Catholics must go back to church this weekend, N.J. bishops say. Here’s what’s changing at Mass.
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Nearly all Catholics, including those who are unvaccinated, are supposed to return to in-person Masses this weekend as New Jersey’s bishops lift their orders that gave parishioners permission to skip weekly services during the pandemic.
The heads of the Archdiocese of Newark and the state’s other four Catholic dioceses — Camden, Trenton, Metuchen and Paterson — are all eliminating their special COVID-19 dispensations starting Saturday. That means all of the state’s 3.5 million Catholics, except those who are ill or have underlying health problems, are expected to be back in the pews.
Several dioceses are lifting capacity restrictions, social distancing and mask requirements. Some churches are also permitting people to shake hands during the Sign of Peace, returning holy water to fonts and allowing Communion wafers to be placed on people’s tongues — practices that have been banned in most churches since March 2020.
“We welcome the Christian faithful to return to the regular participation in the Sunday Eucharist, the source and summit of our Catholic faith,” the state’s five bishops said in a statement last month announcing they were reinstating the obligation to attend Mass starting the first weekend in June.
The statement was also signed by the bishops of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic and the Our Lady of Deliverance Syriac Catholic Diocese, which together have nearly 90 parishes in New Jersey and other states.
Though only 4.3 million people, or about half the state’s population, were fully vaccinated as of Thursday, the Catholic bishops are not giving unvaccinated people a free pass to stay home. They are also not making exceptions for children under 12, who are not eligible for vaccinations yet.
However, the obligation to attend in-person Masses does not apply to anyone who is sick or believes they could have COVID-19, the bishops said.
“This obligation does not apply to those who are ill; those who have reason to believe that they were recently exposed to the coronavirus or another serious or contagious illness; those who are confined to their home, a hospital, or nursing facility; or those with serious underlying health conditions,” the bishop’s statement said.
New Jersey, which has one of the largest percentage of Catholics in the nation, is among the last to lift its dispensations on attending Mass and ask people to return to in-person services.
Some dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Detroit, told Catholics they should start returning to in-person Masses in March when vaccines were beginning to be widely available. Other dioceses in Texas and Wisconsin lifted the dispensation last fall, before anyone was vaccinated.
Many parishes have taken a financial hit during the pandemic, with low attendance and a decrease in donations, and have struggled to get people to return to the pews.
In the Archdiocese of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan never officially gave Catholics a dispensation to skip in-person Masses during the pandemic. He has been telling Catholics for weeks, including in radio advertisements, that they should be back in church if they are going to restaurants, stores and social gatherings.
Under the Canon law that governs the Catholic Church, parishioners are obliged to attend Mass in person weekly and on the church’s holidays, including Easter and Christmas. In the Catholic church, it is considered a “grave sin” to skip Mass without a valid reason, such as illness.
It is understandable if some Catholics are torn over whether to return to in-person Masses if they are unvaccinated or still fearful about being in crowds, said Justin Anderson, an associate professor and chair of moral theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University.
“The obligation to attend Sunday Mass is one every Catholic needs to take seriously. Happily, we are not left alone here. If someone is in doubt about returning, then that person should contact her or his pastor,” Anderson said.
A priest can act as a sounding board, explain the safety protocols in place and, in certain circumstances, grant a special dispensation for people to skip in-person Masses despite the bishops’ directives.
But those who deliberately skip Sunday Mass without a valid health reason or consulting their pastor will be in violation of the Catholic Church’s rules, he said.
“In that case, yes it would be sinful. But if I really care about my spiritual health, at least as much as my physical and mental well-being, then why would I do that? I hope no one would,” Anderson said.
Those who do return to Mass this weekend will find some big changes in some New Jersey parishes.
The Diocese of Trenton — which includes Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties — is eliminating nearly all of its COVID-19 restrictions. Mask and social distancing requirements are lifted and churches can return to full capacity.
“Barriers, tape, cords to maintain social distancing may be removed,” the diocese announced. “Sanitizing of pews and other furnishing after each Mass may be discontinued.”
Though those distributing Holy Communion should continue to wear masks, parishioners can elect to have Communion wafers placed directly on their tongues again in the Diocese of Trenton parishes, officials said.
“Receiving Holy Communion in the hand continues to be strongly encouraged although Holy Communion may be received on the tongue as well,” the diocese said.
Distributing Communion wine in a shared chalice is still prohibited.
The Diocese of Paterson is also allowing parishioners to receive Communion wafers on their tongues, though they must wait until everyone else has finished Communion or until after the Mass, at the discretion of the priest, officials said.
However, the rules will not be the same in all Catholic churches across the state. The bishop in each diocese will decide when to lift COVID-19 restrictions, how to handle Communion and when to return to pre-pandemic church practices, church officials said.
The new rules also don’t apply to Catholic schools, which continue to operate with many of the same mask and social distancing rules as New Jersey public schools.
The Archdiocese of Newark, which includes Essex, Bergen, Hudson and Union counties, has also lifted mask restrictions for fully vaccinated people and eliminated all social distancing and capacity restrictions at Masses starting Saturday. But officials are leaving the details up to local pastors and administrators, who can impose stricter rules if they feel it is necessary.
“These may include wearing masks, social distancing and signing in for Mass or activities,” the Archdiocese of Newark’s new rules say.
Unlike the Diocese of Trenton, the Archdiocese of Newark is still prohibiting holy water in fonts and the distribution of Communion wafters directly into people’s mouths. The archdiocese is still requiring that people do not shake hands or touch during the Sign of Peace and churches must still sanitize their spaces after all Masses and events.
Music can also return to Masses, the Archdiocese of Newark said. Choirs will not be required to wear masks or social distance, musical instruments can be used again and shared hymnals will return to the pews.
“It still needs to be noted that even with precautions in place, it is still possible to contract COVID-19 in church. All liturgical ministers should be aware that as parishioners return to Mass, some are experiencing fear and anxiety,” the Archdiocese of Newark’s directive said.
In the Diocese of Camden — which includes Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and and Salem counties — most restrictions are being lifted. But church officials acknowledged not everyone is ready to return to the type of packed church services they had pre-pandemic.
“It is recommended that a section of pews be designated for those who would prefer to keep a greater distance,” the Diocese of Camden told its churches.
The Diocese of Metuchen, which is also lifting its social distancing and mask rules, also called for some pews to be set aside in its churches for people not ready to give up social distancing, officials said.
For those who can’t or won’t attend in person, most Catholic churches will continue livestreaming Masses on their websites or social media, a practice that started in most parishes when the state banned large gatherings in the spring of 2020.
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Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com.