EASTER FAITHFUL RENEW SPIRIT, HOPE Sunday best: Area Christians flock back to Macomb County churches
Christians wearing their Easter best flocked back to Macomb County churches Sunday, bringing life to buildings that one year ago sat vacant due to the pandemic.
At St. Isidore Catholic Church on 23 Mile Road in Macomb Township, families sat a noticeable distance from their fellow parishioners who sang hymns through their face masks, observing COVID-19 precautions.
Regardless of the restrictions, church members and leaders alike agreed: it’s good to return to some form of normalcy.
“We’re back all right,” said longtime St. Isidore parishioner Ron Ryan after the 11:30 a.m. service concluded. “I’ve seen people today that I haven’t seen for over a year.”
Around the county, there were similar scenes after the Archdiocese of Detroit formally ended general dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days expired March 13. During the dispensation, members were excused from being physically present from services because of the coronavirus.
This year, most of the churches were open, although limited in capacity and still offering virtual services for those who are not comfortable with indoor gatherings.
At St. Isidore, parishioners happily greeted each other as they looked to connect back with their community.
“It’s so good to see everyone, especially today while it’s a sunny Sunday and we can feel God’s grace around us,” said Diana Gjokak. “This is what Easter is about, having the faith to believe in the good that is coming at the end of a long nightmare.”
Signs posted around the building reminded people to maintain social distancing, wear masks, and sanitize before and after accepting Holy Communion in their hands. They briefly pulled down their masks after accepting the host and placed it in their mouths before returning the masks to their previous position.
For each of St. Isidore’s four Easter Sunday services, the designated attendance was 275 people, in a building designed for 1,400. People had to register in advance to gain an inside seat.
Another couple of hundred seats were set up in an overflow area.
The Rev. Ron Victor said the overall mood was upbeat and the turnout was “great.” He said the church was able to safely gather with the safety protocols.
“A lot of them were back for the first time now and glad to be back in-person again, to join in,” he said. “It’s our Easter faith, we’re working to get through all this and we can rise above it. That’s kind of our theme, we can rise above the pandemic by entering into a Mass and doing the things we have to do.”
Easter is the oldest Christian holiday and the most important day of the church year due to the significance of the crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection of Jesus Christ Easter Sunday, the events upon which Christianity is based. In some Christian traditions, Easter Sunday is preceded by the season of Lent, a 40day period of fasting and repentance that ends with Sunday’s celebration and feast of food and treats.
COVID cases have been surging in Michigan for the past five weeks, as the state’s rate of new cases per 100,000 residents is the worst in the nation. Michigan added 8,413 new coronavirus cases and 57 new deaths Saturday, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Of the deaths, 51 came from a review of vital records.
The case count Saturday was the highest since early December.
Starting today, all Michigan residents age 16 and older will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.