Norms on Baptisms, Marriages and Funerals in Ardagh & Clonmacnois

Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois

Baptisms, Marriages and Funerals (Phase Two from 8^th June 2020).

From 8^th June 2020 the following are the permitted:

Baptisms

Individual Baptisms may be celebrated, under the following conditions:

1. No more than 6 people may be present in the church, including the celebrant;
2. No physical contact should be made in marking with the Sign of the Cross;
3. Anointing with oil should only carried out using a cotton bud, to be burned afterwards, and there should be no physical contact;
4. Water should be used from a jug, not a font;
5. Hand sanitiser should be available;
6. Social distancing should be maintained, except for the brief moments when the celebrant must approach the candidate for Baptism and, and these moments should be kept as brief as possible;
7. The area of the church used for the Baptism must be cleaned / sanitised before and after each Baptism;
8. Those present at the Baptism cannot be present in the church for more than one hour;
9. If the above conditions cannot be achieved, Baptism cannot take place;
10. For the avoidance of doubt, multiple Baptisms are not permitted.

Marriages

Very small wedding ceremonies may take place, only if the Registrar has issued the required documentation for the wedding, and under the following conditions:

1. No more than 6 people are present in the church;
2. Hand sanitiser should be available;
3. Social distancing should be maintained;
4. The area of the church used for the wedding must be cleaned / sanitised before and after the wedding;
5. Those present at the wedding cannot be present in the church for more than one hour.

Funerals

The number of people who may attend a funeral, burial or cremation has been increased.  The following changes have been made:

1. Up to 25 people may attend a funeral and burial or cremation ceremony;

This is a strict limit and must not be exceeded;

2. Social distancing must be maintained;
3. The area of the church used for the funeral must be cleaned / sanitised before and after the funeral.

These changes take effect under Phase 2 of the Government’s road map for reopening society and business.