Over the past few days, regional Church authorities have begun to suspend liturgies and close churches. On 13 March, Cardinal Sean O’Malley suspended all Masses in the Archdiocese of Boston, to the immediate south of Thomas More. The Diocese of Burlington, Vermont, to the College’s west, has imposed restrictions, as has the Diocese of Portland, Maine.
As for 15 March, Bishop Peter Libasci has asked that the churches in the Diocese of Manchester remain open and that Masses continue as scheduled. Guidelines for social distancing and modest restrictions have been put in place, as well as the suspension of the Sign of Peace, distribution to the laity of Holy Communion by the Chalice, and cessation of all social gatherings.
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