By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Christmas is coming. This holiday year, traditionally high church attendance will collide with pandemic-imposed social distancing. The diocesan Office of Worship is offering suggestions on how to deal with that.
On Oct. 30, Deacon Modesto Cordero, director of the Office of Worship, sent out his latest in his series of helpful memos to parishes trying to navigate their liturgies through the coronavirus epidemic, this time during the Advent and Christmas seasons.
The message included the more detailed recommendations of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC).
One coronavirus accommodation Bishop Larry Silva is allowing this year is celebrating the Dec. 24 Christmas Vigil Mass as early as 4 p.m.
“This is to help parishes accommodate additional Masses as necessary and to allow ample time between Masses for the proper cleaning/sanitation after each Mass,” Deacon Cordero wrote. “Priests may celebrate three Christmas Masses per day under these circumstances.”
The memo reminded Catholics that the bishop extended his dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation through Dec. 31, although he urges attendance if it can be done safely.
Parishes may have their customary communal Advent reconciliation services as long as the safety protocols required by the diocese, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and local government are observed. These include the wearing of face masks and social distancing.
Because church capacity is limited at this time, an online reservation system, such as Eventbrite, is “highly recommended” to manage congregations, especially for Advent penance services and Christmas Masses.
To accommodate large numbers of worshippers, the FDLC suggested that parishes use other spaces around the parish campus in addition to the church, such as the gym.
It also recommended the use of all four Christmas Mass texts — Vigil Mass, Mass during the Night, Mass at Dawn, Mass during the Day. The Masses have different readings, corresponding to different points in the Christmas story.
The Office of Worship will send out advice regarding music (choirs, caroling, faithful participation) closer to the Christmas season or as soon as it gets “more directives from the local officials.” Present rules do not allow group or congregational singing.