May 25, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn will re-open churches for limited services this week.
The diocese, which covers Catholic churches in Queens and Brooklyn, will resume prayer services, funerals, baptisms, and weddings from May 26.
A maximum number of 10 people will be permitted to attend the ceremonies and social distancing rules will apply, according to a statement released by the diocese Friday.
All attendees will be required to wear face masks at the services.
“It has been a challenging few months for Catholics in Brooklyn and Queens,” Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio said.
“We know many people have eagerly been awaiting the day our churches would open,” he said.
Regular church services, or mass, will still not be permitted to take place, although the diocese will continue to stream the celebration online and on the diocesan cable channel, NET-TV.
The limited resumption of services stem from an executive order signed by the governor Friday that permits all public gatherings of up to 10 people – including faith services – provided social distancing rules are adhered to.
Houses of worship throughout the state have been shuttered since March 20, following the government’s stay-at-home order which prohibited non-essential gatherings of people.