Joliet Diocese: Plan To Reopen Churches Revealed

JOLIET, IL — The Catholic Diocese of Joliet announced plans Thursday to allow churches to resume holding Mass as well as offering baptism, reconciliation, weddings and funerals as part of a phased reopening. The diocese includes parishes in Will, DuPage, Grundy, Kendall, Kankakee, Iroquois and Ford counties.

According to Thursday's announcement, posted on the diocese's website, Phase I would allow parishes to reopen with a limit of 10 people, but not include Mass.

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"It is anticipated that all parishes, if they choose to do so, could be opened by May 23 for Phase I and by May 30 for Phase IA," the statement reads.

Phase I would allow parishes to reopen for baptism, reconciliation, weddings and funerals with a limit of 10 attendees. Phase IA would allow for private prayer and adoration, also with a 10-person limit.

"Phase II allows for reopening for weekday and weekend Masses for larger groups depending on the guidelines from the state and the capacity of the church building," according to the diocese.

"Through ongoing discussions with pastors, health care professionals and civil authorities, there will be a review of the plan at each stage with an eye to making adjustments in accord with new data," Bishop Richard Pates' office said.

Thursday's announcement from the Joliet diocese indicates that at the start of Phase I, "parishes will not be allowed to offer either daily or Sunday Mass, even with 10 or fewer attendees. The resumption of public Mass, regardless of the number of attendees, is a more complex process, which requires the input of lessons that will be learned from Phase I. To that end, parishes and the diocese will collaborate to gather data to improve the protocols and processes of the Plan before we move to worship services in Phase II."

Before moving into Phase I, parishes must recruit "non-vulnerable volunteers" to help their pastor implement the plan, and volunteers must undergo training via a webinar starting the week of May 18. Each parish must obtain a "certification of readiness to reopen" before moving forward.

The plan also has four "guiding principles," including an acknowledgment that "the current situation in Illinois remains dangerous and fragile. While much has been achieved, there remains the potential that the gains could be lost by a second more virulent wave. "

In a letter posted on the diocese website Thursday, Pates reminded people that Mass is being livestreamed six days a week at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sundays from the Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet.

"These celebrations surely are not the same as gathering in our churches for Mass, but I know from hearing from many parishioners that they provide a great deal of solace and support in this time of uncertainty," Joliet's bishop wrote. "We must be honest about the coronavirus. We expect this situation to continue for some weeks, and any plan for reopening our Churches for public worship must include every precaution to ensure public safety."

Read the Diocese of Joliet reopening plan:

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