Emptying the holy water fonts is one of the recommendations of the diocesan Office of Worship to slow the spread of the coronavirus. This is the dry font at the main door of the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace on March 7. (HCH Photo: Patrick Downes)
By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Hawaii parishes took to heart the recommendations by the diocesan Office of Worship to suspend certain practices during Mass to deter the spread of the coronavirus.
Nearly all of the 38 pastors and parish administrators responding to an informal survey by the Hawaii Catholic Herald said last week they had stopped the distribution of the Precious Blood during Communion several weeks ago. All of them have also discouraged Communion on the tongue, holding hands during the Our Father and shaking hands during the sign of peace.
Most have also emptied their holy water fonts. The few parishes that still have holy water change it often.
Overall, people are adjusting to the changes.
“I observed that the congregation cooperated well,” said Blessed Sacrament Father Francisco De Los Reyes, pastor of Mary, Star of the Sea Church in Waialae-Kahala.
Father Pascual Abaya, rector of the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, said, “In as much as we inform our parishioners to observe these guidelines, they are just used to doing it even without thinking about it.”
Many parishes reported that a small number of people prefer, and still receive, Communion on the tongue. At the cathedral, they are urged to receive the host last.
“We would never ‘order’ anyone” to receive Communion on the hand, said Father Khanh Pham-Nguyen, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Honolulu, unless the diocese mandates it. Other pastors made similar statements.
Father William Kunisch suspended the sign of peace altogether at Resurrection Parish in Waipio, instead asking the people “to greet one another after Mass with friendly waves, warm smiles and fist bumps.”
Pastors are spreading the word through pulpit announcements, websites and projected images. Father Santiago Agoo at Sacred Heart Parish, Waianae, reprinted the full Office of Worship memorandum in the parish bulletin.
Father Peter Miti of St. John Vianney in Kailua said some of the new practices were “very awkward in the beginning” but became more and more accepted as the reality of the danger of the virus sinks in.
People are still coming to church, he said.
“You would think that numbers would drop tremendously, but so far they are holding up, the faithful are still attending Mass,” Father Miti said.
Holding hands while praying the Our Father used to be more prevalent than it is today, so for some parishes it is not even an issue. Father Edgar Brillantes of Our Lady of the Mount Parish in Kalihi Valley said, “We have been praying the Our Father since some years back with raised hands without holding hands.”
Father Marlon Belmonte, administrator at Sacred Hearts, Naalehu, and Holy Rosary, Pahala, said regarding a physical sign of peace, “We keep discouraging people, but this parish ohana is close-knit. They love to shake and embrace each other to exchange peace.”
“So far,” he said, “parishioners are faithful in attending weekend celebrations. There’s no considerable decrease of attendance just yet. Thanks be to God.”
Msgr. Terrence Watanabe at St. Theresa Parish, Kihei, is flexible with the sign of peace. “We are asking people to use their own judgment in sharing the sign of peace,” he said. “If they don’t want to do it, then don’t. We are asked to respect everyone’s choices.”
Father Alapaki Kim, pastor of St. Rita Parish in Nanakuli, reported that “before every Mass the whole church is disinfected, doors, doorknobs, chairs, microphones, missalettes, air conditioning touch pads, musical instruments, such as piano keyboard. We also ask anyone who feels even a little sick to stay home and watch Mass on EWTN.”
At St. Augustine Parish in Waikiki, parishioners have begun to wipe down the pews and door handles after each weekend Mass. “It’s amazing the number of people who volunteered to help, even visitors,” said pastor Sacred Hearts priest Father Lane Akiona. “Many are appreciative that we are taking proactive measures. We’ve extended those measures in our parish office, with staff and especially with our homeless population when serving lunch.”
