The rector at St. Peter’s Cathedral church in Charlottetown says it’s time to bring the family back together.
Father David Garrett is preparing to welcome Anglican parishoners back in person on Sunday for the first time since health restrictions were put in place in mid-March that shut worship services down across the province.
“It will be a source of joy, even though it’s not quite the way it should be,’’ Garrett said on Friday, referring to the fact that phase three public health guidelines will limit churches to a maximum of 15 people per service.
“It’s a sign of something closer to a real community life. There is a sense of anticipation. We have been waiting for this since the middle of March. It will be good to see each other and have that closeness that’s been missing.’’
Limiting gatherings to no more than 15 people per service is no easy task.
Rory Francis, the treasury warden for the church, sent all parishioners an email this week detailing how things will be done. The church is using an online request and registration process using parish list management software. Once applications reach the allowed limit for each of the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services on Sunday, that group was advised by email on Friday that they are confirmed to attend.
Those requests that exceed the limit for Sunday, June 5 were going to be automatically invited to attend the following Sunday and Francis said an additional call for attendees would be put out mid-week each week to fill the quota for upcoming services, establishing a rotation.
Garrett said it will be the first time he has given communion to the parish since March 16. And, he will be taking precautions as outlined by public health to protect parishoners.
“I will be wearing rubber gloves when I handle the vessels and (wearing) a mask when I deliver the sacrament, which is just the bread. It will be delivered into someone’s hands so it will all be completely safe and sanitary.’’
THEY SAID IT
Here is what Father David Garrett and Rev. Danny Wilson have to say in describing what the past two months have been like for parishioners:
Father David Garrett: “It’s been difficult. Sometimes it’s a dark world where things just don’t go right. People appreciate each other’s company. Just being connected right now is important.’’
Rev. Danny Wilson: “I think people are feeling a bit isolated. They’re not really able to come together and really have a good discussion about what is going on in their own lives.’’
Communion at St. Peter’s is being altered to ensure that parishioners do not pass each other in the aisles and every second pew in the church is blocked off with red tape to ensure physical distancing. There will be no singing. The church organ will only play before and after the service.
Garrett said they are minor sacrifices.
“We’re in the same building and that’s a good thing. I think it’s most important for people to see each other. One of the most important things about what we do is be a family and to be there for each other.’’
Not all churches are opening up on Sunday.
Rev. Danny Wilson, the parish priest at St. Anthony’s Church in Woodstock, said it doesn’t make sense to hold a service for 15 people.
“I have too many people (in the parish) for just 15. I wouldn’t want to tell people (they can’t come),’’ Wilson said. “How am I going to cut it off at 15? The church hold 400 people. It’s impossible. If we could get 100 people in we could get away with three masses, perhaps, but 15 isn’t fair to anybody.’’
Wilson, who has been holding drive-thru confessionals since mid-March, said they will be waiting for phase four to start, which will allow for larger gatherings. While phase three was bumped up and started June 1, the province has not announced a date for phase four yet.
“I don’t understand the government’s criteria. You can have 15 people in your home right now and we have a church that will seat 400. You have St. Dunstan’s in Charlottetown that will seat about 1,000. People are pretty good at keeping their distance.’’
Garrett and Wilson said churches were not consulted when it came to setting guidelines for the phased approach.
