Italy goes back to church post-lockdown

A book and hand sanitiser are at the entrance of San Polo church in Brescia, Italy, on July 9. Photo: CNS/Reuters

VATICAN (CNS): Bishops will need to help their communities participate more in parish life and return to taking part in the sacraments in ways that continue to respect evolving measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), according to a letter drafted by the leadership committee of the Italian bishops’ conference the leadership of the Italian Bishops’ Conference.

After summer vacations end and autumn begins, the bishops are invited to “work together in order to create the conditions for being open to new forms of the church’s presence,” said the letter, excerpts of which were published on the website of the bishops’ conference on July 23.

When Masses were once again open to the public starting May 18, there was a notable lack of attendance by families with young children, teenagers and older parishioners, the letter said, adding that parishes will need to “listen” in order to understand what has contributed to their absence.

It added that with difficulties caused by the pandemic, there are also new opportunities. It praised all the priests and catechists who worked hard to maintain contact with parishioners and young people, particularly online.

Now, however, the letter said it is urgent they start planning new ways that respect precautions to bring people back onto a journey toward renewed community and parish life, particularly Sunday Mass.

The leadership committee noted that there is still a sense of people feeling a great deal of uncertainty and apprehension connected with a fear of an economic collapse later in the year and with the stress or “fatigue of active participation.”

It said, “The question is, what contribution can we make to the nation? How to approach women and men who are more afraid, poorer and alone?”

Starting up parish activities in the autumn after the summer break “will necessarily have to be gradual and still limited by measures to protect the public’s health,” it said.

A number of those measures will be determined by the country’s regions, not the national government, such as the possibility of allowing more than 200 people inside large churches and cathedrals if they can guarantee the required social distancing, the letter said.

The conference leadership, which has been working with the country’s national technical-scientific committee that evaluates restrictions and their changes, said it will be possible to celebrate first Communion and confirmation Masses, but baptisms will be considered on a “case by case basis” to limit the number of participants.

In Italy, these sacramental rites are typically attended by very large numbers of family members and acquaintances, resulting in packed churches. It will be best, the letter said, to make sure these celebrations are always held as a community, even if that means with limited groups of people.

Chrism oils, it added, can be administered with a piece of cotton or cloth. Restrictions had already been lifted at the end of June allowing priests to no longer wear gloves when distributing Communion. Communion can still only be given in the hand, but the priest must disinfect his hands thoroughly beforehand.

The letter said that no decision has yet been made about the return of choirs and singing.