British Columbia’s ban on indoor public worship didn’t dampen the spirits of Catholics across the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Aflame with faith and creativity, parishes opened their parking lots, rented tents, and prepared for an outdoor Easter they won’t soon forget.
Churches in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec were excited to learn they could open their doors to limited numbers of people for Easter this year, and British Columbians were hopeful they could also celebrate the holiest holiday of the year indoors.
Those hopes were dashed by health officials, who backpedalled on a plan to allow indoor religious gatherings four days after announcing it.
Parishes scrapped hastily arranged indoor services and scrambled to put alternate plans in place for limited outdoor events for those in vehicles.
Under current restrictions, religious groups are allowed outdoor gatherings of 50 cars (with passengers) and an additional 50 people. Private prayer, weddings, and funerals are allowed indoors with a maximum of 10 people.
The Easter custom of receiving new Catholics into full communion with the Catholic Church went on despite COVID restrictions. St. Patrick’s and St. Joseph’s parishes in Vancouver baptized and confirmed 22 people, welcoming them into the Church at outdoor vigils.
Many parishes streamed Masses online in addition to or in place of outdoor services, and young people in Langley filmed Easter greetings for all fellow Catholics at St. Nicholas Parish.
Spy or Holy Wednesday
Holy Thursday
Good Friday
Easter vigil
Easter Sunday
Go forth
Catholic communities also sprung into action this Easter, finding ways to share hope and joy with neighbours. St. John Paul II Academy students packaged 300 goodie bags with cookies (baked by the Helpers of St. Ann and St. Joachim) for the homeless.
Meanwhile, the annual Blooms to Rooms project by St. Joseph’s Parish in Port Moody delivered many cards and hundreds of flowers (including 500 carnations) to nearly a dozen seniors’ and long-term care homes in the area.
“We hope that we will be able to resume our personal visits next year,” said organizer Terry O’Neill. “For now, though, we are grateful for any opportunity, even if it is simply delivering flowers to the front door, to show our support for the sick and elderly.”
And The Door Is Open, a drop-in centre in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside that serves meals 365 days a year, did not take a break for the long weekend. Hot to-go lunches of duck legs and rice were served to all poor and homeless people who came by on Sunday.
Members of Catholic Street Missionaries were able to celebrate Easter with Mass and with a bit of outreach to the poor. Father Anthony Ho celebrated Mass with nine young adults at Strathcona Park on Sunday. After Mass, the volunteers were joined by Light of Jesus Ministry in giving out sandwiches, cookies, and chocolates to homeless people in the park.
How did your church community celebrate Easter this year? Write to us: [email protected].