Catholic churches prepare to reopen
By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Masses will resume at Catholic churches throughout the Mon Valley next month.
The Diocese of Greensburg and the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will allow parishes to start holding Holy Mass June 1 with restrictions in place.
Edward C. Malesic, bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg, announced the change this week.
However, parishioners eager to get back to a regular worship schedule will notice a few differences:
• Parishioners will be required to wear masks and remain at least six feet apart.
• The sign of peace will involve bows to neighbors rather than a handshake.
• Holy water and baptismal fonts will be drained.
• Those who attend Mass will be seated in every other pew to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
• Choirs will not be permitted right away, and first communions and confirmations will resume in July.
Additional changes may have to be made as parishioners begin to congregate.
“We might find that other practices need to be altered as well as we learn to live in this ‘new normal’ for the time being,” Malesic said. “Our clergy, my staff and I will do everything we can to help you understand these changes and remind you that we must always proceed with caution, empathy, understanding and faith.”
The Diocese of Greensburg recently established a committee to help navigate changes as a result of COVID-19.
The Committee for Recommencing In-Person Worship and Operations is a group comprised of clergy and lay leaders.
The group was tasked with determining guidelines and a timeline for reopening church buildings for prayer and worship.
In the first phase of the plan, the committee introduced guidelines, which include mandates for cleaning and sanitization, to open churches for private prayer May 15.
When Mass begins June 1, parishioners are asked to use their judgment when deciding to attend.
“For the foreseeable future, all people will remain dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays,” Malesic said. “I ask that you make your own prudent and informed decision on whether to attend Sunday Mass or not, after taking your own situation into account.
“You should especially use this dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass at this time if you are elderly or have a medical condition that puts you at greater risk for serious complications from this disease.”
Parishioners in the Diocese of Greensburg can view streamed masses online at TheAccentOnline.org.
The Catholic Diocese of a Pittsburgh is implementing similar protocols.
Bishop David Zubik said the diocese has a strategic plan for the gradual reopening of churches, which began Friday for counties in “yellow.”
Holy Mass will begin June 1 with weekend Masses set to resume June 6.
“We are eager to return to the comfort of our churches and join together in prayer as a source of spiritual strength to support us through the suffering and anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Zubik said. “We are working with health agencies and in coordination with other religious leaders to proceed in a way that tends to spiritual health, while protecting the physical health of our community.”
Parishes in counties in the yellow phase of the state’s reopening plan will begin to have access to various faith-based activities, including limited funeral Masses and weddings, with cleaning/sanitizing guidelines in place and groups of no more than 25 people.
Churches in the Pittsburgh diocese opened May 15 for private prayer with safety guidelines in place, including seating in designated areas only and the use of masks, hand sanitizer and social distancing.
Confessionals do not meet public health safety requirements, and will only be heard at posted times.
Baptisms can be scheduled, but will be limited to one family baptism per each ceremony with no more than 25 people in attendance.
For parishioners at risk, livestream Masses and prayer services will continue.
The Diocese of Pittsburgh formed a COVID-19 Task Force, which has developed a comprehensive reference guide called “Moving Forward Together.”
The document, which is available online, details health and safety guidelines that will need to be met as churches reopen.
Diocesan leadership will assist and support pastors as they make decisions on reopening, which could vary depending on government guidelines specific to each county.
All open parishes and parishioners must follow health and safety requirements, including wearing masks and social distancing requirements.
“It fills my heart with so much joy to think of the doors of our churches opening once again,” Zubik said. “I’ve heard from so many who have missed praying in their parishes.
“I’ve missed it, too.”
