Weekend Masses Resume at Our Lady of the Assumption Church

Woodbridge, CT - Across the Hartford diocese, weekend Masses resumed during the holiday weekend. A vigil Mass was celebrated on Saturday and three Masses were celebrated on Sunday at Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church on Center Road.

Many modifications were made for Mass attendance in order to keep everyone safe, from where to enter the sanctuary, where to sit and how many parishioners were allowed to attend each Mass. Rev. Christopher M. Ford, the pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption, said that it felt as if he were being asked to do the opposite of everything he has practiced during his years in priestly duty.

Deacon John “Jack” Mordecai was in attendance, along with a small group of volunteers that helped to facilitate all of the details of the new normal. There was hand sanitizer available at the entrances, as well as paper masks for anyone who may have forgotten to bring their own. Newly purchased wooden collection boxes were placed at the exits; there is reportedly a shortage of this type of box for churches that can no longer pass the collection basket.

The 9:30am Mass was attended by a total of 65 persons, including the celebrants and the musicians, putting the number well below the limit of 100 persons. The vigil Mass on Saturday had far less, with less than 40 people. The photographs were taken thirty minutes before the 9:30 Mass began. Parishioners were welcomed heartily as the entered by the northeast and southwest doors, but Fr. Ford mentioned that he may change this to eliminate the northeast entrance and use the doors opposite that are nearest to the organ.

Alternate rows were roped off to promote social distancing for parishioners that were not members of the same family. Pews and single seats were clearly marked with blue "Please sit here" markers, making it easy to know were persons should sit.

There was a plexi-glass screen at the altar and the lectern and the microphones made it easy to hear the speakers. Dr. Keith Smolinski and the soloist Elizabeth Smolinski provided the music for the Mass, which included some patriotic hymns. Unfortunately, no choral music is allowed at this point; that was the by far the hardest part for this member of the OLOA adult choir.

Everyone wore a mask for the entire celebration of the Eucharist, except to place the Communion wafer in their mouth. Fr. Ford offered detailed instructions on how parishioners should proceed to receive Communion if they wished. Considering that it was the first run through, the reception of Communion went smoothly.

The Mass schedule for both weekday and weekend Masses at OLOA is below.

WEEKDAYS:
MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY
NO MASS ON THURSDAYS
MOTHER CHURCH (1700 LITCHFIELD TURNPIKE)
9:00 A.M.
SATURDAYS: 8:30 A.M.

WEEKEND MASSES:
5:00 P.M. (CENTER ROAD)
8:00 A.M. (CENTER ROAD CHURCH)
9:30 A.M. (CENTER ROAD)
11:30 A.M. (CENTER ROAD)

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
SATURDAYS: 4:00 TO 4:45 P.M. (CENTER ROAD)
OR BY APPOINTMENT