Little church in Petersham opens again

By Tanya Connor
The Catholic Free Press

PETERSHAM – Members of St. Peter Parish applauded as Mass was beginning Sunday.
It was the first weekend, since the coronavirus pandemic hit last year, that churches around the diocese could lift occupancy limits and let Mass-goers sit together without social distancing or masks.
But St. Peter’s parishioners had extra reason to rejoice. They got to attend Mass in their own church – for the first time since the public Masses were halted in March 2020.
When churches around the diocese reopened in May 2020 – with occupancy limits and other restrictions – St. Peter’s chose to remain closed because of its small size and the inability to social distance.
A Facebook page for the North Quabbin Catholic Community said that, after careful consideration of the space at St. Peter’s, it was decided that Masses could not yet be held there. The church has short pews close together and only one aisle, so there was not enough room for social distancing. It was suggested that parishioners could worship at the other two parishes that make up the community, Our Lady Immaculate and St. Francis of Assisi, both in Athol. The parishes share a pastor, permanent deacon and an office.
“We took a kind of poll,” asking who felt comfortable attending Mass at all, said the pastor, Father Edwin Montaña. The few St. Peter’s parishioners who said they would attend were willing to go to the other parishes, he said.
The parish has 50 registered households and on a good Sunday before the pandemic would get about 60 people at Mass, Father Montaña said. That could include members of the other two parishes, as North Quabbin parishioners frequent each other’s Masses.
Without social distancing, St. Peter’s Church has a capacity of 120, said Deacon Bryan A. Lagimoniere. During the pandemic some St. Peter’s parishioners went to the other North Quabbin parishes or elsewhere, he said.
Still, there’s no place like home.

OUTSIDE WORSHIP

True, there was some worship – inside and outside – St. Peter’s.
Deacon Lagimoniere said that before public Masses resumed in any church, he prayed a weekly rosary, rotating among the three churches, and posted it on the North Quabbin community’s Facebook page.
“About a year ago Father asked if I would do a weekly rosary here at St. Peter’s so people would understand that St. Peter’s was still a parish and we were still using the church in some respects,” he said.
The other two parishes had resumed public Masses, Deacon Lagimoniere said, and he began using St. Peter’s for the rosary each week, holding it outside in nice weather, and inside when winter came, and continuing to post it on Facebook.
He said an average of 8-10 people came, they social distanced and wore masks, and the church was sanitized afterwards.
“We are continuing the rosary here,” since the dedicated group that’s been praying it wanted to keep doing so, he said.
Even when Masses were not being celebrated in St. Peter’s, the correct liturgical colors were displayed, said Islay Boeri, a parish council member.
“We felt that it was important – we hadn’t just walked out of the church,” she explained. “We kept on saying, ‘The church is not closed; we just can’t say Mass at the moment.’ … And then we did that today.”
Masses resumed at St. Peter’s about four weeks ago, but outside, weather permitting.
“The first week it rained,” and Mass was cancelled, Mrs. Boeri said. Last Sunday people complained about the heat and the bugs. They were wondering what Gov. Charlie Baker and Bishop McManus were going to say about church occupancy limits.
“We learned … midweek that we could start having Mass inside,” she said. “We have a phone tree. We started calling our registered parishioners to let them know.” 

WELCOME BACK

“Good morning and welcome back,” Father Montaña said to applause before processing up St. Peter’s aisle Sunday. “It’s good to be home.” About three dozen people came on a chilly Memorial Day weekend.
As Father Montaña began his homily he said, “Thank God we’re inside; otherwise, we’d have no Mass today because of the rain.” He made announcements about the restoration of the obligation to attend Mass and how things will now be done and said, “basically we’re back to normal worship.”
“Yes, we love this building,” and missed having Mass in it, “but God never abandoned us,” he said. “We continued to be a community” by calling and writing to people. “We’re celebrating today the God in whom we believe – God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit – a community of love,” like what people experience at St. Peter’s.
“We’re here in this building because this is where we celebrate the sacraments of the Church,” Father Montaña continued; the church and hall aren’t just for praying the rosary or “to have coffee and donuts, as much as we love that.” He then connected the Trinity with the various sacraments and talked about the commitment Catholics make when receiving those sacraments.
When people arrived for Mass, The Catholic Free Press asked for their reactions.
 “We’re delighted,” said Carol Ambrozy. “It’s just wonderful to be in the presence of the holy Eucharist and to see all of the church family.”

GOOD TO  HEAR SINGING

Lennie Hoffmann said it was good to be back. Donna Schlosser said, “it’s sweet,” and Joyce Rousselle said, “I love it.”
“It’s absolutely charming,” said Jordan O’Connor, an architect who’s on the Diocesan Building Commission, referring to the church itself and coming back to it. “Any church of this size – the intimacy…”
After Mass Joseph Mongeau said he was happy; it had been a long time since he’d been there. During the interim, he’d taken his father to Prince of Peace Parish in Princeton, and had sometimes gone to St. Francis, he said.
“It makes it more enjoyable; people can participate more,” said Lori Hunt-Peterson, who does music ministry at all three parishes. She said it’s good to hear the people sing now.