Offaly parish opts not to host public weekend masses

Edenderry parish has announced that it will not open its church for public mass this weekend.

In a notice on its Facebook page today, parish priest Fr PJ McEvoy said: “I am very sorry to announce that we will not open the Church for public Mass this weekend because of the extreme restriction of only 50 people allowed attend.”

He said there were never less than 200 people at each of the three weekend masses.

He added: “With social distancing we are of capable of seating a little over 200. To turn away people in big numbers from their own Church would be so hurtful and divisive.”

Fr McEvoy said the parish would wait a little longer to open at the weekends.

Daily masses will continue at 11am each morning, while weekends masses will continue to be available via webcam.