Stay safe Pray safe Stay connected
Re-opening of places of worship for communal prayer
On Thursday you may have seen, heard or read that Scotland’s First Minister announced that places of worship may re-open from Wednesday 15 July for communal prayer, congregational service and contemplation, with limited attendance numbers and physical distancing. She added that specific guidance is being finalised with faith communities. Moving to this, known as Phase 3, has happened earlier than suggested by previously published indicative dates. On the back of this announcement the Archdiocese issued a statement.
Following these announcements, the Chairpersons of the Parish Pastoral Councils, the Parish Coordinators and Leadership Team, including our parish priests, met to pray about and consider how we move forward.
Before we share our thinking, it is crucial to say that in all of this our primary consideration is our responsibility for the safety of everybody.
There are several areas that we considered.
The obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains dispensed
This was reiterated by Bishop Hugh Gilbert, president of the Scottish Bishops’ Conference in a press release on Thursday 9 July.
In the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland document issued by the Working Group on Covid-19 Infection Control, Preparing for re-opening of churches, the bishops explain this in more detail:
“The obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains dispensed until further notice. The faithful are asked to consider carefully whether or not they should return in the early phases. Upholding the church’s duty of care to elderly clergy, together with social distancing reductions in capacity, will mean that the availability of Mass is likely to be reduced in many areas and may not be available at all in some parishes. Each parish is asked to consider these guidelines to assist them in deciding the readiness of the parish as our country moves into each of the four phases of the route map."
Making preparations for our churches reopening
In the same Bishops’ Conference of Scotland document issued by the Working Group on Covid-19 Infection Control, Preparing for re-opening of churches, they say:
"Each Church will only be able to open according to the number and availability of volunteers"
Writing to the clergy of the Archdiocese on 9 July, Archbishop Cushley said: I’m sure you will need little encouragement to begin taking advantage of this change, as soon as you and your parish team have everything ready. [highlighting added]
The Archbishop added that more details of Scottish Government requirements are expected to follow shortly and he will update us when they are issued.
Once we have the full guidelines, it will take time to prepare for the opening of our churches, but that preparatory work is already underway. We recognise that for many the buildings themselves are an important sacred space and the opportunity to return to their place of worship, even on a limited basis, will bring spiritual and mental-health benefits.
We will need a team of volunteers and the pace we can move at will be determined not only by the number and availability of volunteers, but also the availability (or unavailability) of sanitizing equipment, training of volunteers, etc.
What we already know
We have set out here the requirements that must be met before our buildings may open for congregational worship:
1. For each Mass, the parish is to retain details of names and contact details of all attendees.
2. This will require a registration/booking system both online and for parishioners without internet facilities.
3. Social distancing is to be carefully observed; two metres physical distancing will be required.
4. Numbers will be strictly limited: a maximum attendance of 50 people per service is being imposed for now. The numbers may be considerably less depending on the size of the church.
5. Face-coverings are compulsory for those attending church (except under-5s).
6. Those entering the Church will be required to use sanitising gel on their hands to reduce the risk of contaminating surfaces. They should also sanitise their hands on leaving.
7. No singing or chanting is permitted during Mass.
8. Parishioners who are shielding according to Scottish Government guidance should not come to church until Scottish Government guidance advises them it safe to do so.
9. No toilet facilities will be available during Mass or services.
10. Where the building allows, parishioners will arrive using one door and exit using another. Communion will be distributed at the end of Mass and each person will leave after they have received communion.
11. Special rules apply to funerals and weddings.
From this, it will be clear that the celebration of Mass will not be what has been our "normal" experience.
Summary
To summarise what has been said:
• The obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains dispensed.
• It will take time to prepare for the opening of our churches.
• The What we already know section above gives us a sense of what to expect when we return to church - it will not be what has been our "normal" experience.
• Significant preparations are needed and the pace at which we can move will be determined by the number and availability of volunteers, the (un)availability of sanitizing equipment, training of volunteers, etc.
All of us would like to get back to celebrating Mass as a community as soon as we can. However, the timing will be dependent on the response to the number of people who are prepared to help make it happen by signing up to help clean, disinfect and act as stewards because the safety of people is of paramount importance.
Next Steps
1. A sub-group has already started work on assessing what we need to do and various practical considerations. This work will continue.
2. This is an important moment and we believe it is vitally important to hear the views of parishioners. During the week that lies ahead we will contact all those we have contact details for to seek your thoughts via a short questionnaire.
We would ask everybody to keep this in their prayers as we move forward together.
On Thursday you may have seen, heard or read that Scotland’s First Minister announced that places of worship may re-open from Wednesday 15 July for communal prayer, congregational service and contemplation, with limited attendance numbers and physical distancing. She added that specific guidance is being finalised with faith communities. Moving to this, known as Phase 3, has happened earlier than suggested by previously published indicative dates. On the back of this announcement the Archdiocese issued a statement.
Following these announcements, the Chairpersons of the Parish Pastoral Councils, the Parish Coordinators and Leadership Team, including our parish priests, met to pray about and consider how we move forward.
Before we share our thinking, it is crucial to say that in all of this our primary consideration is our responsibility for the safety of everybody.
There are several areas that we considered.
The obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains dispensed
This was reiterated by Bishop Hugh Gilbert, president of the Scottish Bishops’ Conference in a press release on Thursday 9 July.
In the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland document issued by the Working Group on Covid-19 Infection Control, Preparing for re-opening of churches, the bishops explain this in more detail:
“The obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains dispensed until further notice. The faithful are asked to consider carefully whether or not they should return in the early phases. Upholding the church’s duty of care to elderly clergy, together with social distancing reductions in capacity, will mean that the availability of Mass is likely to be reduced in many areas and may not be available at all in some parishes. Each parish is asked to consider these guidelines to assist them in deciding the readiness of the parish as our country moves into each of the four phases of the route map."
Making preparations for our churches reopening
In the same Bishops’ Conference of Scotland document issued by the Working Group on Covid-19 Infection Control, Preparing for re-opening of churches, they say:
"Each Church will only be able to open according to the number and availability of volunteers"
Writing to the clergy of the Archdiocese on 9 July, Archbishop Cushley said: I’m sure you will need little encouragement to begin taking advantage of this change, as soon as you and your parish team have everything ready. [highlighting added]
The Archbishop added that more details of Scottish Government requirements are expected to follow shortly and he will update us when they are issued.
Once we have the full guidelines, it will take time to prepare for the opening of our churches, but that preparatory work is already underway. We recognise that for many the buildings themselves are an important sacred space and the opportunity to return to their place of worship, even on a limited basis, will bring spiritual and mental-health benefits.
We will need a team of volunteers and the pace we can move at will be determined not only by the number and availability of volunteers, but also the availability (or unavailability) of sanitizing equipment, training of volunteers, etc.
What we already know
We have set out here the requirements that must be met before our buildings may open for congregational worship:
1. For each Mass, the parish is to retain details of names and contact details of all attendees.
2. This will require a registration/booking system both online and for parishioners without internet facilities.
3. Social distancing is to be carefully observed; two metres physical distancing will be required.
4. Numbers will be strictly limited: a maximum attendance of 50 people per service is being imposed for now. The numbers may be considerably less depending on the size of the church.
5. Face-coverings are compulsory for those attending church (except under-5s).
6. Those entering the Church will be required to use sanitising gel on their hands to reduce the risk of contaminating surfaces. They should also sanitise their hands on leaving.
7. No singing or chanting is permitted during Mass.
8. Parishioners who are shielding according to Scottish Government guidance should not come to church until Scottish Government guidance advises them it safe to do so.
9. No toilet facilities will be available during Mass or services.
10. Where the building allows, parishioners will arrive using one door and exit using another. Communion will be distributed at the end of Mass and each person will leave after they have received communion.
11. Special rules apply to funerals and weddings.
From this, it will be clear that the celebration of Mass will not be what has been our "normal" experience.
Summary
To summarise what has been said:
• The obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains dispensed.
• It will take time to prepare for the opening of our churches.
• The What we already know section above gives us a sense of what to expect when we return to church - it will not be what has been our "normal" experience.
• Significant preparations are needed and the pace at which we can move will be determined by the number and availability of volunteers, the (un)availability of sanitizing equipment, training of volunteers, etc.
All of us would like to get back to celebrating Mass as a community as soon as we can. However, the timing will be dependent on the response to the number of people who are prepared to help make it happen by signing up to help clean, disinfect and act as stewards because the safety of people is of paramount importance.
Next Steps
1. A sub-group has already started work on assessing what we need to do and various practical considerations. This work will continue.
2. This is an important moment and we believe it is vitally important to hear the views of parishioners. During the week that lies ahead we will contact all those we have contact details for to seek your thoughts via a short questionnaire.
We would ask everybody to keep this in their prayers as we move forward together.