Parishes scramble to offer Mass as B.C. allows limited church openings

This story is developing and may be updated. Last updated May 27 at 4 p.m.

Archbishop J. Michael Miller of Vancouver says it’s “good news” that churches are being allowed to open to a maximum of 50 people under the latest pandemic restrictions update, but a shortage of details has contributed to confusion as parishes scramble to offer public Masses this weekend.

“It is with gratitude to God that we welcome the announcement that churches can reopen. For months we have been praying for our return to worship with a congregation,” he said.

“During this time, the Catholic community has been unable to participate fully in its sacramental and liturgical life. Gathering together at Mass is important primarily for spiritual reasons but also for the social dimension that so many have been deprived of.”

He added that he remains committed to “working with government authorities to ensure that participation in communal and parish life takes place as safely as possible. The government has expressed openness to making further improvements to these orders, which I welcome.”

New variances to existing health orders were issued Wednesday by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry but were only published online Thursday afternoon.

The orders say indoor worship services are permitted with a maximum of 50 people. Religious leaders, readers, musicians, and others are included in the 50-person maximum, although two additional people may be present for the purpose of helping churches comply with restrictions.

Everyone participating in worship services must be pre-registered with full names and contact information, says the variance. They must also wear a face covering, keep two metres away from people of different households, and pass a health check as defined by WorkSafeBC.

One soloist and up to five musicians are allowed, but choirs are not. Members of the congregation are told not to sing or chant.

Funerals and baptisms held in the context of a regular worship service are subject to these guidelines. If they are held as separate events, they are limited to 10 people excluding an event organizer and staff. Weddings are considered separate events.

Multiple services can be held in one day and even in different spaces at the same time as long as participants of separate services do not mingle and there is time between services for cleaning.

An updated variance on outdoor worship continues to limit services to 50 people with similar guidelines on masks, distancing, health checks, and singing.

There are no expiration dates on the variances.

The delay in releasing the information to church communities resulted in confusion at parishes after the Vancouver Sun published an interview with Henry Wednesday in which she announced the indoor worship changes.

The B.C. government released its provincial reopening plan, B.C.’s Restart, Tuesday at a May 25 press conference, outlining four stages of re-opening social gatherings, events, fitness, and other activities. But officials had a lot more to say about reopening bars and restaurants than the return of in-person religious gatherings. Religious worship was mentioned in a single line: officials will “work with faith-based leaders to bring back in-person worship services.”

On Thursday afternoon, with less than two days before weekend services, the government finally clarified how religious communities could get back indoors.

Archbishop Miller had been consulted on restart plans in the past, but was not informed what they would be or when they would come into effect prior to May 27.

Flyn Ritchie, publisher of the online publication Church for Vancouver, reached out to Catholic, Alliance, Anglican, Christian Reformed, and other denominations. Most seemed unaware of the coming changes, prompting him to wonder who had been consulted.

As of Thursday, B.C. officials had not explained why they chose a 50-person limit, rather than the Alberta government’s model which limits religious gatherings to 15 per cent of church capacity.

Despite the confusion, parishes were excited about the opportunity to return to indoor worship, with parishes receiving inquiries about how to register for Mass even before the indoor worship news had been officially released.

The overall reaction at St. James Parish in Abbotsford was one of excitement, said secretary Teresa Filiatrault. “Parishioners are very ready to come back to church! There has been some confusion because of the update given on Tuesday where information about churches opening up was somewhat vague ... but once it was clarified that this was a go, there was definitely excitement. They are all very eager to register.”

Meanwhile, Superintendent Deacon Henk Luyten of the Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese said a preliminary look at the Restart plan did not seem to make any significant changes to the way Catholic schools operate. Likely the possibility of allowing indoor gatherings of up to 50 people by June 15 is giving graduates some hope, though Deacon Luyten added schools should look to the Ministry of Education for those guidelines.

Step 1 of the plan, which began Tuesday, allows personal gatherings of up to 10 people outdoors and up to five indoors.

Organized gatherings (religious worship excluded) indoors are permitted with up to 10 people, and 50 outdoors.

Henry announced Step 2, which would move ahead if case numbers and hospitalizations continue to decline and 65 per cent of people over the age of 18 are vaccinated with a first dose, could begin June 15. It would allow outdoor personal gatherings and indoor organized gatherings with up to 50 participants and open recreational travel across B.C.

Step 3, which Henry predicted could start July 1 (with 70 per cent of people over 18 vaccinated with a first dose), would make mask use recommended, not mandatory.

Indoor and outdoor personal gatherings would return to normal, indoor and outdoor organized gatherings would increase capacity, and if all goes well, recreational travel could open across Canada. At that time bingo halls, casinos, and nightclubs could operate at limited capacity and sports events could allow limited indoor spectators.

Step 4, which could potentially begin Sept. 7, would make mask use a personal choice and return to normal social connections including increased capacity at large gatherings such as concerts, fully re-opened workplaces, and a return to normal sports competitions including large numbers of outdoor and indoor spectators.

Full details on the four-step plan here and on current restrictions here.

What do religious gathering restrictions look like in other provinces?

Current as of May 26. Please note that the pandemic situation and restrictions are always changing.

ALBERTA

Areas deemed “high case” have a 15-person limit; low-case areas are open to 15 per cent of fire code occupancy.

SASKATCHEWAN

Limit of 30 per cent of seating capacity or a maximum of 150 people.

MANITOBA

Faith gatherings are suspended. There is a limit of 10 people for funerals, weddings, baptisms.

ONTARIO

Limit of 10 people for weddings, funerals, and other services, rites, ceremonies, whether indoor or outdoor. Limit of 5 people for outdoor receptions.

QUEBEC

Level 1 (lowest risk) and Level 2 areas: Maximum 250 people in places of worship. Weddings and funerals are limited to 50 people.

Level 3 areas: Maximum 100 participants in places of worship with distancing and masks. Funerals and weddings limited to 25 people.

Level 4 (highest risk) areas: Funerals limited to 25 people. Maximum 25 people in places of worship for weddings and other events too, with distancing and masks.

NEW BRUNSWICK

Limit of 50 per cent maximum occupancy.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Limit of 50 people for organized gatherings. Can apply for and get approval for up to 200 people.

Weddings and funerals can have two cohorts of 50 people in approved venues. Wedding receptions and retirement gatherings are limited to 50 people (can’t have multiple cohorts). Organized events in personal homes are not permitted.

NOVA SCOTIA

“Faith gatherings” not allowed. Weddings and funerals are limited to 5 people, not including officiant. Receptions and visitation not allowed.

Gathering indoors and outdoors only with your household without distancing and masks.

Mental health and addictions support groups limited to 10. 

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Level 2 (most of the province): formal gatherings are limited to 100 people.

Level 4 (northeast coast of Newfoundland): funerals, weddings, religious ceremonies are limited to 10 people including the officiant.

YUKON

Limit of 200 people with distancing and if indoors, masks. Same goes for funerals. Weddings indoor or outdoor in venue up to 200, but 20 if at private home.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Indoor funerals not allowed. Outdoor limit of 50 people.

NUNAVUT

Maximum 100 people or 75 per cent of fire capacity for gatherings at places of worship.