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Priests in face coverings and communion in the hand only: Here's how churches plan to return to Mass

Religious services can resume during Phase Three which begins on Monday 29 June.

THE IRISH CATHOLIC Bishops’ Conference has produced a framework document to help churches prepare for a return to Mass and other services later this month.

The plan includes a “much reduced” capacity in churches to allow for physical distancing and the implementation of detailed rules, including priests wearing face coverings while distributing communion.

As part of the government’s roadmap for reopening the country, religious services can resume during Phase Three which begins on Monday 29 June.

At that point, the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference has said parishes will “slowly and cautiously resume public worship” but that this must be done “in a limited way”.

“In our churches this will mean that the maximum number of people who can be accommodated for any communal prayer or liturgy will be much reduced. The demands of physical distancing will also need to be considered in relation to people entering the church and leaving it,” the missive states.

The lengthy document also provides specific guidance on how different elements of a liturgical Mass can be implemented safely. It says that “some practical adjustments” are required.

Among the adjustments are that communion should be received by mass goers “in the hand” only. Priests and ministers are also being told they should wear a face covering while distributing communion.

Priests and ministers should also “visibly sanitise their hands both before and after the distribution of communion”.

Clear markings should also be visible to allow people maintain physical distance, “particularly when approaching for communion”.

The document also outlines that the “sign of peace”, which is usually displayed by hand-shaking, “can be omitted or offered in a way which avoids physical contact”.

Parishes are also being advised that concelebration, where a number of priests celebrate Mass together, “should be limited”. 

The document also provides a checklist for parishes to “maintain the standard of hygiene required in our churches at the present time”.

The checklist includes reminders to empty “all holy water fonts” and to ensure there are no missalettes that could be passed from person to person.

In place of church collections being passed around, the checklist advises “secure and supervised boxes near the doors of the church”.

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    Mute Opinionated
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    Jun 10th 2020, 6:46 PM

    Someone robbed a puppy farm

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    Mute Mill Lane
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:39 PM

    @Opinionated: Not according to the animal charity I follow on Facebook, it was on their feed last night looking for information and they clearly stated the owners were not puppy farmers.

    Most likely responsible breeders, puppy farms I doubt would report the theft of several pups and dogs of different breeds.

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    Mute EillieEs
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:52 PM

    @Mill Lane: maybe not a puppy farm but a backyard breeder. Have never heard of a ‘responsible’ breeder with at least four different breeds all ready to be sold around the same time.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Jun 10th 2020, 8:05 PM

    @EillieEs: the breeder we got our dog from had litters of two different breeds at the same time. He only bred them every two years and did both breeds at around the same time because puppies are a lot of work, so it was easier for him to look after them all for 2/3 months rather than spreading it out and having puppies running around for 4/5 months

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    Mute Gerard
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    Jun 10th 2020, 8:18 PM

    @Mill Lane: as a genuine question what’s the difference between a responsible breeder and a puppy farm? I can’t think of any possible difference which isn’t just an arbitrary line in the sand. There’s so many in kennels people might be more willing to adopt if they couldn’t get “purebreds” from a “responsible breeder”.

    But as bad as conditions might have been (maybe not though — irresponsible doesn’t necessarily mean mistreatment), they don’t exactly sound like they’d be getting any better with someone who’d burgle a puppy farm.

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    Mute Delboy79
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    Jun 10th 2020, 9:32 PM

    @Opinionated: huge demand for dogs during lockdown . While great for rescue centers who are often overburdened with unwanted dogs,it was only a matter of time before the criminals got in on the act to profit from this demand . If you are contributing to this demand do the responsible thing and only obtain a dog through a registered reputable breeder or a rescue center .

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Jun 10th 2020, 10:32 PM

    @Sam Harms: At least four different breeds, she said, and she’s right to question how that came about.

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    Mute Patricia O'Reilly
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    Jun 11th 2020, 12:47 AM

    @Mill Lane: it is a puppy farm if they are kept in kennels out back. Any good breeder has only one or 2 breeds. It’s a slippery slope having more. Pure greed. .. Hope puppies are safe.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Jun 11th 2020, 1:13 PM

    @Mill Lane: no such thing as responsible breeders.

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    Mute EillieEs
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    Jun 11th 2020, 2:55 PM

    @Delboy79: the shutdown has been disastrous for rescues. Apart from being unable to fundraise as normal, they stopped fostering out and adopting as they couldn’t do home checks. The only homed to people who’d been home checked in the past.

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    Mute Fergal O'Hagan
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    Jun 10th 2020, 6:42 PM

    Definitely NOT a cat burglar so!

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    Mute devotional
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:36 PM

    Not enough info here but Its a worry when you see different breeds for sale from the same breeder / seller .
    I hope it’s not yet another puppy farm , they seem rampant still in Ireland .

    Donedeal should not allow dogs to be sold either . It’s scary looking at what’s on it .

    We rescued a dog from a shelter recently , the dog is thriving . It’s not a cute pup but a dog that loves people and keeps us fit from 3 walks every day !
    Would recommend anyone looking for a pet to at least have a look .

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    Mute Patricia O'Reilly
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    Jun 11th 2020, 12:51 AM

    @devotional: yes I fostered a puppy farm mum recently. that had been rescued. The poor thing was in the most horrific state I’ve ever encountered. It’s taken me over 4 months to get her to settle, but she is so terrified of men. Dont support these people. They are cruel. There are some lovely breeders but they have one mum not 5, or 10.

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    Mute TheITGuy
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    Jun 10th 2020, 6:49 PM

    Cruel puppy farm robbed.

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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Jun 10th 2020, 6:34 PM

    Is sentimental value not attached to an object? Either way I hope they are found safe and well.

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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Jun 10th 2020, 6:46 PM

    Plus based on the report, all of them should be microchipped.

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    Mute EillieEs
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:55 PM

    @Logan Shepherd: I suppose they could hardly say “much loved family pets”‘when they were obviously bred for profit!

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    Mute Billy
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:31 PM

    Whether they get them back or not I hope the puppies aren’t harmed.

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    Mute Patrick Khan
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    Jun 10th 2020, 8:55 PM

    In other words the familys source of income has been taken. Sentimental value yeah right. A puppy farm..
    Its called KARMA

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    Mute Kate Mchugh Moylan
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:10 PM

    Check out done deal I’m sure they’ll prob put them up for sale shortly

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    Mute Margaret Deacon
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:49 PM

    @Kate Mchugh Moylan: or could be on boat to England

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    Mute Gerard
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    Jun 10th 2020, 8:12 PM

    If they just have a huge property and income and happen to love dogs, you’d have to feel bad for them with everyone assuming they’re a puppy farm.

    But who would steal 14 dogs from anywhere but a puppy farm? Where they just happen to know the monetary value of the top of their heads. “Sentimental value”? Alright.

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    Mute Lorraine Mac Rory
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:57 PM

    Dear Garda confidential line… I’d like to report a puppy farm….

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    Mute Ned Gerblansky
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    Jun 10th 2020, 6:41 PM

    Why carry a story like this? There won’t be any sympathy. Much more worthwhile causes could do with the airtime.

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    Mute Gina Carroll
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:04 PM

    @Ned Gerblansky: actually its is a worthwhile story, how do u kno its a puppy farm, could be a rescue? Plus people need to watch out for these dogs being off loaded cheap.

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    Mute Ned Gerblansky
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:17 PM

    @Gina Carroll: pretty simple actually, Rescues don’t put a monetary value on a dog.

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    Mute EillieEs
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:48 PM

    @Gina Carroll: if it was a rescue it would say that in the article.

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    Mute Margaret Deacon
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:48 PM

    @Gina Carroll: it’s not a rescue as it said some had been sold

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Jun 10th 2020, 10:30 PM

    @Ned Gerblansky: Isn’t it really so people are aware of it, in case the puppies turn up for sale?
    At least anyone reading this can check it out if they’re offered a pup that belongs to someone else.

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    Mute EillieEs
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    Jun 11th 2020, 2:49 PM

    @Margaret Deacon: the fact it’s not a rescue and on the face of it appears to be a backyard breeder, was exactly my point. I’m certainly not in any way trying to justify the theft; I’d be extremely concerned for the welfare of puppies who’ve been stolen irrespective of where they’ve been stolen from.

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    Mute Charles Coughlan
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    Jun 10th 2020, 6:39 PM

    Black Audi type car, discussed on C103 earlier.

    38
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    Mute paul mccoy
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    Jun 10th 2020, 10:35 PM

    At the end of the day if you have a love of dogs or any animal for that matter go to a rescue centre and give one a decent home that it longs for. Forget these greedy breeders that only think about profit and couldn’t care less about the welfare of the animal. They are in it for the money full stop. Do the decent thing. Puppy farms in this country should be banned.

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    Mute Isabel Oliveira
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:39 PM

    Sounds like an animal rescue to me. Anyone that says “ the dogs have sentimental value “ describing an animal and has 14 of them most for “ adoption “ aka sale , an abduction seems totally justified.

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    Mute Margaret Deacon
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:50 PM

    @Isabel Oliveira: of course it’s sentimental value it churning out pups for sale

    38
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    Mute Isabel Oliveira
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:57 PM

    @Margaret Deacon: yeah, registered puppy farm but still a cruelty. All these poor animals for sale and used as breeding machines.

    https://commercialsaleofpuppies.wordpress.com/2017/01/01/republic-of-ireland/

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    Mute EillieEs
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    Jun 11th 2020, 2:58 PM

    @Isabel Oliveira: I very much doubt that people who would steal puppies in this manner have the welfare of the pups in mind.

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    Mute Derek Poutch
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:07 PM

    Doggone it.

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    Mute Lochlainn Marcus
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    Jun 11th 2020, 12:08 AM

    I hope the puppy’s are safe and well no matter what and that they are treated properly. Were there no cameras on the kennels?? The poor little pets.
    Puppy farms should be banned

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    Mute Andrew Letcher
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    Jun 11th 2020, 6:44 AM

    So they were sentimentally attached to some puppies they were going to sell?

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    Mute Mia Övernäs
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    Jun 11th 2020, 10:43 AM

    Why was the their “beloved pets” living in a shed and not indoors?

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    Mute Massimo Gullo
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    Jun 11th 2020, 6:58 AM

    I think the dog themselves organized the escape, making it look like a burglary …
    Them dogs didn’t want to be sold ;)

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    Mute James Quinn
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    Jun 10th 2020, 11:04 PM

    God that’s woof !

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    Mute liverpoolfan800
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    Jun 10th 2020, 9:27 PM

    I’d love to know why my comment was deleted.

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