Reopening RI: Churches To Be Limited To 25 Percent Capacity

PROVIDENCE, RI — In-person faith gatherings are expected to resume in Rhode Island starting the weekend of May 30. Gov. Gina Raimondo said she has been in contact with faith leaders from around the state when creating regulations, who have been working to reach agreements on how to worship while keeping everyone safe.

Once services resume, gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 25 percent of the building's capacity, Raimondo said. While this sounds like a small number, she said, large churches could see more than 100 attendees under this new regulation. Funerals and weddings will operate under this model, as well.

"We are going to have to adapt together," Raimondo said, saying that she and he family will begin attending Catholic Mass again once churches reopen. "we will wear a mask, we will bring hand sanitizer and we will follow the rules."

At Catholic and other Christian churches, Holy Communion will be distributed, though shared wine chalices will be off-limits for now.

The most important thing for the faithful to remember is not to come to service if they feel unwell, Raimondo said.

"It's not worth the risk," she said.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence announced Wednesday that Masses will resume over the weekend of May 30, which marks the feast of Pentecost.

"The re-opening of our churches for public worship, even with the necessary restrictions, is a moment of grace for all of us," Bishop Thomas Tobin said in a statement. "Our priority is to do all that we reasonably can to protect the health of our people, priests, and liturgical ministers while also providing the salvific grace of the Holy Mass and the sacraments which, for believers, is indeed an essential service, allowing us to share in the life of Christ and opening for us the doors of eternal life."

Strict regulations will be in place to ensure the safety of all attendees, including the following.

• Masks must be worn at all times, with the exception of receiving communion.
• Singing will be limited.
• Parishioners will be asked to sanitize their hands immediately upon entering the church.
• Pews will be sectioned off to keep six feet of distance between parishioners.
• Churches will be sanitized after each service.
• The elderly, frail and those with underlying health conditions are asked to follow the recommendations from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention and Rhode Island Department of Health and not attend services.

Patch editor Scott Souza contributed to this report.