Maryland Catholic Conference

Photo: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington | Hyattsville, MD

This page offers links for living our faith, helping others, seeking assistance, and accessing accurate health and government guidance during the COVID-19 crisis. 

We thank the Catholic parishes, schools, hospitals, Catholic Charities, nursing homes, food programs, health care ministries, and the 1 million+ Maryland Catholics who are helping communities and neighbors across our state every day!

CHURCHES ARE BEGINNING TO REOPEN FOR PUBLIC MASSES

The re-opening schedule may be affected by factors such as local restrictions on public gatherings and individual church situations, including church size, so please check with your parish before showing up and please review information provided by your (arch)diocese regarding new guidelines (see links below).

Parishioners can expect changes, including limits on the number of people permitted at a Mass, a requirement to cover faces, to sit 6' from other family groups, how Communion is conducted, the use of recyclable worship leaflets instead of shared missals, etc. 

The dispensation from attending Sunday Mass in person remains in place throughout Maryland (please watch it on TV or online) during this time of transition. 

CATHOLIC RESOURCES

Archdiocese of Baltimore

• Re-opening guidelines:
    May 15 - Private prayer and Reconciliation; small funeral and wedding Masses
    May 30: Public Masses resume, except where local restrictions remain in place
    What to expect video
• Coronavirus Resource Page
• Online Masses and Prayer | Online Masses in ASL for the deaf 
• Catholic Review
• Parish directory
• Catholic Charities | Esperanza Center 
• Online giving portal (to a parish or for a ministry)
  
  

Archdiocese of Washington

• Re-opening guidelines:
    May 25: Public Masses resume, except where local restrictions remain in place
    What to expect (downloadable flyer) 
• Coronavirus Resource Page
• Online Masses and Prayer | Hold a home prayer service
• Catholic Standard | El Pregonero
• Parish directory
• Catholic Charities 
• Online giving

Diocese of Wilmington

• Re-opening guidelines:
    May 22: Private prayer and Reconciliation | May 25: Public Masses resume
    What to expect (downloadable flyer)
• Coronavirus Resource Page
• Online Masses and Prayer
• The Dialog
• Parish directory
• Catholic Charities
• Online giving

National and Vatican Websites

• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (with links to free prayer resources) 
• USCCB - Justice for Immigrants (resources addressing immigrant needs) 
• Vatican News | Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi meditation
  
  

Additional Free Spiritual Resources 

• Catholic publishers are offering free online content during this crisis, including Magnificat, Magnifikids, Give Us This Day, The Word Among Us and much more
• FORMED is free in many parishes, or you can get free personal access for 40 days to Catholic movies, books, audio and other resources from 60+ organizations
• CatholicKids library of online Mass videos for the Children's Missalette is free right now
• Liturgical Press has created a page of free spiritual resources and tips for Holy Week, liturgy, and music
• The Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City is live-streaming a Holy Week Mission, April 6-8, 4-5 p.m.

Blessing in Time of Pandemic

Catholic Health Care in Maryland 

• Ascension/St. Agnes 
• Bon Secours Health Care
• MedStar Good Samaritan
• Mercy Medical Center
• Holy Cross Health 
• University of Maryland St. Joseph Health Center
• Caritas Counseling (mental health centers) |video on managing coronavirus anxiety
• Catholic Health Association COVID-19 page (includes ethics guidance)

Please also check parish websites and social media, especially Facebook and Twitter, for updates from the (arch)dioceses, parishes, and Maryland Catholic Conference (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram).

WAYS TO GIVE

Our parishes and social service ministries need spiritual, financial and pastoral support. Demand for food, emergency assistance, health care, diapers, shelter and more is growing. Parishes are struggling to keep the lights on while moving Mass and prayer online and providing pastoral and practical care, and Catholic schools and teachers are working with families to support remote learning (currently through April 24).

Please keep these needs in prayer - and please donate to your parish and other ministries, if you can, using the links above. You will find wish lists, sign-ups to help with groceries for parishioners who are homebound, and even recipes to keep the casseroles and other food going for sites such as Our Daily Bread in Baltimore.

Just check with your parish, school or Catholic Charities to see how you can volunteer. While the needs are great, health concerns and social distancing mean our parishes and ministries may need to adjust how they provide services.

PREGNANCY SUPPORT 

• Gabriel Network
• OptionLine: Visit the website, call 800-712-HELP or text “HELPLINE” to 313131 for confidential assistance 

GOVERNMENT COVID-19 RESOURCE PAGES

• State of Maryland Department of Health
• Office of the Governor
• State of Maryland Business Information Page | tax dates
• Maryland Association of Counties - links to each county's coronavirus information
• Maryland Medical Reserve Corps (medical and public health volunteers)
• Senior Call-Check Program - Department of Aging
• Centers for Disease Control