New guidance for places of worship

Their online offerings include Sunday school, youth check-in, online bible study, nightly prayer, and Sunday mass.

“And we have folks tune in from our sister congregation in Brooks and Bow Island and I had former parishioners tune in from across the country. We even have folks here in Medicine Hat who sent invitations to old friends to join us who now live in Mexico. So it’s been an interesting virtual gathering.”

He says they have a larger congregation than 50 people.

And they would have to have three services on a Sunday with cleaning and scrubbing the church in between.

Pollard says vulnerable attendees and seniors would also be at risk to gather.

“We have a number of folks in their 80’s and 90’s who worship with us and the guideline for them would be to stay at home and we would miss them terribly.”

The guidelines also indicate congregational singing a high-risk activity and is not allowed.

“We have many people in our choir and our congregation that love to sing and so it wouldn’t really feel like church unless people are to sing hymns. The third thing is we have a large Sunday school and youth ministry and those activities aren’t allowed under the new guidelines and so with that in mind we’ve chosen to be closed for a little while longer.”

Pollard says they will hold a funeral if requested by following the guidelines.

Meantime, St. Patrick’s Church will also not hold public masses under the direction of the Diocese of Calgary.

Father Tomy Manjaly says funerals, however, can be held with 50 people while physical distancing.

And funeral services must be held at a funeral home.

The full set of AHS places of worship guidelines can be seen by visiting this link.

by Chantal Wagner

New guidance for places of worship

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