Chris W has a concern he would like to share about music in the mass:
Geoff, I hope I’m asking this question in a respectful way: were the increased dangers from singing considered? Perhaps Donna from Cranbrook might also answer? Singing is restricted/banned in a number of overseas areas due to some high profile disasters at churches, and it’s been recognized that moisture droplets are transmitted much further than normal social distancing when singing.
At St. Mary’s Cathedral, Hobart, we currently have 40 people per Mass, going up to 80 from this coming weekend. The number of “Sunday” Masses has been increased from 3 to 8 in order to accommodate more people, and the only singing is at the live-streamed main Mass coming only from the choir, as hymnals have been removed (not that much is currently coming from them anyway). We haven’t had a community virus case in Hobart for about five weeks, so there is little chance of problems at present, but as borders open up and visitors start arriving, that may not continue to be the case. For me, singing is an essential part of active participation, to the point that I switched to watching the Adelaide Cathedral livestream as their choice of music is much more accessible, and they helpfully put it in pdfs that can be downloaded. Having looked after music since the late 80s elsewhere and at the Saturday Mass here, and also being in the “vulnerable” category for the virus, I am feeling very conflicted about starting church singing again!
I should mention that the ACBC advice mentions hymnal removal, though it doesn’t state whether that is to hinder singing or as a hygiene measure – I believe you have projection.
Chris is correct that there have been cases overseas of whole choirs going down with Covid 19 after practicing with a chorister who did not know that they were infectious.
I know our priest was more keen on recorded music but agreed to have some live music.
We are following the Queensland guidelines available here. As far I can see all the requirements were met – all our names and contact details were taken by the covid warden, the pews were roped off appropriately and indicators of distancing displayed, there was no collection, etc. We used overheads for the words as usual.
For music they say:
If there is to be singing at the gathering, then there is to be a maximum of 1 person per 7m2.
This is as opposed to 1 person per 4m2 if no singing is allowed. Assuming Catholics actually sing, that recommendation was easily met with only twenty people in a large space. I haven’t paced it out but our church is much greater than 140m2. As to how the experts arrived at the 1 person per 7m2 guideline I have no idea.
Liturgically, I think we all would be happier with participation including singing. Currently our priest draws peoples names out of a hat to see who comes and we are moving to 3 masses a weekend along with the daily masses to accommodate a few more.
Away from the guidelines and putting my doctor hat on, while there is no community spread of note (except perhaps Victoria), I think it is analogous to wearing masks. It makes sense if there is a current risk of community spread but adds nothing if there isn’t. If I was in a country were community spread was ongoing, like the USA, I wouldn’t go near a church at all.
The current restrictions are extremely cautious considering our current situation but I am very grateful for that caution that has limited the impact of Covid 19 here from a medical sense. It does mean that we are cut off from the outside world (except New Zealand if they’ll have us) until (when and if) an immunisation is available.
What do other people think about this?
Hi Chris W and Geoff and Readers
Only 4 well spaced choir members are allowed to sing at Holy Spirit Cranbrook Queensland during Mass at this time. If a person has a preexisting condition where there immune system is impaired they should stay at home and not sing in the choir and they are not attending. The general congregation are not allowed to sing at our church currently so that 5 groups of 20 are allowed to attend based on our large church area. We use projectors for our song words so the congregation can follow the words and sing in their heads only. We have reduced the amount of singing we do as well. Collections are made using a long stick with a bag on the end to reduce handling. We keep records of who was in each section of 20 and we must all hand sanitise on entry and maintain social distancing during Communion. Only our priest gives out Communion, we clean the pews after each Mass and all exit from 5 different doors depending on which section you sit in. We may cease live streaming soon as less people are viewing now. In Townsville we have had less reported cases as we are a smaller town. All we can do is take the best precautions we can. We must all try to look after our health by eating healthy food and being hygenic and staying home if we are sick and getting tested. Continue to watch live streamed Mass if you are frightened your immune system is low and protect yourself at home. Even at the best of times we take a risk socialising with others and just buying food at the shop. Who knows when a vaccine will be found but hopefully with the increased awareness we have now we can reduce fatalities as much as possible.
Thanks for the responses Geoff and Donna. I think that document produced for the Queensland churches is an excellent starting point, and the system used at Donna’s church seems to be very good. I must admit I had thought that there might be boisterous congregational singing going on!
I passed the Queensland document on to our pastor. Most of the music chosen for the main livestreamed Mass is not of a style that is going to ever elicit congregational participation, and hymnals have been removed anyway, so that’s safe. For the Mass I look(ed) after musically, I’ve been told to hold off restarting till things become a little more normalised, which is fair enough.