Looking forward to Easter
Father Jason Christian, pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Tryon, delivers his homily to parishioners parked in their cars at Harmon Field during Lent 2020, when all churches were closed and liturgies were moved outdoors where people could remain socially distanced. With most COVID-19 restrictions relaxed, this year’s Holy Week and Easter services will be more like normal across the diocese. (Giuliana Riley | Catholic News Herald)CHARLOTTE — Two years after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down every church in western North Carolina, parishioners and pastors alike are looking forward to in-person services for Holy Week and Easter.
Local mandates on face coverings, social distancing and other health measures have largely disappeared as infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths have dwindled. As of Wednesday, 587 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in all of North Carolina – down from 2,637 a month ago.
Pastors say they expect the pews to be full this Easter, as more people are feeling a “spiritual hunger” for in-person worship and especially the Eucharist.
“Easter is always the high point for the Church and is even more special this year as the pandemic declines and we celebrate our 50th anniversary as one diocesan family,” Bishop Peter Jugis said. “I welcome everyone back for Holy Week and Easter, and to a renewal of their spiritual life.”
The holy days will be a stark contrast from April 2020, when people could only watch Easter Masses streamed online from empty churches.
“Now that Lent is underway, we are seeing an even greater number of people attending the liturgies, which is great,” said Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, pastor of St. Pius X Church in Greensboro. He said people are craving in-person participation in the sacramental and social life of the Church.
Father Benjamin Roberts, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe, agrees. “People are really happy to be back in the church. I think upon returning regularly to Mass, many people realized how much they hungered for the Eucharist.”
“I generally feel the mood of the parish is very positive and hopeful,” added Father Mark Lawlor, pastor of St. Thérèse Church in Mooresville. “We are expecting a very large crowd for Easter, a crowd that will be close to pre-COVID times.”
A rebounding
Offertory collections – which dropped 11 percent in 2020 – have also mostly rebounded. Giving in 2021 was up 0.4% compared to before the pandemic in 2019, said Jim Kelley, the diocese’s director of development.
“We caught up to 2019 in 2021 – and we’re on pace this year to reach our goal to help our parishes reengage the people they serve,” Kelley said.
Offertory collections for three-quarters of the diocese’s 92 parishes and missions are at 90 percent or higher than they were in 2019, he said. Only five are seeing less than 80 percent of their 2019 offertory totals.
“Pastors and other parish leaders went to extraordinary lengths to keep people engaged and connected spiritually, even though they weren’t in Mass,” Kelley said. “They faced a wave of new demands – from moving their ministry online, to helping those who lost jobs, to caring for parishioners who were sick or lost loved ones. And I believe parishioners recognized this and are grateful.”
Monsignor Marcaccio said his parishioners have remained committed to the church despite the pandemic.
“People have been so generous in supporting our mission,” he said. “While the ministries had to morph somewhat or be remote, none were curtailed because they needed funding. Actually, it was quite the contrary.
“At the end of the year, we conducted a soft campaign to retire our capital debt and received funds to pay off a 15-year mortgage nine years ahead of time – saving over a million dollars in interest expense.”
The diocese’s two retreat centers also are welcoming more visitors.
“There’s still some lingering discomfort and other concerns. I’m very cautious with using the word normal,” said Deacon William Shaw, director of Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center in Maggie Valley. However, “parishes are starting to host retreat events again,” and so far in 2022, the center is back to pre-pandemic scheduling and has already hosted five events.
“It’s been a nice improvement,” he said.
Deacon Scott D. Gilfillan, director of the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory, is also seeing a rebound.
“Our year ending June 30 will be our best year ever – even with all of the cancellations we had in December and January” because of the surge in the Omicron variant, Deacon Gilfillan said. Staying in close contact with clients, as well as hosting their own events and retreats, “are paying big dividends.”
“I am sensing a deep spiritual hunger,” he said. One unexpected consequence of the pandemic: he’s seeing greater demand for spiritual direction.
“I am in the process of becoming certified (as a spiritual director), something I would not have embarked upon otherwise,” he said.
In the wake of the pandemic
While it is not over, the COVID-19 pandemic has left in its wake a number of changes – good and bad.
Pastors and parishioners both embraced new technology – from YouTube videos to online giving. Churches, schools and the conference centers used the closures and slow times to make much-needed repairs or improvements – from new carpeting or paint to major renovations.
Schools are now so comfortable using remote learning tools that they expect to keep using them even after the pandemic, such as when bad weather hits – perhaps spelling the end of those cherished “snow days.”
The diocese’s 19 Catholic schools – which resumed safe, in-person instruction earlier than most public schools – are all seeing strong enrollment gains, with overall enrollment up 10% this year compared to the 2019-’20 academic year.
“In short,” noted Deacon Gilfillan, “there is a lot of lemonade that came from the one big lemon we call the pandemic.”
Yet pastors remain concerned about the members of their flock who have not returned to Mass – either because they have lost touch or because they remain isolated and fearful.
According to the annual Mass count last October, Mass attendance was down about 25% from before the pandemic hit.
“I think the pandemic removed the bandage, and we can see the wound in the Church, of superficial commitments and misunderstandings regarding the importance of the sacramental life of the Church,” Monsignor Marcaccio said. “I think the pandemic was a virus for the Church that ate our engagement, and the antidote will be hospitality.”
Father Roberts said he is “cautiously optimistic” about describing parish life as back to normal. The most recent COVID-related funeral at the parish was just last month, he noted.
“There were a number of times throughout the pandemic where things were looking to be getting better, and suddenly they weren’t,” he said.
Yet, he added, “people are pretty excited about Holy Week.” He said he is looking forward to baptizing three adult catechumens at the Easter Vigil.
Father Lawlor also remains cautiously hopeful.
“The pandemic took the world by surprise and has given all of us a different perspective,” he said. “Two years ago, it changed our Lent, Holy Week and Easter season. I would never have imagined that we would go from an Easter attendance of 5,500 in 2019 to 10 the following year.
“So, we are cautious that things can change very quickly. We have much to be thankful for and there have been many blessings even during these challenging times. We are planning for our future with hope and trust in Divine Providence.”
— Kimberly Bender and Patricia L. Guilfoyle, Catholic News Herald
Did you know?
Since March 2020, 13,350 of deaths in the 46 counties of the Diocese of Charlotte also tested positive for COVID-19, according to statistics reported by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.