Physically distant, spiritually close

Online reservations are needed to attend Mass. Every other pew is taped off, and blue tape crosses mark how far apart people must sit.

But for the first time since March, the Rev. Peter Adamski, pastor of St. James Roman Catholic Church in Stratford, can celebrate Mass with his parishioners inside the church.

This weekend, parishes in the Diocese of Bridgeport can reopen for indoor services and Catholics, who have watched livestreamed services from their homes or attended outdoor Masses, will be able to enter the building that is their spiritual home.

In the Archdiocese of Hartford, however, indoor Masses are limited to weekdays only to avoid having to clean between services. And Christ Episcopal Church in Ansonia is one of a few Episcopal churches that will open June 21.

“I have mixed emotions,” Adamski said. “I’m joyful in that I’m a little tired of looking out at empty pews,” when he has celebrated daily Mass via livestream. On the other hand, “When we go indoors … our risk profile goes up right now, not down.”

For now, there will be just one weekend Mass, at 4:30 p.m. Saturdays. “I don’t want it on my head to do too much too soon,” he said. “The Holy Spirit is telling me, ‘Peter, be prudent about this reopening. Take it slow.’”

His parishioners have mixed feelings also, and he’s encouraging older people or those with health conditions to stay home.

“Some have told me they cannot wait to get back inside because it’s a beautiful church, and others have said, ‘we’re not ready to go indoors yet,’ and that’s legitimate,” he said.

Inspired by the Beatles’ last live performance in 1969 atop their Abbey Road recording studio, Adamski has been celebrating weekend Masses from St. James’ roof. Once outdoor Masses were permitted in May, Adamski said, “I had this idea, rather than have a platform … I rented a scissor lift.” Parishioners listen in their cars via an FM transmitter. “I have a little pirate radio station,” Adamski said.

Rabbi Brian Immerman of Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden said the synagogue won’t open for in-person worship “at least through the High Holidays ... which would take us to October or even longer.”

Immerman said “one of the most important things to us is community” and that singing is a risky activity. Since older and immuno-compromised people would not be able to attend, “it would not be within our value system to come together and exclude our older community members and those who are at higher risk,” he said.

Offerings

Many parishes have been hit financially by COVID-19 because so many members bring their offerings to church each week.

Adamski said St. James has been hit “not as bad as some other parishes. Some of our parishes have been really hurt.

“My people have been responding to me,” he said. “I’m down about 15 percent, which, given the circumstances, is remarkable.”

Adamski said St. James encourages online giving but 15 percent to 18 percent of the weekly collection “is cash in the basket,” given anonymously. “Some of the parishes, their collections are down well north of 50 percent.”

He said that’s especially true of parishes that don’t stream services online. He, on the other hand, has heard from people in Arizona who said they’ve sent the link to friends in Europe.

The Rev. Richard Beattie of Christ Episcopal Church in Ansonia said his parishioners’ giving has declined but “not horribly.”

“We’ve got a good group of people either sending in or dropping off what would be their normal plate offerings. … We’re getting enough to get us by for the most part and that’s the important thing at this point,” Beattie said.

Rites

Communion has been offered at the outdoor Masses, but it is extra special this weekend. Sunday is the Feast of Corpus Christi, celebrating the Catholic belief that Jesus is present in the bread and wine of the Eucharist.

While phase two of the state’s reopening begins Wednesday, houses of worship have been able to allow inside 100 people or 25 percent of their capacity, whichever is smaller, since May 29. Keeping distance may restrict the number even more.

“Shoulder to shoulder I can hold 650” inside St. James’ Main Street church, Adamski said. “But with social distancing 360 degrees, I can hold 90.” That number is flexible, because people who live together can sit together.