Obligation to attend Mass stays suspended

By Bill Doyle | CFP Correspondent

Bishop McManus has extended his suspension of the obligation to attend Mass in the Diocese of Worcester on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation because of the pandemic.
He announced the extension in a letter to the diocese that was published Monday in Orantes, the monthly newsletter of the diocese’s Office for Divine Worship. The letter is dated May 23, Pentecost Sunday, when the previous suspension was due to expire.
The bishops of New England are expected to choose a common date to lift the suspension in the coming weeks.
The number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 has grown significantly, but concern remains for spread of the virus due to new variants and premature abandonment of masks and social distancing.
Bishop McManus wrote, “While the obligation continues to be suspended, I nonetheless encourage all faithful who can safely attend Mass in person to do so. Many of our churches have sufficient capacity available while maintaining proper social distancing and cleaning routines.
“New variants of the disease continue to threaten us with further outbreaks and surges in cases and deaths,” he wrote, “and it is impossible to foresee when the necessity for social distancing, masks and other precautions will be lifted.”
Msgr. James P. Moroney, director of the Office for Divine Worship, said in an interview, “The desire to return to full liturgical practices is a major priority for the bishop and it is for the entire diocese.”
The decision on March 16, 2020, to suspend public Masses was “one of the most deeply disturbing actions I was forced to take in the course of the pandemic,” Bishop McManus said. Nine weeks later, public Masses resumed, but the obligation to attend has been suspended ever since.
“The suspension of the obligation,” Msgr. Moroney said, “was promulgated primarily so those people who were particularly vulnerable – that is the elderly, before the vaccinations began to take place – would not feel obliged to go to Mass.”
While Msgr. Moroney said he didn’t know the percentage of parishioners who have returned to Mass throughout the diocese, he said about 95 percent have returned to St. Paul Cathedral where he is the rector. He estimated that attendance at the only English language Mass each Sunday is 20 percent higher than prior to the pandemic.
Msgr. Moroney attributed the increase in part to the ability to easily social distance 300 people in the large cathedral at the allowed 50 percent capacity.
The second step of phase 4 of Gov. Charlie Baker’s reopening plan allows indoor singing to resume May 10 at performance venues, restaurants, event venues, and other businesses, but with strict social distancing.
Singing by choirs and congregations in the diocese won’t resume on that date because of the social distancing requirement.
Msgr. Moroney said the Office for Divine Worship has worked with consultants for six months on how to reintroduce congregational singing, effectively use choirs, restore the sign of peace and distribute the precious blood.
“To help people not just return to the way things were before COVID,” he said, “but to make it even better than it was before.”
On May 29, the governor will boost gathering limits to 200 people indoors and 250 outdoors. He expects to lift most restrictions on businesses by Aug. 1, but it’s unclear how this will impact churches.
“Let us each rejoice, however,” Msgr. Moroney said, “that we have finally reached the point where our prayers may be answered.”
Paraphrasing the pandemic prayer, Bishop McManus wrote: “Let us be one in prayer that we might soon gather once again to praise the Lord’s name in the heart of the Church, delivered from all distress and confident in his mercy.”