In-person Holy Week events permitted with safety measures in place: Catholic Diocese

Local Catholics will still be able to celebrate Holy Week with implemented directives that will allow them to follow safety measures, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie said in a news release issued today. 

Holy Week includes the most important celebrations in the Catholic calendar.

Although churches will be open for public celebrations, adaptations have been made for each celebration.

This year, churches will provide bottles of blessed water for Catholics to take home with them in order to bless themselves at home with the rest of their family or members of their household. They will also be given a short prayer service and a small candle to pray with at home.

Churches are also sticking to the current capacity restrictions, as well as social distancing and mandatory mask measures.

Many churches will offer livestreaming of Holy Week celebrations.

Catholics are encouraged to check with their nearest church for available times for Holy Week celebrations, as well as to find out when to pick up their bottle of holy water, prayer service and small candle.

The full release is as follows: 

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie has implemented directives that will allow Catholics to celebrate Holy Week while following safety measures and all COVID-19 restrictions. Holy Week includes the most important celebrations in the Catholic calendar which follow the final steps of Jesus leading to his death and resurrection.

“Last year, we were unable to celebrate these holy days due to the lockdown, so we eagerly anticipate being able to mark these celebrations, although with strict safety measures in place” said Bishop Thomas Dowd, the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie.

While churches will be open for public celebrations, adaptations have been made for each celebration. On Easter Sunday, the day that Catholics mark the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, new water is blessed and traditionally sprinkled on the faithful people as a reminder of their baptism.

This year, following the success of distributing blessed ashes for people to bring home at the beginning of Lent, churches will provide bottles of blessed water for Catholics to take home with them to bless themselves at home with the rest of their family or members of their household. They will also be given a short prayer service and a small candle to pray with at home.

“These are important rituals at Easter for the faithful people that we do not want to completely forego” said Bishop Dowd, “and we want to include those who are still not comfortable returning to church as well.”

Other ceremonial changes during each Mass have also been directed by the Diocese, in accordance with current safety measures. On Holy Thursday, priests would traditionally wash the feet of parishioners, following the example of Jesus who washed the feet of his Apostles, however this year this ceremony will be omitted.

On Good Friday, while Catholics typically come forward individually to honour a large wooden cross, in remembrance of the cross that Jesus died on, this will take place communally and from a safe distance.

On the eve of Easter, during the highest celebration of the church year, traditionally a fire burns outside of churches, and the inside of the church is illuminated by candle light that attendees pass from person to person. This year, this tradition will also be omitted.

Catholic churches are also adhering to the current capacity restrictions, as well as social distancing and mandatory mask measures. Many churches will offer livestreaming of the Holy Week celebrations.

“While our celebrations may be different this year, we also recognize the joy that the Risen Jesus brings to each one of our lives, even in a time of pandemic,” said Bishop Dowd, “Easter allows us to focus on the hope our faith brings to us, despite the ongoing challenges we are facing.”

Catholics are encouraged to check with their nearest Catholic church to see available times for Holy Week celebrations, and when to pick up bottles of holy water along with a prayer service and small candle.

For more information, to see a copy of the prayer service, or to watch a tutorial video, visit here.