RI Bishop Discourages Drive-Thru Palm Distribution: Coronavirus

PROVIDENCE, RI — Catholic churches around Rhode Island are canceling plans to offer "drive-through" pickup of blessed palms for Palm Sunday following new guidance from the state's Department of Health and Bishop Thomas Tobin.

Several churches, including St. Mary's parish in Newport, announced that they would be offering palm branches blessed with holy water — a Palm Sunday tradition in the Catholic Church — in the parking lot with minimal contact. On Friday, Tobin said the health department and Gov. Gina Raimondo had advised against it.

"Governor Raimondo and the Department of Health have directed that palm branches not be made available for individual pick-up at our churches this Sunday. I urge our parishes to comply," Tobin said in a statement.

So as not to waste the palm branches, St. Mary's will be making small crosses to give to parishioners once the church is allowed to reopen.

"More sad news. We cannot distribute Palm Branches this year due to the Governor’s stricter stay at-home regulations," the church's pastor wrote on Facebook. "Once the packages of palms are opened they immediately begin to dry out. But there is always a plan B. We’ll make small crosses from the blessed palms and distribute them to households once we are all back to normal."

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