It’s been nearly ten weeks since parishioners have stepped inside Saint Albert the Great Church, but that changed Monday with the reopening of in-person weekday Mass on May 25. Weekend, in-person worship services start this Saturday, May 30, with the celebration of Pentecost, according to guidelines released by the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Faith-goers can expect some changes as they return to their church buildings.
“Reopening is actually more challenging than having the church closed,” said Saint Albert Pastor Edward Estok of new safety and sanitation practices.
For starters, occupancy at Saint Albert the Great will be slashed in half, with allowance for just 50 percent of fire-code capacity, Estok explained. This equates to about 450 people permitted inside for any one weekend Mass (this weekend, overflow services with capacity for 200 will be held downstairs in the church hall). Face masks will be required for entrance into church for anyone age two and older and all staff will be in masks. Mandatory hand-sanitizing posts will be stationed at each entry door and worshipers will see seating areas marked in tape to ensure proper distancing between parties. Many Mass components will be omitted including the presence of holy water, the sign of peace handshake and the passing of the offering basket, Estok noted. Eucharistic Ministers will wear gloves, masks and be educated in how to put the wafer into a recipient’s hand without physical contact. No sacramental drink will be distributed. Communicants will be staggered in line and have designated tape marks where they can lift their face masks and place the wafer into their mouths. Staff will have their temperatures taken before assisting with worship services. Parishioners will also take part in sanitizing the church at the conclusion of each service. Worshipers will then be released in segments to ease congestion on church grounds. Worshipers will be welcome to in-person worship only at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, and at 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 31.
Another large North Royalton congregation, Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church, is making plans for the return of in-person worship services. At the time of publication, no in-person return date had been formally announced, but Pastor John Zahrte said the church leadership team is formulating a reentry plan. Preliminary protocols call for seating in every other pew, distancing, tape-marked floors and the requirement of face masks for entry. There will be limited attendance allowed for each service and worshipers will be asked to register their attendance online. Leaders will also be announcing plans for “small group watch parties” in the homes of congregants. Watch royred.org for details and updates.
Both churches will maintain their virtual online presence and encourage members to check their websites and social media for continued updates.
It’s been an enlightening time for worshipers everywhere and for many, faith has remained the only day-to-day constant in a very uncertain time. Churches have posted their services, devotions and reflections online and conducted “drive-thru” style events for ministry work. But throughout the health crisis no one’s faith has been shaken, only renewed.
“It warms your heart and lifts you up at a time of uncertainty,” Zahrte said of recent efforts and faith-based actions. “We are reminded we have a certain God who remains seated in his throne. He is still in control and shows his presence by working through us.”
The Royalton Road church continues to be a port in the storm, offering food distribution, ministry work and online devotions, worship services and virtual events like Bible studies. At a recent “Servant Saturday” event that sends members to service projects throughout the area, masked volunteers performed goodwill acts including yard work and gardening, safe visits to nursing homes, the sewing of face masks, inspirational chalk drawings, the crafting of greeting cards and the safe delivery of hot lunches and gift cards. The City’s food pantry is also housed within Royal Redeemer and the need for food assistance has, not surprisingly, skyrocketed in recent weeks,” Zahrte said. Church members have delivered free meals to first responders and older adults and partnered with other local churches to provide needed aid.
Saint Albert the Great went into immediate action to provide live streamed Masses and other faith enrichment devotions and messaging as well. On that first weekend in March of virtual services, Estok jokingly noted that it was a “scotch tape and bubble gum operation” to broadcast services on his iPad. Since then, hundreds of worshipers have been tuning in, providing reassurance that reach is being made and is appreciated.
“I didn’t know what I was doing, but I made a post and I set it to ‘live,’ and we were off and running,” Estok said of his initial efforts to live-stream church. “We were one of the first parishes that had anything up before things were canceled completely and the reaction was huge.”
The Wallings Road church has kept up with its ministry work, including food distribution and a drive-thru style Community Meal among other initiatives. During Easter, church leaders conducted a drive-thru blessing of palms and food baskets. Its virtual daily presence has, in a way, equated to more “face time” than parishioners would normally get, Estok said. For faith-goers, the world health crisis has only strengthened their bond to church and goodwill acts.
“It’s really been a time of great reflection for me as a pastor and for my spirituality,” Estok said.
By SARA MACHO HILL
Contributing Writer
