While the Diocese of Pittsburgh announced they will soon be allowing attendance at Masses, the Butler Area Catholic Churches will be holding off for a while.
According to a release, the churches are not opening to the public for worship services, but will instead allow parishioners to receive communion at weekend Masses.
The new policy will start the weekend of June 6th.
The five Catholic churches in Butler will open their doors to the public and priests will distribute communion. Father Kevin Fazio is asking that the public not arrive until the time for communion in order to avoid crowds gathering during the mass. He also asks that people wear masks.
St. Fidelis will distribute communion during their 5 p.m. Saturday Mass and then the remaining four parishes, Saint Peter, Paul, Michael, and Andrew’s will distribute communion during their 10 a.m. Sunday Mass.
This announcement comes after the Diocese of Pittsburgh announced that churches could reopen for daily Mass with no more than 25 people in attendance. That policy is the same for weddings, funerals, and baptisms.
The Diocese also said that starting Saturday June 6th and June 7th—churches are allowed to open for weekend masses at about 25 percent capacity. The Diocese says that will allow parishioners to maintain social distancing.
Parishioners will also be required to wear masks and use hand saniztizer.
Bishop David Zubik says the dispensation from Sunday Mass remains in effect and that live streaming the services will continue.
“I ask for your continued prayers and patience as we find our way back home to our churches together,” Bishop Zubik said. “I’d also like to offer a word of appreciation for our clergy and their parish teams for all their hard work. I know they are eager to celebrate Mass together once again, as am I.”