GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Diocese of Green Bay recently sent out a survey, to gauge how many people plan to attend Christmas mass this week.
Christmas draws out the largest crowds of the year, but that also creates a problem in 2020, because of the pandemic.
“That’s who the church is and what the church is all about, is worshiping as a community,” parishioner David DeGrave said. “We all come together and we worship together, that’s part of who we are as human beings.”
But like so many other things changed by the coronavirus pandemic, the diocese of Green Bay is being forced to adapt.
“Because of the social distancing, we’re going to have less capacity,” Fr. Brian Belongia explained.
Usually the church sees about a 40% increase in attendance for Christmas masses. This year, they’re anticipating about half of that.
FOX 11 asked Fr. Belongia if the church might need to turn people away on Christmas Day.
“Possibly, we do everything we can to make use of all the spaces in choir lofts and other rooms we might have available. We don’t want to have to turn people away, but if we do fill to capacity we don’t have much of a choice.”
Fr. Belongia goes on to say.
“4 o’clock has generally been considered the time that you can start a mass for the next day, so for the celebration of Christmas this year, by exception, the bishop is allowing it to start earlier in order to make other opportunities for people in less crowds.”
The church is offering extra mass times to make room for the larger crowds and Bishop David Ricken has dispensed the obligation for Green Bay Catholics to attend mass at this time, because of the pandemic.
“We’d rather have you be safe then come out and contract something,” Fr. Belongia said.
“There was plenty of warning about it and they encourage people who can’t attend to do the live stream masses,” parishioner Barb Strutz added.
Live stream has become a regular occurrence for those of the Jewish faith in Green Bay too. Rabbi Moishe Steigmann of Congregation Cnesses Israel says the area synagogue has been virtual since March.
“The majority of synagogues in Wisconsin actually are closed, there are some synagogues which are doing small group gatherings or religious services, I do not know of any that did an in-person gathering for Hanukkah,” Rabbi Steigmann told FOX 11.
For Christians looking to find a mass time, click here and then click on the “Find a Mass” button.
Church leaders also recommend parishioners call their local parish ahead of time, as some are requiring families to sign up for a mass time.
