Public Masses resume amid appeals for safety

THE Kerry Diocese is hoping the Government will move to change guidelines restricting inchurch gatherings to a limit of 50 people before ‘in-preson’ Masses resume on Monday.

At present, the Diocese is advising parishes that capacity will vary from church to church, depending on size – but subject to strict social distancing and/or with areas for households to sit comfortably together.

The return to public Masses comes amid no little ‘joy’ Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne said this week, as he urged people to make the return with calm and care – taking personal responsibility for hand hygiene in and out of church.

The Masses will be the first held in public since the lockdown hit in March. But the faithful are not yet obliged to attend Mass on the Sabbath, as it became the subject of an indefinite dispensation within the Church as the pandemic hit. On that basis, parishioners are now urged to consider attending weekday Masses rather than on Sundays in a bid to spread the congregations thinner.

“It is a source of great joy that from next Monday 29th June we can have congregations again in our churches. Praying together as a community, gathering for Sunday Mass is basic to our lives as Christians,” Bishop Browne said this week.

“With the major restrictions of the past months it is wonderful how creative so many parishes have been: Mass and other liturgies broadcast on Parish Radio, Streaming over the internet, Facebook and U-tube; prayers and reflection pieces on the diocesan and parish websites; Sunday Mass on Radio Kerry, daily Mass on RTE news-now; support for the Grow in Love program for school children; phone contact with the sick and their carers, and with those confined to their homes.”

He urged people to be vigilant on the return to Mass, however.

“We all need to be calm, careful, and patient as we begin to gather again around the altar. Limited congregations due to the demands of social distancing could mean that not all will be able to enter the church for a particular Mass. What is the maximum number permitted in your local church?

“Because the Sunday Mass obligation will continue to be dispensed for some time yet, why not join in a weekday Mass rather than Sunday?” Bishop Browne asked that people would take ‘personal responsibility’ for ‘hand-washing on leaving home and returning; hand-sanitizing on entry to church and exit; social distancing at all times in church; wearing a face cover if appropriate.” Diocesan Guidelines team member Shane O’Donoghue meanwhile appealed to Kerry’s TDs to lobby Government for a change to the 50 person limit in church, saying he hoped the limit would be raised before Monday.