The liturgical life of the Diocese continues

The liturgical life of the Diocese of Worcester continues in these extraordinary times, albeit in unusual ways. Drive-up confessions and blessings are happening in church parking lots and parish cemeteries. Masses are online, on Facebook and on YouTube. Adoration chapels are closed and churches are open, but constrained now to a maximum of 10 people at a time because of a new decree by Gov. Charlie Baker.
As a community of believers, the Church, we are left to gather the community in new ways. And Church leaders, pastors and ministers are finding creative ways to serve their people.
Bishop McManus has traveled to six parishes in various locations in the diocese, blessing the area and seeking the maternal assistance of the Blessed Mother for those who are in distress, especially the sick and those in danger of death.
In order to minister to the sick, a number of designated priest ministers from throughout the diocese have received special training for this time of much illness.
Students are learning from home connected to their classmates and teachers, virtually. Parish offices are closed to the public and the Chancery sent home its workers for the next two weeks.

HOLY WEEK DURING A PANDEMIC

At the end of those two weeks is Holy Week, leading up to the time the Church celebrates the life, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. If the suspension of Masses is not lifted by then, the lay faithful will not be allowed to be physically present for the liturgies. And any liturgy is not to have more than 10 people participating. With those restrictions in mind, the Office for Divine Worship and Bishop McManus have made alternative plans for Holy Week liturgies.
The Office for Worship has shared the alternative plan with priests of the diocese. “Having carefully considered the advice of medical experts and public health officials, Bishop McManus has decided the following” concerning the liturgies of Holy Week:
1. Bishop McManus will celebrate the Chrism Mass without the participation of the presbyterate or the faithful. Holy oils will be distributed at a later date, once the present restrictions have been lifted.
2. The Bishop urges priests to celebrate the Mass of Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord and the full course of the liturgies of the Sacred Paschal Triduum in their locked churches, but without the participation of the faithful.
Priests and deacons resident in each parish should take part in these liturgies. The total number of ministers, lay and ordained, participating in each liturgical celebration should not exceed 10.
3. The time of these liturgies should be advertised widely in order that the faithful might participate spiritually from their homes or even view the parish liturgy by streaming video, or   watch liturgies celebrated by Bishop McManus via internet or TV.
In a newsletter from the Office for Worship priests were given instructions for how to celebrate the various liturgies with some of the usual practices omitted. They were told that on Palm Sunday the palms should be blessed and may be distributed to the faithful in the church parking lot at a scheduled time. Each parish will determine the best way to do this or if they will do it at all.
There will be no washing of the feet or procession to the repository for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, according to the newsletter.
The celebration of the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday should take place at the customary hour with the proclamation of the Passion. The Office for Worship has added intercessions for the sick, the dead and those who feel lost or dismayed.
The following is the intercession for delivery from the pandemic:
“Let us pray, dearly beloved, for all who suffer from the present pandemic: for the sick, the dead and those who feel lost or dismayed.
“God of all consolation, send forth your Spirit and still the waters of chaos and death: banish from our midst all sickness and disease; look upon the dead with mercy and calm the trembling of our hearts. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
The Easter Vigil will omit the blessing of the fire and the procession and will begin with the lighting of the paschal candle in the sanctuary, the newsletter states. Baptisms and other rites of initiation will be postponed to a future date. The total number of ministers, lay and ordained, should be strictly limited to 10.

CONTINUE FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Parishes in the Diocese of Worcester depend on offertory donations for ongoing expenses related to ministry, maintenance, staff and other needs.
In order give people a way to continue financial support of their parishes the Diocese is hosting an “all-parishes” Online Offertory program on worcesterdiocese.org/parish-offertory-program. If a parish does not have an online giving program set up, then parishioners can make one-time or recurring gifts right from that portal and designate which parish would be the beneficiary, according to information from Raymond L. Delisle, chancellor.
Parishioners are being encouraged to use their parish-based online giving when available, which usually can be found on the parish’s website.