Boston's Vicar General Message of May 14, 2020

"Many and in fact most priests are anxious to get back to the work of salvation.  Sadly, for others, this is the best vacation they ever had and they are going to do everything they can to extend it.  By their fruits you shall know them.  There is a big push to promote watching them on television for an hour program on Sundays as an exciting new normal of Catholic practice." - Carol McKinley

For reasons enumerated in my May 15th update, it will be interesting to see whether Governor Baker cuts Fr. Hehir and the recommendations of his  'pandemic team' loose. 

In the meantime, do the bishops in Massachusetts expect Catholics to believe it takes them more than eight weeks to make a plan to clorox the pews, remove the hymnals and arrange seating conforming to social distancing requirements?

How do they think they will survive the scrutiny of rational and honest people when their obfuscation is compared against the return of Sacraments all over the world?

It is practically impossible to set a date for when we will be able to re-open for Sunday Masses,

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

 This has been an extraordinarily difficult time for the Church and

 our state. With so much suffering and loss, the impact on

 individuals and families is breathtaking. However, we are seeing

 great works of mercy in our communities including in our hospitals,

 food pantries and parishes to name just a few. For all you do in

 ministry for the people of God, I join Cardinal Seán in expressing

 our sincere gratitude and prayers of support. You are beacons of

 light during this dark hour.

 This week, Governor Baker announced a “four-phase approach” to

 re-opening. This plan will be announced early next week, and we will

 closely monitor the guidance and directives as we continue to

 develop our own plans for the Archdiocese to resume public Masses

 and public gatherings when it is safe to do so.

 Working with the Pandemic Response Team, I want to take this

 opportunity to update you on several items, so you are aware of the

 work underway, which will help guide us towards the eventual

 re-opening our Churches.

 WHEN CAN RE-OPEN?

 It is important to note that, while there is great anticipation

 about being able to re-open our Churches, we are not at that point

 yet and it will likely be several more weeks before we can begin to

 implement our own phased-in plans to resume public Masses. In other

 words, the announcement next week by the Governor does not mean an

 immediate resumption of operations and activities for our parishes,

 schools and ministries.

 Recently, in response to media inquiries, we stated that the

 Archdiocese remains committed to working with public officials on

 the timing and conditions of re-opening churches for Masses. By

 respecting the state’s guidance for the practices necessary to

 mitigate the spread of Covid-19, we believe we will do our part to

 keep members of the community healthy and safe. This week the

 Archdiocese participated in the Governor’s Office Re-Opening

 Advisory Board meeting and we look forward to further collaboration.

 Your cooperation and collaboration are essential in this effort. We

 must be able to provide the greatest measure of safety for

 parishioners, priests and the laity. This situation is unlike

 anything we have experienced, and it requires our working together.

 RE-OPENING WORKING COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED

 The Cardinal has established a team including priests, deacons and

 lay people from various advisory groups to begin developing plans

 for re-opening. This group is meeting together several times a week

 and is working closely with the Office of Evangelization and

 Discipleship, the Office of Risk Management and public health

 experts from the Archdiocese.

 The members of the working committee are Fr. Paul Soper (who leads

 this effort), Chris Donoghue, MC Sullivan, Joe McEnness, Father

 Richard Fitzgerald, Father Sean Connor, Deacon Paul Breadmore,

 Deacon Tom O’Shea, Ellen Guerin and Michelle Parks. The team is

 well along the way to having a plan in place to implement a

 re-opening process. Through webinars and various materials, which

 will be provided to you through the Communications Office, we will

 help guide you along this process. We will work together with you

 and see to it that you have the support you need to prepare.

 If you have any questions never hesitate to email the Pandemic

 Response Team at corona@rcab.org. This has been a very helpful and

 well used way of asking questions and seeking guidance.

 What we can do now to get a head start

 The work of evangelization is very important. It stands alongside

 worship, sacraments, and service to the poor as being core to our

 mission. Many parishes have done an extraordinary job of focusing on

 “virtual evangelization” during these weeks of shut down. Do not

 lose that focus. Even as we prepare for an eventual re-opening, stay

 focused on building out your capacity to evangelize in an online

 world.

 It is practically impossible to set a date for when we will be able

 to re-open for Sunday Masses, so it is important that we avoid

 creating a sense of expectation as we go through preliminary steps

 toward re-opening. By being consistent we can temper expectations

 with encouragement for more patience.

 There are several steps you should be taking now to plan for when we

 can re-open and to keep the faithful engaged in this process.

 PARISH OPERATIONS: You can consider how to prepare for the day when

 the employees of your parish can return to work. The working

 committee has developed a document to help to guide you through

 planning for the return of parish staff. To view this document

 please click here [1].

 WORSHIP SITES: Additionally, you can consider how to prepare for the

 day (perhaps not the same day as the offices open) when your parish

 can resume the public celebration of Mass on a limited basis. The

 working committee has developed a document to help to guide you

 through this process. To view this material please click here [2].

 The liturgical and sacramental directives remain in place until

 lifted or amended by the Cardinal.

 A WORD ABOUT THE 90-DAYS NOW – FOR YOUR PARISH INITIATIVE

 We are pleased to report that $450,000 has been pledged to date from

 nearly 1,500 donors. 229 parishes have been the recipients of the

 generosity of people who have used the web form to help parishes at

 a time when many have lost much in their offertory during this

 pandemic. The funds donated through the 90-Days Now webform go

 directly to the parish. We will be sharing additional support

 materials in the days ahead to assist you in this effort. Please

 consider sharing this option with parishioners and benefactors to

 help support your parish during this time. The giving page for this

 effort is available by clicking here [3].

 I often reflect on Cardinal Seán’s comments early in this crisis.

 He said, “we need to take care of each other.” That holds true

 now and in the future. The Pastoral Center exists to support you in

 your ministry, and I have been very pleased to see the great

 collaboration between all the various departments and ministries of

 the Archdiocese. You are at the forefront by engaging with the

 faithful and comforting them in this time of great uncertainty. We

 are blessed by your commitment to the people of God.

 Thank you,

 +Peter J. Uglietto