Re-opening the state: The Chicago archdiocese, like most dioceses, is following the guidance of governors and other officials. Our governor, JB Pritzker, has issued a five phase plan to re-open the state. The phase we're in now, dubbed Phase 2, runs at least through May 29 statewide; churches (and other public gathering places) are closed during this phase. The governor has divided the state into several sectors; the idea is that certain sectors might move to future phases faster or slower than other sectors. So it is possible that some of the state will be able to move to Phase 3 right on May 29, while others may not meet the criteria on that date to move to Phase 3. The county in which I live, Cook, is the state's biggest hot spot, so as things stand today, we're less likely than other parts of the state to be ready to move to the next phase by May 29.
Worship and Sacramental life during Phase 3: Phase 3, if and when we get to it, does not permit public gatherings larger than 10 individuals, so even then, public mass won't be a possibility. However, some sacramental life can resume at that point, if the Archdiocese agrees:
- Baptisms: could resume, but with no more than 10 people present
- Funerals in church: could resume, but with no more than 10 people present
- Weddings: could resume, if the couple agrees to a very small wedding (i.e. 10 persons or fewer in the church, which would need to include the couple, the witnesses, the minister, the organist, the cantor - not many spots left for attendees after that). However, the government entity which issues marriage licenses, the County Clerk's office, currently is closed, so at present the state is not authorizing any weddings; I don't believe anyone yet has line of sight as to when marriage licenses will be available. Wedding planning around here is completely shot. A news item on tonight's local news telecast featured wedding couples wrangling with their reception halls as previously-planned dates no longer are feasible and couples are demanding refunds.
- A public schedule for Reconciliation: Could resume, although as a practical matter it seems difficult to relegate it to 10 persons at a time.
Phase 4: the next phase, Phase 4, will permit gatherings of up to 50 people at a time. To the best of my knowledge, no target date for Phase 4 has been announced, although late June probably is a reasonable-to-optimistic guess - although the state public health officials also are stressing that, if the metrics tick in the wrong direction during Phase 3, the governor could order sectors of the state back into Phase 2 restrictions.
If/when Phase 4 is achieved, the sacramental celebrations listed above could be larger. Also, although I haven't seen anything from the Archdiocese on this question, it seems to me that it could become realistic to schedule a series of First Communion masses during that phase, perhaps with 5-10 second graders and their parents and siblings at each mass. What about a public schedule of masses? To me, a weekend schedule seems fraught with difficulties if the attendance has to be kept to 50 persons. I don't think a regular weekend mass schedule will be feasible during Phase 4. However, weekday masses might be possible at many churches
Phase 5: this is the point where full public life resumes, presumably including a normal mass schedule. According to the state's criteria, Phase 5 presupposes a widely available vaccine or similar treatment for the coronavirus. My guess is, unless the political tectonic plates shift pretty dramatically, we're a year or more away from reaching this point. Seems we'll continue to gather around the television set every Sunday for quite some time to come.
Jim, is there some USCCB policy in reopening? Our bishop seems to be very premature in opening churches May 19, especially since the dioces e includes Flint, which has been very hard hit. Seems to be another case of tone deafness to our poor, black areas.
ReplyDeleteJean,
DeleteWhile there is not a policy, there is a document with suggestions.
NCR has a story on it. I have posted the link to their story and a link to the original document in a separate post.
There is much to phrase and criticize in what is a staff formulated document. Later today or tomorrow I will add my analysis to the links
I wouldn't mind going to a low density mass once a month during this pandemic. You could pick a time and spot online like an airline. Internet challenged folk could call a number and a parishioner could book it for them. It's all a bit goofy but what the heck. You have to be flexible. And there are plenty of church ladies who would be more than happy to enforce restrictions. I wouldn't mess with a church lady.
ReplyDeleteThe Orlando diocese is going to start DAILY Mass on the 18th or 19th but not try a Sunday Mass until Pentecost on the 31st. The theory is, that will get the bugs out before a Sunday congregation congestion arrives.
ReplyDeleteWe can't plan on that yet. Orlando is in the part of the state that the Guv has eased up on. We, along with Miami and Fort Lauderdale, are still under the governor's original interdict. But our County Commission voted yesterday to ask the governor to divorce us from our southern neighbors and join Loosening Stage 1. Orlando (Orange County) still isn't allowed to reopen barber shops, but some businesses have reopened with caps on the numbers allowed inside. There's nobody in Orlando these days anyway because the tourists are gone. Disney plans to reopen, when it does, at one-fourth capacity at first.
The dedicated nitwits were out yesterday -- 20 on the street and 25 more, unmasked, at the Commission meeting. Biggest mouth on the street belonged to the biggest belly with the whitest whiskers and the airs of the guy who knows things the government can't tell you. He was wearing a MAGA hat, a Trump tee shirt and a smirk and holding a sign saying "Boycott China." He had all the equipment except, alas, the Lysol. While that was going on, the county passed 200 on the death count, reaching 214, and the number of new cases had grown by 20% over the past seven days. Oh, sure, open up because Big Mouth knows things Trump isn't allowed to tell you.
Our pastors were aiming for a limited reopening this week. But that has been postponed due to the increase in cases. Word is now that they are shooting for Pentecost weekend, again in a limited fashion, though that is subject to change if cases are still increasing. In our church they have taped off pews for distancing in anticipation of opening (husband jokingly called it "crime scene tape"). They are planning to use the social hall for live-cam overflow. Also they are planning to have daily Mass at 5:30 PM and encouraging some people to come then rather than Sunday. Which brings me to a suggestion. Things are not going to be wide open for a long time. If one member of a household comes to Mass, why couldn't he or she take Communion in a pyx for those at home who want to receive, but don't feel safe going to church yet? It seems like that could be done safely. I get that the PTB want to be careful that the Blessed Sacrament isn't disrespected. But people are capable of being responsible adults (and in the case of children, parents are responsible).
ReplyDeleteI have been catechised sufficiently that yes, I do realize that the Lord is well and truly present in the Word, and in one another, particularly as we relate to one another in acts of charity and patience. But there is a mixed message in saying that the Bread of Life is important, until it isn't. I am particularly annoyed at the school of thought that I have read lately that, in the middle ages people seldom or ever received the Communion, so what's the big deal? That wasn't due to necessity, but a distorted theology that stressed our extreme unworthiness. Which isn't in accord with Jesus own teaching on the Eucharist contained in Scripture.
I agree about one family member with pyxes for those who can't come or deem it inadvisable. It's the basis EM principle, but it wouldn't take as much training because it's all in the family. Years ago, when my wife broke both ankles, the pastor suggested I take Communion to her and hunted up a pyx for me. I had never thought of it. Of course, when I got home, I had a whole lot of 'splaining to do before she would accept that I had the real thing.
DeleteWhen I have taken Communion to shut-ins, we had a little card to use with kind of an order of service. Start with the Confiteor, then read the Gospel out of a missalette, say the Our Father, and Lord I am not worthy, etc. So it wasn't supposed to be a rushed thing, but prayerful. Sometimes people would say they had already read the Gospel, or heard it on tv, and we would skip that part.
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