Setting up liturgical norms back in place slowly

For several Sundays during the first stage of the quarantine period, Eucharistic Liturgy in most churches was celebrated via live streaming using popular internet platforms. Other parish churches were already practicing live streaming via Facebook or YouTube before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Rites were performed according to the norms of the liturgical rubrics without any adjustments.

Within the quarantine or lockdown period, parishioners would only drop the offerings, donations, and pledges at specific points provided within the church premises. It may be in the form of checks or cash envelopes if not made online using credit cards or other means of transfer. Reading a spiritual communion prayer was the only choice as a substitute to receive the Eucharist during communion rites.

As an initial attempt, Communion was provided after the mass or those who participated in the live stream liturgy every particular schedule. It was called a “little baby step” by Fr John Muir our Pastor at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church (Read full article)

The next step was the re-opening of the church but with strict observance of safety protocols. Movements and flow of people going in and going out were ushered, wearing of masks were encourage, markings were on floors. Liturgical Rites were adjusted, like the Offertory and the Communion were made after the final blessings.

I counted the people already inside the church munites before the entrance procession begun was roughly 157 in number. Mostly, a family of three to six members or married couples were sitting in groups or but social distancing was apparent among other persons or in another group. ( Read Article)

Due to social distancing, the Presider’s and the Deacon’s chairs were rearranged with the Credence table immediately at the side of the Altar. Temporarily placed for almost six to seven steps behind the Altar are the Tabernacle and the Vigil lamp. All parts of the Liturgy of the Word were held at the Altar.

On Trinity Sunday (June 7, 2020), another new attempt made was to restore some parts of the liturgy to its proper norm. This time, the Liturgy of the Word was performed at the Ambo,  and the Liturgy of the Eucharist was done solely at the Altar. Two cameras were prepared, one each  for the Altar and Ambo for live streaming.

Until this time, there were no altar servers – the crucifer, candle, and thurible bearers were participating, but only the Presider and a Deacon are in the entrance procession.  In the previous liturgy, I noticed an altar server joined the entrance procession with the Presider and the Deacon.

Previous arrangement for the entrance and the exits was still carried on for the offertory, and the Communion. My recent observation, however, was that the marks on the floors of the aisles were not visibly comfortable to give the communicants enough view to notice these marks to keep a six feet distance from one another during Communion.

I wish it could be better when additional markers should be placed at the sidewalls of the pews corresponding to the marks on the floor aisles. Hence, Ushers might help facilitate the movement of people to observe designated marks provided.