings of family and friends for a Funeral Mass, all Funeral Masses are to be discontinued until further notice. The Rite of Committal as established in the Order of Christian Funerals may be used for a graveside service with no more than 8 members of the immediate family present. All are to keep the recommended social distance. The priest is to offer a private Mass for the repose of the soul of the departed. A public Memorial Mass can be arranged for a later date when restrictions on the gathering of large crowds have been lifted.

Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum

Any decision in terms of Holy Week, the Chrism Mass, the Sacred Triduum, and Easter will be made as we monitor the situation. Parishes will be advised in due time.

Thank you for your cooperation and all necessary steps you take in order to minimize the spread of the coronavirus.  We pray for the healing gifts of the Holy Spirit to descend upon all people during this critical period. In this time of trial, we depend on the mercy and goodness of God to protect us.

Therefore, I urge all to join in fervent prayer, especially by praying the rosary. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, may the Lord, in his mercy, deliver us from this present danger.

• All to the contrary notwithstanding.
• Given at the Chancery of the Diocese of Paterson, this 16th day of March, 202