Covid-19: Estonia allowing
public Masses for Mother’s Day
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| File photo of the Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul in Tallinn |
Estonian mothers are receiving a collective gift on Sunday,
as Catholic churches are allowed to celebrate public Masses in time for
Mother’s Day, says Bishop Philippe Jourdan.
By Devin Watkins
The government of Estonia announced plans this week to allow
all churches to resume Masses with a congregation as of 10 May, which coincides
with International Mother’s Day.
Bishop Philippe Jourdan, the Apostolic Administrator of
Estonia, told Vatican Radio that initial plans were to allow the faithful to
participate after 11 May.
But he said the government decided it would be “a nice gift
to all mothers to be able again to be at Mass”.
Proportionately hard-hit
Estonia has been one of the countries hardest-hit in Eastern
Europe by Covid-19, in proportion to its tiny population of 1.33 million. As of
Friday, the country has confirmed 1,725 cases with 56 deaths.
Compare those figures with Lithuania. The nearby Baltic
state has similar numbers of cases and deaths, but they are spread over a
population twice the size of Estonia’s.
Public Masses restoring hope
Bishop Jourdan said about 8 weeks have passed since the
government enforced social-distancing measures but that things are going much
better now.
“People are looking to the future with increased hope,” he
said. “I think a big part of that hope is the possibility to take part in the
Mass.”
He added that “spiritual food is very important and it was
quite difficult for our people without it.”
Churches still open
Churches in Estonia remained open throughout the worst of
the crisis. Catholics were free to enter to receive Holy Communion privately,
to pray before the Blessed Sacrament, and to receive the Sacrament of
Reconciliation.
“Quite a lot of people every day came to the church to
pray,” said Bishop Jourdan.
Residual fear, limited capacity
Social-distancing measures will still apply during religious
celebrations, including 2 meters distance between people.
Bishop Jourdan predicted there will be fewer people at Mass
at first, partly out of residual fear and partly due to limited capacity in
churches. He has invited parishes to offer more Masses on Sunday, as a way of
increasing capacity.
But, he noted, many elderly persons will – and should – stay
at home to avoid contagion. “So we will continue to broadcast Masses through
the internet.” Bishop Jourdan said online Masses are not ideal, though they
provide an important spiritual service for people who are homebound.
Ready for rough patches
As the Church resumes public Masses, the Apostolic
Administrator of Estonia is confident Catholics can overcome any rough patches
ahead.
“I’m happy this great step has been taken,” said Bishop
Jourdan. “Even if more difficulties arise in the coming weeks and months for
our country, our people, and for the Church – because the Church is part of
society – people are again full of hope”.
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