Liturgical musician Joshua Kapika plays the guitar at Mass. (Photo courtesy of Dann Ebina)
By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
The Christmas church choir may again regain its traditional niche in the celebration of the season as long as that niche comes with Plexiglass and room for distancing.
Deacon Modesto Cordero, director of the Office of Worship, explained what is allowed and what isn’t in his latest pandemic memorandum to clergy and parishes dated Dec. 7.
The deacon said that “the use of a small choir is permitted during the Christmas season.” However, citing state regulations, he said singers must sing 10 feet away from the rest. Members of the singing group themselves may be closer than 10 feet apart while performing, provided the group consists of fewer than 10 persons.
Where “reasonable and practicable,” a physical barrier like Plexiglass should separate singers from everyone else, except members of the same performing group.
A cantor should also stay 10 feet from the congregation “as much as possible.”
Music allowed — in addition to the entrance, offertory, Communion and leavetaking hymns — include the Kyrie, Gloria, Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation and other Mass parts.
The congregation should not sing. Also banned are wind instruments.
Other Mass instructions by Deacon Modesto allow “simple” entrance and recessional processions and the use of altar servers.
Parishes may have communal penance services and schedule individual confessions. However, proper spacing between the penitent and priest must be observed while preserving absolute privacy for the penitent.
Not permitted is confession by phone or internet, or general absolution.
The memorandum repeated earlier regulations, including the mandatory wearing of masks or face shields by all persons participating in a Mass, including the priest.
Priests, deacons and commissioned extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may take Communion to the homebound, following proper hygiene procedures.
In-person church meetings are allowed for only five or fewer participants.
Priests are encouraged to livestream liturgies, especially for Christmas, via social media platforms. Many parishes are already streaming daily and Sunday Masses. For a list, visit catholichawaii.org.
In compliance with the governor’s regulations, funeral Masses in the presence of a body (casket) are not allowed. Funeral Masses must either be postponed or celebrated without the presence of the body.
Clergy may still offer the vigil for the deceased or a funeral liturgy outside Mass at the mortuary or funeral home, and a committal service at the cemetery.
A funeral Mass in the presence of an urn may still be celebrated before the committal.
