BOSTON — This coming weekend should be an important one for many Massachusetts Catholics, as more parishes are opening their doors for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
According to the Archdiocese of Boston, only 20% of its parishes opened the first weekend under Phase 1 of the state’s reopening plan.
This weekend, most parishes, but not all, are expected to open to worshipers.
Recently, the Archdiocese released this video covering most of the changes parishioners can expect to see.
In Bellingham, St. Brendan Parish was among the first Catholic churches to reopen last weekend.
Pastor David Mullen told me the decision to reopen was an easy one to make.
“All throughout this lockdown, the church had been open for prayer. People would come in, sometimes they would be very emotional. They wanted to receive the sacraments so, I said, ‘We’ll do what’s necessary and do it right away,’” Mullen told me.
But before he could reopen for Mass, Mullen said he used blue masking tape to direct parishioners to pews that would guarantee social distancing.
“People were just very, very grateful, very happy,” Mullen said. “Once they identified a pew that had been taped off, no one tried to break through, so (the opening) was pretty good.”
To reopen, churches will be limited to 40% capacity, worshipers will be required to wear masks, and group singing will not be allowed.
MC Sullivan is the Chief Ethicist for the Archdiocese of Boston. She was a member of the panel that drafted the COVID-19 protocols each parish must meet before reopening.
“We need to make it clear that this stands for everybody,” Sullivan said. “They have to feel safe, they have to be safe, and they have to be comfortable in that sense of safety.”
There is no saying how long these restrictions will be in place.
But at least, for the first time in about nine weeks, Boston area Catholics will be able to worship in their churches.
This weekend represents an important milestone.
“The faith is a very contagious thing,” Mullen said. “We are supposed to be in the community. We’re supposed to be together. We are supposed to be a family of faith. Families don’t thrive if they don’t meet one another.”
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