More masses could be said when religious services resume at the end of the month.
Priests will have to wear face masks when giving out communion and people will not shake hands for the sign of peace as part of new guidelines.
Archbishop Eamon Martin, the primate of All Ireland, told Newstalk Breakfast: "We're asking our priests and our parish teams, our pastoral councils to look at this - and say 'look, how can we best achieve a situation where as many people as possible who want to come along to mass during the week can do so'.
"We've decided to continue to suspend the Sunday obligation that everybody who is practicing their faith is expected to go to mass on a Sunday - we're leaving that suspended for now".
"We're beginning to realise that life is going to be different as we all begin to move out of the lockdown and restrictions are eased.
"The church and mass will be also in that category."
He said some changes have already been made.
"They're already finding that their churches are marked, there's particular places to sit, there's sanitizer available.
"And we've already begun the process of preparing for public worship, for collective worship.
"I think what people are going to notice first of all - might be a little bit disappointing - is the fact that we won't be able to have as many people inside the church.
"Our numbers will be limited by our ability to keep good social distancing".
"So we're going to need a fair bit of patience - some people may arrive and not be able to go into mass, because we won't be able to put in the right number of people".
"The sign of peace at any mass is optional.... we've asked priests for the time being to suspend the normal way of making the sign of peace.
"We've asked if you are going to have the sign of peace to do so without physical contact".
"Communion: we're trying to follow best practice."
"We're asking our priests or eucharist ministers to wear a face covering, just for that moment.
"When people approach, we're recommending people receive communion in the hand... and we're asking for good stewarding and good processes for movement within our churches, so that people wouldn't be sort of bunched together at holy communion time".
