Parishioners are excited to attend Mass, see activities return
For current COVID-19 guidelines and policies in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, see archstl.org/coronavirus.
The announcement that their parish no longer is requiring masks for people who are fully vaccinated is just fine with Ed and Georgene Winkelmann, parishioners of Assumption in Mattese for 49 years.
“We have a personal identity back,” Ed said. His wife agreed, “You can see a smile on faces.”
The Winkelmanns have been back to attending Mass ever since a temporary ban on public Masses one year ago. They appreciated the subsequent social distancing and mask rules but now are excited the parish is gradually opening up for more events. “It’s an answer to our prayers,” Georgene said.
The Vautrains are among the families who centered their lives around the parish and its fellowship pre-COVID. They felt lost after most in-person activities were halted. “There’s no replacement for being here with our brothers and sisters,” Joshua Vautrain said. “We’re so excited for the summer and to be with the rest of the body.”
Vautrain said it was good to see that scientists came through with a vaccination. “To have a choice to not wear a mask and know we are safe is amazing. We’re so excited to come back and see everybody.”
Assumption offered donuts after Mass on May 23 in an outdoor space, a way of gradually but safely engaging Massgoers, “something to get people accustomed to doing stuff together again,” as parish pastor Father Thomas Keller described it. Paul Hesse helped with the donut setup and distribution. He attended Mass sans mask since he has been vaccinated and said he’s glad for a return to more activities.
It’s appropriate on Pentecost for “things to begin to ignite again,” Hesse said.
Father Keller said the parish is following Centers for Disease Control guidelines as in the past. Social distancing continues to be the norm, though that is expected to ease. Most people at the 10:30 a.m. Mass went without masks, but several parishioners wore them.
The parish pastor said there could be some people with vulnerable health attending Mass.
“There’s no rush, but we’re excited we’re headed in the right direction,” Father Keller said. “We have to take it each week at a time, you really can’t predict this impact on society. If we go to far too fast, we might make a mistake, if we take too long we can always catch up. Throughout this pandemic the operative word is prudence.”
He’s looking forward to the parish’s outdoor Mass and barbeque on June 5. There’s plenty of room on the grounds to spread out, he said.
St. Michael Parish in Shrewsbury posted updated Mass guidelines on its website, explaining that the mask mandate now only applies to the parish faithful who have not received full vaccination against the COVID-19 virus.
The parish asked parishioners to continue social distancing. At more crowded liturgies, particularly the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass or in groups where social distancing is not as possible, masks are encouraged for people.
In addition, as was the case at Assumption on May 23, some pews will continue to be closed off to encourage social distancing and the priest and deacon will continue to wear masks while distributing Holy Communion.
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