‘It’s a great joy’ — Miami Catholic churches reopen after 2 months of coronavirus closure

Miami Catholic churches reopened to larger-than-expected crowds on Tuesday, the first day of in-person Masses since the Archdiocese of Miami suspended services in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We had more than usual, than the usual weekday, because our parishioners had not been to Mass in two and a half months,” said Father Manny Alvarez, the pastor at Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables, which held a funeral Mass on Tuesday amid crowds.

Father Roberto Cid, pastor at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Miami Beach, said he had slightly more participants than a pre-coronavirus weekday. Father Richard Vigoa of St. Augustine Church in Coral Gables said they had more than expected and came 20 seats short of meeting the church’s new reduced capacity.

“The people are anxious to come back,” Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski said Tuesday. “They didn’t lose the habit of coming to church.”

The Archdiocese of Miami suspended in-person Masses on March 18, due to the outbreak of coronavirus in Florida. On May 18, Wenski announced in a letter that churches could resume in-person services on Tuesday.

Masses at the five Catholic churches in the Florida Keys resumed over the Memorial Day weekend starting with Saturday night vigils.

In the letter announcing the reopening, Wenski instructed churches to maintain 6 feet separation among parishioners, except for members who live together. Parishioners also must wear masks, except for when receiving Communion. Churches are operating at between 25 and 30 percent capacity.

“If anyone disagrees about the necessity of wearing a face mask; I would ask that person to wear it anyway – out of respect for and charity toward their fellow parishioners,” Wenski wrote in his letter.

The letter stated priests will not wear masks except when distributing Communion. Wenski said parishioners can receive Communion in their hands or mouth, but only priests would be drinking out of the chalice cup.

Cid said all of his parishioners wore masks and complied with the other rules in place.

“It’s a great joy and there was great anticipation,” Cid said. “People were generally very happy to be able to come to Mass today.”

Vigoa said he had no issues with compliance on Tuesday. He said that while some people may be voicing concerns, everyone who went to Mass “couldn’t wait to come back” and “by no means want it to be closed again.” He said people cried while receiving Communion.

According to the letter, churches removed hymnals, prayer books, holy water and offertory baskets. Churches and their facilities will be sanitized between services and hand sanitizers will be available at church entrances.

The letter instructs parishioners not to hold hands during Mass or gather after Mass has ended.

Wenski said he is not concerned about Mass goers not complying with the new regulations.

“I think people that come to Mass are not like people who are going to the – what’s that place – the rave festival,” Wenski said, laughing. “I think we’re going to have pretty good compliance. And, you know, if somebody wanted to be stubborn about not wearing a face mask or something, their neighbor’s grandmother will probably give them the stink eye and… they’ll put on the mask pretty quick.”

Wenski said the purpose of social distancing, including suspending in-person Masses, was to “flatten the curve” and ensure hospitals weren’t overwhelmed with coronavirus cases. He said now that that has been accomplished, churches can open back up as essential businesses.

“[We’re] certainly much more essential than the liquor store down the street,” Wenski said.

Before resuming in-person Masses, churches were holding services online. Many will continue to livestream Masses for those who feel uncomfortable attending in person.

But Wenski said online Masses aren’t a true substitute for in-person celebrations.

“The social distancing has been a real trial, a real cross for most people because we’re not made to be isolated, to be alone,” Wenski said. “As a community of faith, we need each other. And that’s basically why livestreaming or socially distancing ain’t gonna do it for the long term.”

Wenski said churches opened Tuesday to prepare for larger crowds this coming Sunday, which is Pentecost Sunday.

Vigoa said St. Augustine has a reservation system for Sunday Masses. Those who wish to attend must reserve their spot online in advance, and Vigoa expects to be at capacity for all Masses this weekend. Additionally, there is overflow seating in the parish hall, where a wall can collapse to give people a view into the church.

At St. Patrick, those who are unable to get a seat in the church can sit inside their cars and listen to Mass over the sound system installed outside the church. A priest will administer Communion to those outside on the sidewalk.

In his letter, Wenski said those who are sick or have flu-like symptoms have to stay home. He urged those who are “frail” because of age or underlying health conditions, as well as their caretakers, to observe Mass from home.

Catholic Churches were not the first places to reopen for in-person services in Miami.

Shabbir Motorwala, a founding member of the Coalition of South Florida Muslim Organization, said mosques in South Florida started opening last week and are operating at about 25 percent capacity.

Motorwala said all mosques have asked children, the elderly, people with symptoms, people with preexisting conditions and women to stay home for the time being. He said women don’t have to be in mosques to pray and therefore have been asked to stay home while capacity is reduced.

Motorwala said those coming to mosques for prayer must wear a face mask, bring their own prayer rug, be socially distanced from others and have their temperature taken before entering the mosque. People must also leave as soon as prayer is over.

“The health of the people comes first,” Motorwala said.

While the Catholic churches have reopened, other faiths have postponed reopening.

Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale, a major Evangelical church, has not said when it plans to reopen.

“Because of the size ... of some of our campus locations, we’re taking some extra preparations to create a plan that is both safe for you and honoring to our city officials,” Pastor Doug Sauder said in a video message.

In the meantime, they are hosting a series of open-air gatherings titled “Summer Nights,” for congregants who want to get together for prayer in person with their church community. They will be limited capacity and the first one is planned for 7 p.m. June 20.

Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church is also delaying its plans to reopen until June 21, and has published a detailed list of guidelines guests must follow if they are planning to attend.

Though the church specified the reopening will happen in phases, they will fill up the building to 50 percent capacity.

Face coverings are mandatory for all congregants and anyone who is elderly or has a health condition that renders them vulnerable to infection is encouraged to stay home. Anyone with COVID-19-like symptoms will not be allowed inside.

Offering plates will not be passed, and communion will not be served during the church’s initial reopening phase.

The Rev. Canon John Tidy of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida said an extended closure notice will go out within the next day announcing that Episcopal churches will remain closed until at least the end of June for in-person worship and other activities.

“We don’t see the conditions are yet right and safe, in terms of the statistics,” Tidy said. “Our concern is simply to promote public health.”

Synagogues are making individual decisions about when and how to reopen, according to Rabbi Frederick Klein, executive vice president of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami.

“I do not know of any synagogue that under the banner of ‘religious freedom’ is just opening their doors. This is a recipe for disaster, and for any religious institution to just open their door is irresponsible,” Klein wrote in an email to the Miami Herald. “The governor did not expressively forbid religious gatherings, but all the faith leaders are exercising responsible leadership.”

Klein wrote that opening a synagogue without “any process or protecting the vulnerable is a violation of Jewish ethics of protecting the sanctity of life.”

One of the largest Orthodox synagogues in the county, Shul of Bal Harbour, will reopen Friday under stringent conditions.

Miami Herald Staff Writer Carli Teproff contributed to this report.

This story was originally published May 26, 2020 at 11:13 PM.