March 20, 2020

Local parishes, ministries adapt to restrictions of coronavirus pandemic

REGIONAL
By Sharon Roulier

 

SPRINGFIELD — It’s now a familiar sight. Churches are closed. Parking lots are empty. Schools are vacant. It’s an unprecedented time for the Catholic Church, said Msgr. Christopher Connelly, rector of St. Michael’s Cathedral.

“In contrast to other times of emergency, the church is a place where you could go to pray,” said Msgr. Connelly in an interview with Catholic Communications this week.

As churches throughout the Diocese of Springfield have been shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic, parishioners are finding themselves without a place to gather for prayer.

“I think back to 9/11– people went to their church to be in community and pray. This time’s very different. We’re told, and with good reason, to keep the churches closed,” said Msgr. Connelly, who said he was reminded of Scripture.

“It says, go to your room pray in secret and your Father who sees you in secret will repay you and hear you,” he said. “So, although we can’t come together in the building, we’ll always, as church, be community.”

On Monday, March 16, Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski issued further directives regarding efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Catholic parishes throughout western Massachusetts. Effective March 17, all churches, chapels, including adoration chapels and oratories were to be closed until further notice. All diocesan pastoral offices were also closed with many staff members working from home.

Msgr. Connelly assured the faithful that even though Catholics cannot come together to worship, they are still praying as a community.

“It reminds us of the great importance of the faith and how much we should all cherish the sacraments and our life together as a community of faith,” he said. “But for those who at this time cannot go, they are dispensed from the obligation.”

Catholic schools in the diocese also moved to remote learning this week and will remain closed for a minimum of three weeks. The Catholic schools office will continue to monitor the state’s response to this situation and recommend action based on any new information or mandates, according to superintendent of Catholic schools Daniel Baillargeon.

“What we’ve asked our principals in each of the schools to do is work with their teachers to develop a few weeks of instructional support that can be delivered remotely,” said Baillargeon, who urged parents and students to remain calm and try not to stress out about what students will be missing in terms of classroom learning.

“If our kids are reading and they’re reflecting on what they’re reading. If our kids are doing some simple drills to maintain their skills at this particular time. If our kids are encouraged to go out and experience nature in a new way, they’re going to learn something else from that, that maybe they wouldn’t have learned in the classroom,” he said.

Each school has provided support and direction to their teachers regarding the implementation of remote instruction.

At St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Springfield, Sister of St. Joseph Patricia Hottin, principal, said, she, like all her fellow diocesan school principals, is there to offer her support to teachers, parents and students.

“Catholic education is a wonderful place to be if you can choose it,” said Sister Hottin. “And what we have here is a faith community that’s going to come together and we’re going to get through this.”

Ministries supported by the Annual Catholic Appeal also are being affected by the coronavirus pandemic, including Providence Ministries in Holyoke, where executive director Shannon Rudder says essential support services to the community will continue.

This week the agency announced Kate’s Kitchen would provide warm, nutritious takeout meals with dining services being suspended until further notice.

“Even though we’re suspending our dining room services we’ll be having to-go meals that are being distributed right outside our parking lot at Kate’s,” said Rudder.

Margaret’s Pantry will continue to serve those in need of supplemental groceries, as well.

Rudder said her agency appreciates support from the Annual Catholic Appeal, now more than ever.

“We are fortunate to be in a community with a huge, generous heart. People have given to us through the Annual Catholic Appeal and we remain grateful,” she said. “Now is the time to really consider deepening that gift. Because we continue to be in service to this community that so needs us.”

A video version of this story will be featured on this weekend’s edition of “Real to Reel,” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22NEWS and in the Berkshires Sunday mornings at 5:30 on Albany’s Fox 23, WXXA.