ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Amid widespread COVID-19 closures, dozens of parishes were forced to shut their doors and shift services online. But now, for the first time since March, Lehigh Valley Catholics are able to attend mass in person.
There is no Holy Water and shared hymnals have been removed. The Allentown Diocese is resuming in-person mass at 25% capacity. And spokesman Matt Kerr says priests are being trained in new safety protocols like how to safely distribute Holy Communion and maintain social distance.
“Everyone has to wear a mask in church, they are only seated in every third pew. There is social distancing so if you sit in pew one then no one sits in the next pews until pew four. Now a family can sit together but if there are people in that pew that are not part of your family, they have to be six feet apart left to right,” said Kerr.
Kerr says many have been eager to return to their places of worship.
“With all that is going on, the fact that we will be fed spiritually is very important. That’s how people get through these things; the pandemic and the unrest and all of that is spiritual.”
Kerr says those who do not feel safe or have compromising health conditions are encouraged to stay home. Parishes under the Allentown Diocese will continue offering virtual mass for the near future.