The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
‘Keep the faith’
Catholics urged to pray, watch livestream services with public Mass canceled in 2 dioceses
NEW HAVEN — The Archdiocese of Hartford and Diocese of Bridgeport on Monday canceled all public Masses for more than two weeks , citing concerns about the coronavirus.
Both said their respective decisions not to hold public Mass through April 3 were made in light of the Center for Disease Control’s Sunday recommendation to cancel all gatherings of more than 50 people and Gov. Ned Lamont’s Monday order closing eateries, bars, gyms and movie theaters.
“Please know that I do not make this decision easily. However, this is an extraordinary—and, in some ways, unprecedented—time in the life of the Church, the country and the world, and it requires extraordinary action to ensure the safety of those whom we serve,” said Bishop Frank Caggiano, of the Diocese of Bridgeport, in a statement.
Caggiano called for worshipers to “continue to place our trust in Jesus, the Divine Physician, through the loving hands of Our Blessed Mother,” according to the diocese.
David Elliott, associate director of communications and public relations for the Archdiocese of Hartford, said priests “will celebrate a daily Mass alone with no congregation, remembering in prayer all who are affected by the pandemic” and “(p)arishes will be encouraged to make provision for their churches to be open at some time so that individuals can still come and pray.”
Catholic schools will also be closed through March 31, conforming to Lamont’s order on Sunday, Elliott said.
Mass celebrated by Caggiano or
Vicar General Thomas Powers will be streamed on the Diocese of Bridgeport’s website each Sunday, officials noted.
In Winsted , the Rev. Bruce Czapla, of St. Joseph Church, said priests would be obligated to conduct masses, even if no one else was in attendance, “particularly those that have been asked in honor of someone.”
“Also, if there has been a funeral scheduled and all the arrangements have already been made, we will fulfill that commitment,” Czapla said.
The Norwich Diocese could not be reached for comment but had posted on their website that although Masses were not canceled, those who are older or immune compromised or who care for them and their children may have their obligation commuted.
Father Ryan Lerner, chaplain of Saint Thomas More at Yale University, said he supported the archdiocese’s decision. It was an natural evolution of the church’s precautions regarding the coronavirus, he said, which have evolved as the outbreak has continued.
Saint Thomas More held its first Mass without an in-person audience last Sunday, live-streaming it instead, Lerner said. At first, he said, it was “eerie” to celebrate mass in an empty church, without the normal ritual of call-and-response with parishioners.
But, over time, he said he realized that he was sharing the moment with the church community, now spread in a diaspora across the United States and beyond.
“It was a totally different experience of being in community with people,” said Lerner. “It was beautiful, in a way.”
Without regular Mass, churchgoers will be left without the
weekly, energizing call to live their faith in the world, Lerner said. But he advised parishioners to stay strong in the moment.
“Keep the faith,” said Lerner. “God will get us where God wants us to be... God is with us.”
St. Mary Parish in New Haven announced that it hopes its services would be live-streamed in the near future.
“Let us pray for one another during this period of trial in our country,” representatives of the parish said on its website.
The Christ Bread of Life Parish in Hamden shared the archdiocese’s announcement and offered advice to parishioners on its Facebook page.
“At times this can all seem very scary. These are all just preventative measures to keep everyone safe and healthy. When this has passed, many will think all this was an over reaction, but the truth is it won’t be as bad because of all these measures,” representatives of the parish said. “There is no better time to sit down with a good book...and there is no better book to sit down with than the Bible. May God Bless you all and keep you safe.”
william.lambert@hearstmediact.com