A year later, a more traditional Easter on the North Shore - Itemlive - Daily Item

Parishioners had just left St. Pius V Church in Lynn after last Sunday’s 11:30 a.m. Mass, and palms had been distributed. But there was a buzzing sound coming from the back of the church that sounded like someone was mowing his lawn.

Considering that it rained, quite substantially, on Palm Sunday that wouldn’t have seemed to be the case. What it turned out to be was a misting machine that St. Pius, along with other churches in the area, uses to disinfect benches after Masses.

And, according to Fr. Brian Flynn, pastor of both St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart parishes in Lynn, it’s a fairly well choreographed maneuver, whether the machine is being used or it’s being done with a regular spray bottle.

“We spray everything down,” said Fr. Flynn. “And then it needs 15 minutes to dry. So let’s say the 10 o’clock Mass ends at 11:10. After everyone leaves, we spray each bench, let it dry, and we’re ready for the next Mass at noon.”

At St. Mary’s, Fr. Flynn tries to ensure that people sit in specific areas of the church, because that makes it easier to disinfect the benches afterward.

This is one of the many pre- and post-Mass activities that go with allowing in-person worship as the COVID-19 pandemic continues into its second year. And while more churches remain closed to in-person worship, those who can go to church find it more meaningful than simply watching their services virtually.

“This is definitely a sign that things are moving forward somewhat,” said Tim Phelps of Lynn, a Breed Middle School teacher, who is a member of the St. Pius parish. “I think it’s better if you can be there, and it’s easier to be in the moment.

“I try to go (to Mass) every Sunday,” he said. “I just think it’s good to be part of the community.”

Fr. Flynn appreciates the fact that he can celebrate Mass this Easter, as opposed to last year, but acknowledges the situation isn’t perfect.

“It’s much better than it was last year, but it’s still not exactly what we want it to be,” he said. “Last year, it was me, two priests, deacons, musicians, and the person broadcasting on Facebook. Other than that, it was completely closed.

“This year, it’s still limited. We have to practice social distancing. It’s certainly much better.”

Other communities, however, are still worshipping remotely. For example, the Lynn Church of the Nazarene on Eastern Avenue’s services can be accessed via YouTube.

The First Congregational Church in Saugus Center — perhaps known better as the pumpkin church — broadcasts its services on Facebook Live at 10 a.m.

And the First Church in Swampscott, also Congregational, will broadcast its service on Facebook too. There will also be a more interactive Zoom worship service Sunday. Those wishing to participate can send their names, email addresses and phone numbers to infor@thefirstchurch.org to be added to the church’s internal mailing list.

While Passover is not a Jewish holy period that generally involves worshipping in a synagogue or temple, Rabbi David Meyer of the Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead said that the focus on family — especially extended families that gather for Seder Supper — has been affected by COVID.

“When it comes to Passover (which ends Sunday night), the primary observance is a home gathering, with significant numbers, with family and dear ones,” Rabbi Meyer said. “We couldn’t do that this year.”

The temple solved that problem as best as it could, though.

“We prepared little grab bags so people could swing by the temple for Passover foods and service booklets,” he said.

Rabbi Meyer also led, and streamed, the Seder ceremony from his dining room table with his wife and one of his children, which ended up paying some unexpected dividends.

“In some ways, there was a silver lining,” he said. “We had people join us from all over the world, including Belarus and Canada — and even friends from Israel tuned in as well.

“In addition we had all four time zones in North America represented. It was pretty remarkable. There was a silver lining.

“We are fortunate to have the technology that brings people together from literally all over the world remotely,” he said. “It’s not the same as being in person, but it’s something.”

Lois Bragan, a parishioner at St. Pius, would agree that she’s grateful to have been able to watch last year’s Easter service via stream. But to her, it wasn’t the same.

“I felt as if I hadn’t gone to Mass,” she said. “I didn’t receive Communion and the rest of the day didn’t feel the same either. We just had my husband and my daughter and her friend and that was it. The whole day seemed off.”

Sunday, Fr. Flynn and the rest of Lynn’s Catholic churches will follow the same rules that were set up last September when the Archdiocese of Boston lifted the ban on in-person services — with provisions.

“Lynn has been in the red zone for most of the pandemic,” he said. “For the short amount of time we weren’t, we didn’t change anything. We don’t want to go back and forth.

“So everyone enters from one door. You come in, we take your name, ask if you’ve been here before, ask how many are here with you, take your temperature, bring you to hand-sanitizer stations, and have one of our ushers seat you.”

The benches that are off-limits are clearly marked off, and even the ones that are allowed to be used can only accommodate limited seating.

“That’s all social distancing,” Fr. Flynn said.

Then, at the beginning of the Mass, priests review the protocols: Masks must be worn, no congregational singing, no exchange of the Sign of Peace, and no wine at communion.

After Mass, the congregation is asked to be seated and parishioners are dismissed, row by row, again, through one exit. Fr. Flynn said he may stand outside and mingle a bit if the weather permits, but “you don’t want to hold up the line, either.”

As for when all the houses of worship can open up, much of that is contingent upon state guidelines, the status of individual cities’ and towns’ COVID status, and individual policies.

“We’ll be patient,” Rabbi Meyer said. “We are paying attention to the state and the Marblehead Board of Health. We follow their lead.

“The criteria we have is a time-honored Jewish value. It’s that life, health and safety always come first.”

A year later, a more traditional Easter on the North Shore - Itemlive : Itemlive

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Parishioners will have their temperatures checked and wait to be seated by ushers during Easter on Sunday at St. Mary's and the Sacred Heart parishes in Lynn. (Spenser Hasak)