Bishop Larry Silva, who turned 71 two weeks ago, continues to celebrate public Masses. Here he raises the chalice at the Mass for the 177th anniversary of the dedication of the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu. (Courtesy photo by Dann Ebina)
By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
For the third time since the coronavirus epidemic hit, Bishop Larry Silva has given to Hawaii Catholics an “extension of dispensation from Sunday Mass obligation.” This time it is through Oct. 31.
The dispensation is for “all the people of the Diocese of Honolulu and all visitors to the diocese.”
“All who are able to attend Sunday Mass without putting themselves or others at serious risk of infection are encouraged to do so, but are not obliged to do so,” he said.
Bishop Silva explained by email Aug. 10 to the Hawaii Catholic Herald why he is dispensing everyone from the obligation, even those not considered to be at high risk for infection.
“‘At-risk’ can be a rather subjective matter,” he said.
“When preparing the guidelines for in-person liturgies, some were urging me to forbid anyone over 65 from going to Mass. But there are some who are beyond that age who are very healthy and want to attend Mass if they can. So it really is up to each person to decide whether he or she is ‘at risk’ or may be putting others at risk,” he said.
The bishop, who turned 71 two weeks ago, continues to preside at public Masses.
Bishop Silva first canceled public liturgies on March 17 for two weeks, prompted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation that gatherings of 50 or more be canceled and the advice of local health and government officials.
He extended that ban until April 30 as the government pressed stricter “stay at home” orders, effectively canceling the public observance of Holy Week and Easter. He was not alone. Pope Francis and most diocesan bishops around the world did the same.
Public Masses in Hawaii returned on Pentecost weekend May 30-31 with strict rules that included the mandatory wearing of face-masks, social distancing and the sanitizing of pews and other frequently used surfaces.
“At first, when the churches were locked down and only live-streaming was permitted, I wanted people to know that they should not have any qualms of conscience about not attending Mass,” the bishop said.
“It is a serious obligation — and for most we hope it would be a joy — because it is our physical encounter with the risen Lord Jesus in Word and sacrament, which we need to nourish us for our mission of sharing his Good News with others and living it ourselves,” he said.
“Now that we have in-person services, but with restrictions to assure the health and safety of all, I dispensed from the obligation so that those who really feel they should not attend for health and safety reasons would not have qualms of conscience about missing Sunday Mass.”
The bishop’s first deadline for the Mass attendance dispensation was June 30. He extended that to Aug. 31 and again until Oct. 31. He said he has been using specific end dates because “we all look forward to a definitive end to this pandemic. Perhaps my setting an ending date for the dispensation is a way of expressing that hope.”
Bishop Silva has spoken to other bishops on this matter, he said, but “our local decisions are more influenced by our local leaders and our local situation with COVID-19.”
He still encourages livestream Mass viewing “for the convenience of those who choose to absent themselves physically from Mass at this time.” A Mass schedule is listed on the diocesan website catholichawaii.org.
Bishop Silva said he will end the dispensation “when the virus appears to be under control and no longer a clear and present danger to the community or the people who compose it.”
“We pray fervently that will be soon!” he said.
