Holy Week services return to churches closed last Easter by COVID

Last April, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield marked Easter morning with the ringing of steeple bells as Masses were suspended and churches closed mid-way through Lent by the diocese in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Practicing Catholics in the four counties of Western Massachusetts that the diocese covers were advised at the time that Bishop Mitchell Rozanski would celebrate the televised “Chalice of Salvation” Mass Easter Sunday on WWLP Channel 22.

This year, many observances related to Holy Week, which begins Palm Sunday, March 28, and includes Good Friday as well as Holy Saturday in leading to Easter Sunday, April 4, will return with some modifications to diocesan parishes that began, like other houses of worship in the state, to re-open for services in May under state directives.

Holy Week observances will be guided by diocesan regulations as well as mandatory safety standards in the commonwealth that transitions Monday, March 1, to Phase 3, Step 2, of its phased reopening.

Diocesan protocols state, among other guidelines, that Palm Sunday processions be minimized or omitted and “very strict social distancing observed”; the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday should not involve the rite of foot washing; Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday could be collective silent prayer before the cross done by worshippers remaining in their pews.

“As we enter our second season of Lent in COVID, we must again adapt to our circumstances with creative zeal,” said Bishop William Byrne in a Feb. 26 letter to clergy announcing diocesan Holy Week regulations.

The guidelines and protocols are based on Vatican recommendations issued last year as infected travelers spread the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the respiratory disease that has upended life around the globe from China where it was first detected in late 2019.

Governor Charlie Baker’s declaration of a state of emergency in the commonwealth last March as COVID-19 cases rose in the state was followed by regulations that ordered temporary closure of services considered non-essential, and restricted indoor gatherings at the time to 10 people or less.

The state started to ease some regulations in May and continues on its reopening timeline toward Phase 4, what has been dumbed “the new normal,” as recent data tracks declines in the number of deaths and hospitalizations from COVID-19 in Massachusetts. A number of factors are credited with this including the introduction of vaccines against the virus in December and the continuation of preventative measures.

The mandatory safety standards for houses of worship in Phase 3 include adhering to capacity at 50 percent of permitted occupancy as well as the wearing of face coverings and maintaining social distance requirements.

Dozens of COVID-19 clusters linked to houses of worship and hundreds of new cases of the respiratory disease were identified in early December, prompting Baker to ask “all of our faith leaders and residents who practice to engage in safe protocols, policies, and procedures.”

The state, on its website, says houses of worship are “encouraged to hold services virtually or outdoors,” and are required to report to their local board of health in the community where a service was held if any attendee tests positive for COVID-19.

The recommendations from the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments note “a more normal pattern of worship is being resumed” in some countries.

Members of many faiths, including Christians, Jews and Muslims, have turned to remote services during the pandemic, though the Vatican guideline announcement reportedly referred to “problematic aspects” observed in connection with this and encouraged social media be used for “faithful who are unable to attend their own church to follow the diocesan celebrations as a sign of unity.”

Some of the parishes in the Springfield Diocese have begun to post on the diocesan website their Holy Week services, including which will be live streamed during the Easter Triduum, which begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 1.

The posting for St. Michael’s Parish in East Longmeadow shows that if seating capacity is reached for Easter Sunday Masses at 8, 10 and noon, the liturgies, in addition to being live streamed, will be broadcast on a radio channel so they can be heard by attendees in their cars who will also be able to receive Holy Communion after the Mass.

St. Michael's Parish East Longmeadow — St. Michael's Parish in East Longmeadow will offer Holy Week services that will also be live streamed. If attendance Easter Sunday exceeds capacity allowed, Masses will be broadcast on a radio channel so attendees can listen in their cars. (Photo by Anne-Gerard Flynn, Special to The Republican)

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