With the new extension date of May 20th for the "Stay Safe, Stay Home" executive order one week away, this is a question on the minds of many. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be any hint of a positive answer. The sectors in the state scheduled for measured re-openings next Wednesday include: hair salons & barbershops, museums & zoos, offices, restaurants, and retail & malls. Although churches are not included in these sectors, there have been some considerations being initiated.

 

Archbishop Blair wrote a May 8 letter to the priests of the Archdiocese with some considerations for the resumption of public worship. The Archbishop appointed a committee of five pastors to make to him recommendations as to how we can best meet the challenges of reintroducing public worship while observing all the necessary medical precautions.

 

Although nothing has been determined, one possibility might be to resume weekday Masses with the current health measures of no more than 50 people using social distancing and face coverings for religious gatherings. The Archbishop intends to maintain the dispensation from Sunday obligation for everyone once public worship resumes.

Although there is no definite answer to the question at this time, some define prayer and thought have begun.