Churches will soon hold Mass again, Archdiocese of Miami says. But there will be changes
Catholic churches will reopen their doors for daily Mass beginning May 26, the Archdiocese of Miami announced Monday.
Florida Keys churches were given the go-ahead to open immediately.
But worshiping will come with a set of new rules, including having to wear a mask and not being able to hold hands during prayers.
In a letter sent to parishioners Monday, Archbishop Thomas Wenski said church leaders “recognize that we cannot eliminate the very possible risk of infection,” but are “committed to mitigating the risk as much as possible.”
“We reopen because we believe... that there are no substitutes for the reception of the sacraments and our first priority is to be the sign of hope and instrument of the salvation of the entire human race,” he wrote.
In March, amid growing concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus, Wenski suspended all in-person services and encouraged parishes to livestream masses, classes and celebrations.
The public celebration of the Mass will resume at the Church of the Little Flower and throughout the Archdiocese on Tuesday, May 26. More details to come. Here is a letter from Archbishop Wenski: pic.twitter.com/pdOjgpRW7n
— Father Manny Alvarez (@FrManny) May 18, 2020
In deciding to reopen, Wenski said church leaders came up with certain requirements that are meant to help stop the spread of the virus.
The changes include:
▪ Everyone must wear a face mask during services and can only remove it for Holy Communion
▪ Parishioners are asked to stay six feet from other people unless they are in the same household
▪ Hymnals, missalettes and holy water will be removed from churches
▪ Pews and other common church areas will be sanitized between services
▪ Hand sanitizer will be placed at church entrances
▪ Parishioners are asked not to congregate after services
▪ Holding hands during prayers is not allowed
▪ There will be lower occupancy levels at churches because of social distancing
Wenski said the decision to reopen was not taken lightly.
“The novel coronavirus is still among us — as is the risk of contagion,” he wrote. “As we move to reopen, prudence — the ability to govern and discipline ourselves by the use of reason — must govern our actions. There is no substitute for good judgment.”
