Plan for the safe re-opening of churches is being finalised
A PRIEST taskforce has been established to get all churches across the diocese open in a safe manner for parishioners possibly as soon as June 29, with Gusserane priest Fr Gerald O’Leary heading up the initiative.
Along with Ramsgrange Administrator Fr Brian Whelan, he was tasked with looking at a draft programme, which has been critiqued and is being finalised.
Fr O’Leary said: ‘We can’t just open the churches. The whole entrance areas need to be looked at, and there has to be hand sanitiser there.’
Churches will only be able to accommodate one third capacity.
Unlike in some other dioceses, Ferns did not close all of its churches and some devout Catholics have been attending churches to light candles and say prayers during the Covid-19 crisis. When churches fully reopen across the county, presumably on July 20, it will be a different experience for mass-goers.
Having gone through an 88 point plan to reopen, Fr O’Leary and Fr Whelan believe the plan can work. ‘It’s quite a comprehensive plan. There are a lot of elements to it but you can essentially boil it down to ten bullet points.’
Mass goers will be greeted at their church by a big sign alerting them to adhere to social distancing and to use hand sanitiser and adhere to some other basic rules.
Inside, there will be a hand sanitiser sign and a hand sanitiser station and the pews will be marked, with parishioners sitting two pews apart.
Two metre social distancing markings will feature along the aisle floors and there will be ushers to help elderly and wheelchair users.
The ushers will also assist as a stage exit of the church takes place.
Fr O’Leary said: ‘As has been the case in the past, everyone makes a rush for the door [at the end of Mass]. So now people will leave in a very orderly fashion. After Masses, the seats and all surfaces will be disinfected. Face mask use will also be encouraged and the ministers will wear them and use hand gels prior to distributing the bread of Life.’
A decision has yet to be made as to whether visors will be used.
Children will have to remain seated with their parents, as is the usual case, and anyone who has had coronavirus will be asked to not attend church until they have completed their fortnight period of self-isolation.
‘Consideration will also have to be taken for people who have underlying, serious health conditions.’
As collection baskets will not be passed around, a stationary basket at the rear of the church will be used for collections.
‘We clergy are very anxious to get back in. There are concerns as Covid-19 can last up to 72 hours on a surface so health and safety is paramount.’
Ultimately Fr O’Leary and Fr Whelan will be guided by the medical advice coming from the National Public Health Emergency Team and Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan.
‘They are doing a great job and certainly you would have a great appreciation for what they do. Some of the cabinet are pushing for social distancing to be reduced to one metre but Dr Holohan is saying we are not there yet. That it’s too fragile. We would be absolutely delighted if we could get churches open on June 29, happy days, but it all depends how it goes over the next couple of days.’
The annual Dunbrody Abbey Mass in early July has been cancelled, as is the Killesk Mass Rock Mass at the end of July and patrons across the diocese.
Fr O’Leary said priests, including himself, have embraced technology during Covid-19 and say Mass live on web cams, broadcast through social meida and religious channels, but ultimately most prefer celebrating the sacraments in front of their parishoners.
‘It’s very strange at the moment because you can’t go to nursing homes, church, schools. These are places where I can put a name to every face. I keep in contact with some through the phone.’