We are grateful that government leaders recognize that the work of churches is essential. In New Jersey, which has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 virus, we continue to work with local public health officials and follow the directives of the State of New Jersey to ensure that our people will be safe when we reopen.
In the Diocese of Camden, the work to open our churches to public Mass has already been in process for several weeks. Knowing this would happen sooner rather than later, in early May the diocese began to advise the pastors of our 62 parishes. Pastors were provided substantial information to consider how to reopen their churches and were given until May 29 to submit their plan to Bishop Dennis Sullivan for approval.
Each plan will be reviewed for social distancing concerns, cleaning, and logistics related to health department requirements. Once the plans are reviewed and approved by the Diocese, which includes ensuring they meet state and local health department directives, and the parishes are ready to accommodate the faithful while in compliance with the mandates for the protection of people who gather in an assembly, then churches will be able to reopen for public Mass.
We expect that the Mass will look somewhat different than it looked in early March before the pandemic hit New Jersey – likely with limited capacity due to social distancing and other requirements. With this in mind, we ask for patience among clergy and faithful alike as we move into this new phase of living with COVID-19.
For more insight into the decisions that have been made and will be made, please read Bishop Sullivan’s column in this week’s Catholic Star Herald: https://www.camdendiocese.org/suspension-of-masses-was-just-and-necessary-bishop-sullivan/.
Michael Walsh
Director of Communications
Diocese of Camden