Irish Church leaders have welcomed the Government’s new guidance on indoor gatherings of over 50 people in places of worship, but it will involve separating worshippers into zones of 50 within churches.
The Cabinet Committee on Covid-19 announced last Friday that churches whose size allow for a capacity greater than 50, with social distancing, can now accommodate larger congregations if certain criteria are met.
Welcoming the guidance, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said parishes would work diligently to observe the new norms to ensure people can attend Mass safely. He reminded those intending to attend Mass that the use of masks is “strongly recommended for indoor settings.”
The updated guidance requires churches to ensure that social distancing guidelines are adhered to; that a church can be subdivided and cordoned into distinct sections of not more than 50 people in each section; that each section has its own entrance/exit route; and that there are specific arrangements for elements of the service involving close contact, such as the distribution of Holy Communion.
The guidance was also welcomed by Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam.
In a statement, he noted that when the government and public health officials introduced measures in March aimed at flattening the Covid-19 curve, church leaders had taken the “unprecedented step” of cancelling Masses and other religious services with congregations.
This response, Archbishop Neary said, was intended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the community. While this step was necessary, “it has been difficult for priests and parishioners everywhere,” he stressed.
He paid tribute to parish teams who quickly responded to the situation in imaginative ways and made full use of social media platforms, webcams and parish radio systems.
“The reality is that our people have been unable to attend Mass or receive Holy Communion for more than three months now,” he said and added that the government’s decision to allow for larger congregations in some churches would be received in parishes with relief and joy.
“I am grateful for this herculean effort that sees us ready now to resume the sacramental life of the church in line with the guidance published by government today,” the Archbishop of Tuam said.
On Sunday, many parishes across Ireland did not reopen for public worship due to concerns over having to turn people away when capacity had been reached as well as the need for more stewards and cleaning volunteers in light of the protocol on larger attendances.
In Scotland, parishes are making tentative steps towards re-opening, but it has been left to priests and congregations to make their own determination of when and how. Scotland has a huge disproportion between city parishes with up to 1000 regular Mass attenders and rural ones in Argyll, Aberdeen, Galloway where there are single figures and social distancing is therefore not really an issue.
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