Feb. 18, 2021
3
WORLD/LOCAL
www.superiorcatholicherald.org
Decree
T
he correct ordering of the sacramental life of the church within a diocese rests with the diocesan bishop as the moderator, promoter and guardian of the entire liturgical life in the church entrusted to his care (c. 835, 1). Priests and deacons are receiving more requests from couples wanting to celebrate a Catholic wedding in a location other than a church build- ing. The following norms apply to all proposed locations: n The location should be in keeping with the sacred nature of marriage. n The location should be a physically mean- ingful place for the couple and provide the couple and their guests with the sense of the sacredness of the occasion. n The wedding location may not be a bar, a restaurant, a casino, on a boat, on the water or
other similar location.
Being able to provide non-church weddings to Catholics is a promotion of evangelization, espe- cially of the young. The church wants to welcome couples preparing for marriage, and have them celebrate a church-approved wedding. Catholic weddings not in a church building would not in any way diminish the quantity or quality of our marriage preparation programs; all required marriage preparation must be completed regard- less of the site of the wedding. A priest or deacon would have the right to decline any wedding with which he does not feel comfortable. The priest or deacon, not the couple, is the one who will apply for permission. These wedding ceremonies will not include celebrations of the Eucharist or Communion services. Papers will be filed and the marriagerecordedattheparishwheretheici- ating priest or deacon is assigned or assisting. If he is not attached to a parish, it will be recorded at the parish nearest the venue. The chancery icewillassistindeterminingwhichparishthat is. A special application form has been prepared to implement this norm. This permission is only applicable for weddings celebrated with the geo- graphical boundaries of the Diocese of Superior. To provide for a means for Catholics to seek permission to celebrate weddings in alternate sites, I hereby establish and promulgate as particular law in the Diocese of Superior, the following process for the Celebration of Catholic Wedding Ceremonies in Alternate Sites. Given at the chancery on Jan. 25, 2021. Most Rev. Bishop James P. Powers
Bishop of Superior, Wisconsin
Office of the Bishop
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he Knights of Columbus Quad County Council #9546, Birchwood, has received the Star Coun- cil Award from the national Supreme Council. The Birch- wood Knights earned the Su- preme Councils highest award by completing the require- ments at 400 percent of the goal. Requirements include achieving the following: 1) The Father McGivney Award, which is given for meeting or exceeding the yearly mem- bership quota; 2) the Colum- bian Award, which requires completing four programs in each of the four categories of faith, family, community and life; 3) the Founders Award, which is given for promotion of insurance products; 4) meeting all deadlines for com- pleting forms and surveys; and 5) compliance with Safe Environment standards. The award was earned during the 2019-2020 year, which ended June 30. The Birchwood Knights just received their plaque.
Knights earn highest honor
The Birchwood Knights earned the Supreme Council's highest award by completing the require- ments at 400 percent of the goal. (Submitted photo) CINDY WOODEN
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
VATICAN CITY - Two days after the Iraqi government announced stringent COVID-19 precautions, including the clo- sure of mosques and churches until further notice, the prime minister met with the Vatican nuncio to discuss the prepara- tion for the scheduled visit of His Holiness, Pope Francis. The Iraqi government an- nounced the meeting of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and Archbishop Mitja Leskovar, the nuncio, in a tweet Feb. 15. Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Iraq March 5-8, and he has events planned in churches each day. The prime minister had chaired a meeting Feb. 13 of the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, which responded to a rising number of coronavirus infections with new restrictions, including a total curfew Friday-Sunday and an 8 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew the rest of the week Feb. 18-March 8. Grocery stores, bakeries and pharmacies are exempt. In addition to the closure of all mosques and churches, the government banned public funerals and weddings in event halls, and ordered the closure of hair salons, gyms, parks and cinemas for two weeks. Schools are to move to an online format and restaurants are allowed to provide delivery service only. According to the Worldom- eter COVID-19 tracker, Iraq had been experiencing a daily increase of new coronavirus infections daily since Feb. 1. As of Feb. 15, the tracker said, Iraq had had a total of 643,852 cases since the pandemic began a year earlier and 13,179 people had died. With just over 23,000 active cases Feb. 14, the situa- tion is much better than early October, when the number of active cases peaked at just over 63,000. The Vatican did not comment on how the new restrictions would impact the planned trip - which could be postponed - or the activities of the pope, the smallentourageofVaticani- cials expected to travel with him and the 75 journalists accredited to the papal flight. The pope and all those trav- eling with him have received or were to receive their second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at least a week before the trip was scheduled to begin. In line with current health recommendations, they still would be required to be test- ed for the coronavirus before boarding the flight and to wear approved face masks on the light and while in Iraq. In a meeting with members of Catholic News Services Rome bureau Feb. 1, Pope Francis said that unless there is a serious new wave of COVID-19 infections in Iraq, he had every intention of visiting the country in early March. Even if social distancing requirements mean most Iraqis will see the papal events only on television, he said, they will see that the pope is there in their country. I am the pastor of people who are suffering, Pope Francis told CNS.
Iraq announces COVID-19 restrictions ahead of papal trip
Workers disinfect the interior of a mosque to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease as students, wearing masks, continue to study in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq, Feb. 15. As part of COVID-19 pre- cautions, the Iraqi gov- ernment has ordered the closure of mosques and churches "until further notice." Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Iraq March 5-8 and has events planned in churches each day. (CNS photo/Alaa Al-Marjani, Reuters)
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