SPRINGFIELD – Devout Catholics seeking Lenten Masses are now faced with the harsh reality that they will be confined to their homes during this holiest of weeks.
Due to COVID-19 virus restrictions, there will be no congregations for any of the liturgies or services in the state of Massachusetts, or for much of the nation, for that matter.
There is a wealth of safe, healthy alternatives for religious practitioners from viewing masses on television to streaming online.
Beginning with Palm Sunday (April 5) and continuing through Easter Sunday (April 12), special editions of the “Chalice of Salvation” televised mass will air on WWLP-22News.
Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski will celebrate the Palm Sunday liturgy from St. Michael’s Cathedral at 10 a.m. Bishop Rozanski will be joined by Deacon Leo Coughlin and music minister Ernie Hadley from St. Rose de Lima Parish in Chicopee.
On Holy Thursday (April 9), Bishop Rozanski will mark the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ by celebrating a Mass from the Holy Spirit Chapel, alongside Deacon Coughlin. Lad Pfeifer and Michael Cremonini, from St. Michael’s Cathedral Parish will serve as music ministers.
On Good Friday (April 10), Bishop Rozanski will mark the most solemn day in the Christian calendar, that of Christ’s passion and death.
The special “Chalice” editions of Good Holy Thursday and Good Friday will be broadcast on WWLP22-News at 11 a.m.
“While we are under the constraints that are placed up us by the COVID-19 virus, I am grateful that the Triduum services can be made available on television,” Bishop Rozanski told iObserve.
The “Chalice of Salvation” East Sunday liturgy will be celebrated on air at 11 a.m.
Links to various Holy Week Prayer services can be found at www.diospringfield.org, including videos with Bishop Rozanski leading the rosary and Way of the Cross.
In addition, St. Mary’s Parish, of Westfield plans to stream Masses on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday. Parishioners are urged to visit the church’s website at stmarysofwestfield.com, the St. Mary’s of Westfield Facebook page, and St. Mary’s Church of Westfield – You Tube channel.
With church doors closed to the public to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the diocese as a whole is feeling a financial strain, prompting Bishop Rozanski to encourage Catholics to continue to support their local parishes. People can donate online to their parish through a link on diospringfield.org.
The bishop noted that many parishes live week-to-week, relying on generous contributions in the weekly collections.
“I urge you, if you possibly can, to contribute to your parish, to make sure we can get through these struggling times so that our parishes, when the time comes when we can reopen, they can be a presence even more to our neighbor and to you, the good people of God,” Bishop Rozanski stated in a Facebook post.
“We join in prayer for those affected by the virus, for those in hospitals and their caregivers and for the doctors and nurses and all who help them,” he said. “We also pray for those who have died, conscious of all the effects of the coronavirus.”
The Diocese of Springfield has already announced that all spring confirmations will be moved to the fall, and also postponing rites of initiation, first communions, and weddings. If a couple still wants to receive the sacrament, a wedding will need to adhere to local health guidelines with regard to attendance and obtain a license from civil authorities, unless a convalidation. Funerals and burial rites should be held in accordance with all guidelines on crowd size, in conjunction with that individual’s local health department, according to the diocese.
