People Slowly Return to Mass

Pentecost Sunday was the first Sunday Mass since March 20, 2020, when parishioners were welcomed back inside the church. While many parishes remained open for limited hours for prayer, confessions and adoration, the public celebration of the Mass was suspended due to state restrictions as well as safety and health concerns.

Before the return to public Mass, parishes worked diligently to implement safety protocols, communicate to their parish communities and have masks and hand sanitizer on hand for attendees.

“It’s so good to not celebrate Mass in an empty church,” said Bishop Bradley during his Pentecost Sunday homily. “It’s a relief — a sense that we’re making some progress — to be able to come together, especially on this great and solemn Feast of Pentecost, and to be able to share in the actual reception of the precious Gift of the Eucharist, from whom you have all been separated for close to three months.”

While the parishes are allowed to have 25 percent capacity, a recent survey of all 59 parishes, found that very few have met or surpassed that limit. However, attendance is high for those parishes offering outdoor Masses, including St. Mary Visitation Parish, Byron Center, which has counted as many as 450 people at its Sunday “parking lot Mass.” Parishes that had to postpone First Communions are celebrating those during the summer and fall months.

The survey revealed other interesting statistics such as:

Two parishes have reached 25% capacity since May 27.
Parishes are seeing an average of 75 parishioners at Sunday Mass with the highest number of Mass attendees being at outdoor Mass.
14% of our parishes use a reservation system.
36 parishes live stream Mass; those not offering are advertising live stream opportunities to parishioners.
8 parishes offer outdoor Mass (which trend to higher attendance than indoor).

For updated guidelines visit: www.diokzoo.org/return
For a complete list of live stream Masses, visit: www.diokzoo.org/live
For a list of parishes offering outdoor Masses, visit: www.diokzoo.org/outdoor