Coronavirus (COVID-19)

• Archdiocese is committed to ensure the safety of parishioners within the parameters set by the Ministry of Health and recommendations of medical experts.
  
  
• Archbishop Julian has requested that parishes adhere to the pastoral recommendations from the three arch/bishops of the arch/dioceses of Peninsular Malaysia and the Chancery Notices.
  
  
• In consultation with our medical advisors and having taken all necessary measures recommended by the Ministry of Health to date, the Archdiocese has decided to allow all Masses in the parishes to proceed as normal.
  
  
• We cannot emphasise enough the importance of and the spiritual benefit derived from the sacraments, especially during a crisis. Although public penitential services have been suspended on grounds of public health safety to both priest-confessors and penitents, individual confessions are still available in parishes (before masses and by appointment). Archbishop Julian has commissioned a special crisis task force comprising clergy, medical doctors and Chancery staff, to help monitor the development of this crisis, to address issues more expeditiously, and to review and recommend safety guidelines for the local church.
  
  
• Parish Priests and administrators are to reinforce the message that persons who are ill should not attend Mass, gatherings or meetings where there is a likelihood of close contact with another person. This message should be disseminated as widely as possible through various channels, including bulletin announcement, social media, websites etc. As the situation requires, it may be prudent to cut down the number of meetings (or shorten the meetings to an hour or less) and to avoid any non-essential gatherings e.g. coffee mornings.
  
  
• As per advisory from the Ministry of Health, it is highly recommended that anyone who has travelled to China, Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran should observe some form of self-quarantine up to a period of 14 days from the date of return to Malaysia.
  
  
• In order to avoid unnecessary fear and, panic, we call upon all Catholics to refrain from disseminating unverified news and information on Covid-19. Kindly contact the Archdiocesan Media Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for verification of any news report.

Parishioners must always adopt the following precautions:

• Always observe good personal hygiene and sanitary practices;
• Practice frequent hand washing with soap; Avoid touching your face with your hands as much as possible;
• Cover your mouth with a tissue paper when coughing or sneezing and dispose the soiled tissue paper in the rubbish bin as soon as possible. Do not leave used tissue paper in the pews;
• Seek medical attention promptly if you are feeling unwell;
• Stay home and avoid social gatherings if you are sick; and
• Keep yourself updated on the changing disease situation.

For more information, please refer to - Click here -> WHO (World Health Organisation) advice for the public. 

While we all need pastoral care and spiritual formation, we also have a calling by Christ to love and care for one another. Deciding not to attend Mass and Church events when unwell or ‘feeling under the weather’ (which may be a prodrome, an early indication of onset of an illness) will be the most charitable course of action during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The elderly, the sick and vulnerable persons are exempted from Mass. They are encouraged to follow the online LIVE Broadcast https://Tv.ArchKL.org for Masses and to practice spiritual communion.

• Holy water will not be available in fonts at entrances of churches and chapels.
• Hand sanitiser dispensers should be placed at the entrances of churches and chapels. Reminders be given to parishioners to observe proper hand hygiene.
• During the Sign of Peace, the faithful will express this by a simple bow and refrain from shaking hands.

• Those who wish to receive Holy Communion, should only receive on the hands.
• Following health advisories, continue to practise good hygiene by washing hands with soap regularly and thoroughly. Priests and extraordinary ministers of holy communion are to take extra care in disinfecting hands before holy communion.