Jim and Judy Jagielski have attended in-person Mass just three
times since the start of the pandemic. But for Judy’s birthday, the couple
wanted to go to Sunday Mass. Afterward, their maskless faces beamed as they
chatted with their pastor, Father Robert C. Cilinski, at Church of the Nativity
in Burke, their parish for more than 30 years. Jim loved seeing all the
friendly faces. Judy said it felt like coming home. “It’s just good to be
back,” she said.
Many Arlington diocesan Catholics saw the smiling faces of their
fellow parishioners during Memorial Day weekend Masses. Bishop Michael F.
Burbidge gave pastors permission to remove most of the pandemic restrictions
May 28, including social distancing and mask wearing. His May 25 announcement
came after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam issued new guidelines that went into
effect the same day.
Additionally, Bishop Burbidge and other bishops of the region
announced June 2 that they are lifting the dispensation from the obligation to
attend Mass beginning June 26-27.
Going forward, all parishes are encouraged to return to the
pre-COVID-19 schedules for Masses, adoration and access to the parish. Now
there is no occupancy limit on Masses and no social distancing. During the
liturgy, there can be full choirs, holy water in the fonts, a procession, an
offertory collection and the sign of peace between members of the same
household. Only the consecrated host will be offered during Communion.
Fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear a face mask in
church. Unvaccinated individuals are encouraged to continue wearing a face
mask, though priests will not ask parishioners about their vaccination status
or stop unmasked people from entering the church.
Some parishes opted not to loosen restrictions yet, or to
gradually phase them in. “Due to the recent COVID cases on campus, Sacred Heart
of Jesus Catholic Church will maintain social distancing and mask requirements
for the next two weeks,” the Winchester parish posted on Facebook. Previously,
the parish announced its pastor, Father Bjorn C. Lundberg, and parochial vicar,
Father Stephen Holmes, have COVID-19.
St. John Neumann Church in Reston implemented some of the changes
over Memorial Day weekend but plans to incorporate more the following weekend,
including ending Mass pre-registration and opening all the pews.
Before the restrictions were lifted, Nativity was encouraging
in-person Mass attendance by sharing on social media the stories of
parishioners who have returned to Mass. “It’s not the same participating over
livestream,” said Mary Castellano, Nativity social media coordinator. “To be
able to consume Our Lord, the source and summit of our faith, to be in
community sitting among the faithful, there is no substitute for that.”
A boy dips his hand in the holy water font as he leaves
Mass. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD
While Castellano hopes parishioners return to church soon, she
wanted the tone of the social media messages to be inviting, not judgmental.
“This is still a very challenging time and we wanted to be mindful of that and
walk with people, rather than wave our finger at them and tell them what to do,”
she said.
Many Nativity parishioners feel comfortable coming to Mass, as
the pews were nearly all full at the parish’s popular 11 a.m. Mass May 30.
Attendees dipped their fingers in the holy water as they entered and picked up
hymnals to join the choir in singing the hymns. About half were masked. The
collection baskets stayed in the narthex and there was no presentation of the
gifts by the faithful.
At the start of Mass, Father Cilinksi thanked the Massgoers for
their presence and perseverance. “Thank you everyone for all the sacrifices
you’ve made the past 14 months in abiding by all the safety guidelines here at
Nativity,” he said. “It was 100 percent participation and everyone really
showed great love of neighbor and care for each other. I was very proud of all
of us as we did this safely.”
At the end of Mass, many people gathered outside the church to
greet one another. Several embraced. Longtime parishioner Pat Connell, who
returned to in-person Masses around Easter, said she loved seeing the pews without
ropes. As she’s fully vaccinated, she chose not to wear a mask. “It’s a relief
that for the first time you can come to church without a mask,” she said. “It
was wonderful.”
