THERE will be major changes ahead for mass-goers as parishes across the county get to grips with new guidelines for the opening of churches for public worship from June 29.
Speaking to the Donegal News Bishop of Raphoe, Alan McGuckian acknowledged it will be difficult to get used to social distancing in churches but he said we are moving in the right direction. He reminded parishioners that this is a slow return to some sense of normality and said patience will be needed. Covid-support teams are being set up in each parish in order to prepare for reopening and volunteers will be needed for cleaning, stewarding and overall planning. Reduced numbers will be allowed to attend masses and the guidelines recommend that rows of seats in churches will need to be cordoned off with one person allowed to sit at the end of each free row and people from the same household will be allowed to sit together. Bishop McGuckian said that each parish now has to determine how many people can be permitted into their church and work out a plan.
“Parishes have to use the next couple of weeks to develop a plan. When you know how many you can fit in then you have to work with the local community and have a system so that people have a good idea of when it is wise or sensible for them to attend mass,” said Bishop McGuckian.
“Obviously if you have 500 people and you can only fit in 50 then you will have a problem but we will have to anticipate for that. In an urban setting there will be a different approach taken to the approach in rural areas.”
Priests and ministers of the Eucharist will be required to wear facemasks when distributing communion and communion should be received in the hand, according to the guidelines. They should also visibly sanitise their hands before and after distributing communion. Holy water fonts will remain empty, with all entrance and exit doors kept open and with hand sanitisers at each. Regular cleaning, after every gathering is also recommended. Bishop McGuckian said there is a good number of priests in the diocese over 70 that are still cocooning and will continue to do so while others intend to say their public mass. In parishes where a priest is cocooning a priest from another parish will step in.
The obligation to attend Sunday mass will not apply until the crisis is over and so many people can opt to attend mass on a weekday which will spread out the numbers attending services. The Bishop said they will look at the possibility of introducing additional masses in areas that need it but a decision on this has not yet been made.
He said: “I know many people have said to me that they have missed terribly coming together as a community and being present at the Eucharist. People are longing to be back and it is a joy for all of us. I know over the last three months saying mass looking down at empty pews, I have been longing to see people back.”
He encouraged anyone who cannot attend mass to continue to use technology such as the church webcams and on Facebook.
“People who have any symptoms must not come out or anyone who has been around someone with symptoms should not come out,” he said “People with underlining conditions should feel very free to attend mass via webcam or Facebook.”
The Bishop said the use of technology during Covid-19 has allowed them to reach out to people and it is something he hopes the church can continue.
“I really hope the kind of connections we have been making will be built on. One of the best things to come of this tragedy is that it has forced us to think outside the box.”
Bishop McGuckian welcomed the increase in the number of people who can attend funerals from 10 to 25. He said this restriction has been very difficult for bereaved families and hoped the number can be increased further in the next phase.
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