Church of the Resurrection issued the following announcement on May 21.

Last week in this space, I likened the current easing of Covid-19 restrictions to my childhood hunger for signs of the spring breakup of ice on the Mississippi. I wrote:

“The first [sign] was the disappearance of fishing shanties. Sometimes there would be spots where water would pool, turning the ice surface   yellow. Then fissures would start darkening the surface, and all of a sudden, SWOOSH, it would happen … and  the ice would be gone, as if instantaneously (though it was actually a process of many weeks), and on sunny days the water would turn a brilliant blue, a welcome sign of spring.”

The bulletins in which that was posted arrived from the printer last Thursday, and that very night we received Bishop Callahan’s letter announcing “a slow controlled return to the public celebrations of the sacraments” starting on Pentecost Sunday, May 31 … and SWOOSH, the break-up of the ice has begun (though it also will be a process of many weeks).

In his letter of May 14 (available on the Diocesan website), Bishop writes:

“The simple truth is that in many, if not most, of our parishes we are not ready to return to the public

celebration [of Masses] because we do not have the proper supplies to open with safety … We also need

time for pastors to recruit and train non-vulnerable volunteers so our return will ensure proper social

distancing. … Simply to open the doors without a structured plan in place hoping that people will do the

right thing would be irresponsible of us all. … [A] safe return will not ‘just happen’: it needs to be planned for and enacted.” 

Along with the letter came four pages of directives that we need to tackle before Bishop will give a particular church his approval to open. Not all parishes will automatically open on the 31st then. We are scrambling, but believe, short of coronavirus flare-ups that might lead local health authorities to scuttle our plans, we will be able to get ourselves eligible for the Bishop’s permission for a partial opening on Saturday-Sunday, May 30-31. All the Bishop’s directives are again available on the Diocesan website, but here are the chief points that will impact you as would-be worshippers:

#1: The Bishop’s chief concern continues to be the community’s health. It’s not that the virus has read the State Supreme Court’s decision and decided to leave us alone. The Bishop’s dispensation from the obligation of attending Mass continues into July. He urges those over the age of 65 and those with underlying health conditions to stay at home. We will continue to record the Sunday Mass and post it on our Eastside Parishes website into the near future.

#2: An aspect of making the worship environment safe is the continued expectation of distancing. To ease into this slowly we will be having only two Masses beginning the weekend of May 30-31: 4:00pm Saturday and 10:30am on Sunday. We are expected to limit attendance to 25% of our church’s capacity to maintain safe distancing. Hmm. One quarter of St. Michael’s seating (500) means only 125 participants at first; one quarter of Resurrection Church’s seating (325) comes to 80 worshippers. So, to maximize our capacity for the two Masses, they will both be at St. Michael Church to start. If you plan to attend, we are asking that you give us a sense of your plans by “signing up” to attend one of the two liturgies. Visit our website eastsideparishes.org and click on the home page scrolling banner “Sign up to attend Mass”. If you are not an internet user, you may call the parish at 715-842-4283, and tell us which Mass you plan to attend, and how many you will be. That way, if a particular Mass is showing signs of filling up early, we can announce that service as “full” and ask you to consider selecting another Mass time. I know, it’s strange, but these are strange times.

#3: When you come to Mass, for safety’s sake, some things will be a bit different. Entry will only be through the Gathering Space doors at St. Michael’s Church. The 6th Street doors will be for emergency exit only. We encourage, but will not demand, that you wear a protective mask. [Bringing your own homemade washable one will allow us to share our supply of disposable ones with others.] Only every third pew will be available, and assistants will seat you in an open row from front to back (think of it like coming to a wedding). Yes, that means for the near future you may not get “your” regular seat. We will omit the Gifts Procession and the Sign of Peace. The deacons and I will bring Communion to you in your places. For now, we continue to ask that you please receive the Eucharist in your hand and not on your tongue. The offering may be placed in the offertory boxes at the glass door’s entrance into church. Dismissal will be by rows.

I know, it all sounds a bit involved, but of course a lot is at stake. We will only be able to return to “the usual” by such incremental steps. If this first effort goes well, we can add more Mass times and anticipate easing some of these restrictions so our worship can seem more normal. If we fail at this, not only will we be putting others in harm’s way, but it will require we tighten things up again and delay our ability to attend whatever Mass we like, sit in whatever pew we like, chat with friends we like, and return to celebrating Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, Weddings, Funerals and parish events as we used to take for granted. And then the ice will really be out of the river.

Msgr. Mark

Original source: http://eastsideparishes.org/east/pastors-letter-may-25-2020/