By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press
Leaders at St. Mary Parish in Jefferson didn’t wait for returnees to enter the church last weekend – they cheerfully greeted them outside.
St. Anne and St. Patrick Parish in Sturbridge welcomed Mass-goers with yellow ribbons – signifying their homecoming and the God who made his home among us.
At St. Joseph Parish in Charlton, a snake was touted as a symbol for a new beginning.
And Christ the King Parish in Worcester, celebrating its second weekend of public Masses, reported an increase in attendees.
“I welcome you home and it is good for us to be together as we reopen our church,” Father Timothy M. Brewer, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Jefferson, said at Mass there Saturday evening.
“We are living through two pandemics – the coronavirus pandemic that in a short time has completely changed our way of life, and the pandemic of racism that has been a part of the nation’s dark history since its founding,” Father Brewer said in his homily. “Both of these pandemics have brought divisions in our nation. … Whatever brings division is not of God.”
Concerns about racism were brought to the forefront after the death of George Floyd, a black man, who was unable to breathe pinned under the knee of white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on May 25.
News reports detailed clashes between police and the public that followed, some of them violent.
“We cannot be silent in the face of injustice,” Father Brewer said in his homily. “But violence is never acceptable.” He quoted Martin Luther King Jr.: “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Father Robert A. Grattaroti, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Charlton, made similar points Pentecost weekend, as public Masses started inside his church.
The previous weekend, when Mass was celebrated in the parking lot, several people told him they saw a hawk flying over the church carrying a snake. He pointed to a statue of the Blessed Mother and said that there is a snake under her foot, symbolizing the crushing of Satan.
Father Grattaroti said, “I thought that was so significant as a renewed beginning.”
St. Anne and St. Patrick Parish in Sturbridge welcomed God’s children.
As the parish began summer Masses under the pavillion, with an altered schedule, the pastor, Assumptionist Father Alex Castro, began his homily with a song about a freed prisoner seeking to know if he would be welcomed home.
“I’m comin’ home, I’ve done my time,” the song says. “If you still want me … tie a yellow ribbon ’round the ole oak tree.” Instead of one, he found 100 ribbons.
“That’s the reason why we have yellow ribbons” around the grounds, Father Castro said. “We have been away for quite some time. We have done our time and now it’s time to go back home. … We are longing to welcome you back.”
Salvation history is like the ribbons, he said. It’s as if Jesus said, “I’ll do my time with you.” After he lived among us, he returned home to his Father and sent the Holy Spirit.
“The Spirit is saying, ‘I’m coming home; I’ll do my time with you,’” Father Castro said. “Is the Spirit at home in us? … If he’s ‘the soul’s most welcome guest,’ can you tie that yellow ribbon in your heart?”
“Being separated from the people is so hard,” Father Brewer told The Catholic Free Press. They bring “joy to your ministry.”
Some of the faithful expressed joy.
“I’m so happy I cried, so happy to be able to receive Communion again,” Karen Spaziante said after Mass at St. Mary’s, her parish. Her husband, Charles, said he wished more people came, but they’ll catch on; they’re still watching Mass on You Tube.
“It’s great to be back … with the priest, in person,” said their fellow parishioner Cathy Kielinen.
“The longing for Eucharist is deeper than I could have imagined,” said Kerry O’Grady, St. Mary’s coordinator of religious education.
Kim Marie Hastings, a St. Anne’s parishioner, said she was a little hesitant last week about returning to Mass. She’s grateful to be alive, back “home” and praying for those who “lost their lives to this disease,” she said.
Msgr. Thomas J. Sullivan, pastor of Christ the King Parish in Worcester, said they had a total of 300 people at their four Masses last weekend, up from 230 the previous weekend, with 25-30 at weekday Masses. Before the pandemic 600-700 attended each weekend.
“I think people are slowly becoming more comfortable coming out,” he said. “They miss the Mass an they want to receive the Eucharist.”