Churches reopening with precautions

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press
    
The permission to resume public Masses - with protective measures - is bringing joy and challenges.
Starting tomorrow, the faithful can attend Masses in the churches. Bishop McManus made the announcement Monday, shortly after Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said that places of worship could reopen, following certain guidelines.
Following those guidelines, the diocese issued its own protocol for churches and those celebrating, serving at or attending Mass. Local pastors are working to comply so their parishioners can return.
Last weekend’s parish bulletin for St. Roch Parish in Oxford pictured the pastor, Father Michael J. Roy, standing by pews adorned with parishioners’ photos. Underneath was a simple expression of hope: “Soon.”
Tuesday Father Roy said he was “feverishly excited” getting ready for parishioners to come back.
“We’re taking those pictures down so we can make room for the real people,” he said.
He said he thought the bulletin message was prophetic; he didn’t expect churches to be allowed to reopen in Phase I of the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.
“Now what a great responsibility we have,” he said. “The first phase has to go well” so other phases can follow.
The parish will continue its novena to St. Roch, patron of those dealing with plagues, until “we’ve got the vaccine,” he said.

Some still at risk

“Today I’m thinking there are three groups of people we should be sensitive to” –  high, middle and low-risk folks – Father James S. Mazzone, pastor of St. John, Guardian of Our Lady Parish in Clinton, said Tuesday. He was thinking about continuing to livestream Masses from the church, which parishioners could attend in person, and continuing Masses outside, by the church gym, for those who want to worship from the safety of their cars. Those attending Mass in the church could receive Communion, while those watching on the internet or from their cars would not, he said.
“Returning to Mass in the church!!!” exclaimed a message on the website of Annunciation Parish in Gardner, which had just started outdoor Masses.
Father Stephen E. Lundrigan, the pastor, wrote: “It seems that the light at the end of the tunnel that we have looked for is coming to us.  We have seen a glimmer of this light during our drive-in Masses, and now we take the next step.”

Aiming for Pentecost

St. Joseph Parish in Charlton sent a Flocknote that proclaimed: “Opening weekend May 23/24, after COVID-19 virus shutdown.”
It said too many preparations are needed to hold Mass in the church, so Mass will be outdoors, with worshippers tuning in to their car radios to hear, as they have been doing for Gospel readings and homilies for many weeks. But now, Communion will be available.
“It is hoped that next weekend … Pentecost Sunday, we will gather inside the church and outdoors as well,” the message said.
Father Peter J. Joyce, pastor of  St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Milford, said Monday evening that he wants to try to have public Masses this weekend, since people are anxious to get back to church, to receive the Eucharist and see each other.
“Our religion is social, because our God is social,” he said, so being denied human interaction has affected people’s relationship with God.
Father Joyce said he’s encouraging those in vulnerable groups not to come, and looking for ministers who are comfortable returning.
He and Father Thiago DaSilva, associate pastor, celebrate the Masses, which are in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Hispanics and Brazilians flock to the church, Father Joyce said. If too many come, Masses can be livestreamed to an overflow space, and another Mass can be added, he said.

Distancing affects capacity

At 40-percent capacity, the church can hold about 225, but the six-foot-distancing requirement might lower that number, he said.    Social distancing will be challenging for the Hispanics, Brazilians and Portuguese, who are “very tactile,” he said.
He spoke of encouraging parishioners to bring cell phones and tablets to Mass to follow the songs and Scripture readings, since hymnals and missalettes must be removed and he didn’t want to waste paper or increase people’s contact with various surfaces by printing disposable worship sheets. And since the church needs to be cleaned between Masses, he is informing parishioners not to come more than 15 minutes early.
Another challenge is hand sanitizer. Father Joyce said the parish didn’t buy it earlier because others needed it more and he didn’t know when the church would need it. Now he can’t get an automatic dispenser until June, he said, so someone will have to stand closer than 6 feet to pump hand sanitizer into others’ hands.
“I am glad we are reopening, but apprehensive at the same time,” commented Father William C. Konicki, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Hopedale.
“I also wish we had more time to prepare,” he said. ”Our biggest challenge will be training ushers and greeters with the process of allowing parishioners into the church for worship and seating them appropriately.
“I am confident that the Catholic community of Sacred Heart will rise to the occasion and be respectful of each other.”
Father Peter Tam M. Bui, pastor of Our Lady of Vilna Parish in Worcester, said he was not planning to start Masses for the public in the church this weekend, because there is too much to do to get ready. He said people can continue watching livestreamed Mass this weekend and attend next weekend.
But, in a sobering reminder that the pandemic is not over, he said he got special permission from Bishop McManus to have a large family at a funeral planned for virus victims yesterday. Wednesday he said the double funeral for elderly, active parishioners was turning into a triple funeral: for Joseph Vo Van Ngo and his wife, Anna Bay Thi Huynh, and one of their 11 children, Anna Kim Chi Thi Ngo, who took care of her parents and also contracted the virus.