Catholic churches around Centre County to reopen for private prayer; 4-phase reopening plan released
Catholic churches in Centre County won’t reopen for “regular” Mass just yet, but the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown — which includes eight counties, including Centre — announced Wednesday afternoon they’re finalizing a four-phase plan that will go into effect Saturday.
Come Saturday, Catholic churches will open only for private prayer and for those wearing masks, with seating restrictions to promote social-distancing amid the global pandemic. Other acts — such as communion, confession, Mass, etc. — will come in future phases.
“Although much still needs to happen before truly returning to the normal life of the Church, today’s announcement that parishes may reopen their doors and the faithful may return for private prayer is a great first step,” Secretary for Communications Tony DeGol said in a written statement. “As we continue to move forward, we ask for everyone’s patience and understanding.”
The Rev. Mark Bartchak, the bishop of the diocese, suspended public Masses on March 17. In an open letter to parishioners Wednesday, he outlined his plans for reopening while adding that specific directives will be made available prior to Saturday.
While Step 1 will take place Saturday, there is no timetable for Steps 2-4 or when they may come. Here is a brief outline of each phase:
- Step 1: Reopen churches for personal prayer. Mass and the sacraments will continue to be celebrated privately.
- Step 2: Confession, also known as the Sacrament for Reconciliation, will resume and will be made available in the morning, afternoon and evening. Priests are asked to be available not only in their own parish churches but throughout the area.
- Step 3: Priests in each deanery will develop a plan to administer communion, potentially outside of Mass. “Ideally, you would be able to join in a Mass either on TV, live-streamed or recorded,” Bartchak wrote, “and then you would come to the church to receive Holy Communion ...”
- Step 4: Restoring public daily Masses. Singing and the length of Masses will “probably” need to be reduced, and special precautions will need to be taken in distributing communion. Discussions are also ongoing about collections and offertory processions.
Bartchak also implored Catholics throughout the area to continue abiding by guidelines such as frequent hand washing, disinfecting, maintaining physical distance, wearing masks and following the state policies on occupancy. (Residents of “yellow phase” counties are urged not to gather in groups larger than 25, for example.)
“I hope that you will be careful and thoughtful in your determination about returning to church for personal prayer and the sacraments,” Bartchak wrote. “In particular, I urge you to think about others and not just your own needs and desires.”
Those interested in celebrating baptisms, weddings or funerals should contact their pastors for more information. But they may be celebrated only with all precautions, such as masking and social-distancing, in effect.
“My message to the faithful in Centre County would be, first of all, we thank them for their patience,” DeGol added. “We understand this has been a difficult time for Catholics because they’ve not been able to to go to church, they’ve not been able to receive Holy Communion or receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
“These have been difficult days — but we’re still going to need your patience moving forward.”
