Parishioners Maintain Religious Traditions Through the Quarantine

For years, Pura Rodriguez attended mass, sitting in the pews at the Resurrection Chapel. But all that changed on March 14 after the archdioceses of New York sent a statement to all churches canceling services and other activities at the church. Since then, she has participated in religious services from home.

“The last time I went to mass was one month ago,” Pura said. “Even though we were told to keep our distance from each other, we forgot and interacted with everyone as usual with hugs, laughs and staying close to each other.”

Pura is one of millions of New Yorkers unable to attend religious services because of the shelter in place order issued by Governor Andrew Cuomo. Despite these orders the coronavirus continues to ravage the state. So far there are 251,690 cases and 14,828 deaths (as of April 21, 2020).

But New Yorkers of all faiths have taken to attending services at home and are adjusting to their new normal.

Pura used to attend church twice a week. Before the pandemic, her Harlem church started a project where parishioners would go in pairs to visit the neighborhood and invite people to the church’s services. That project ended with the cancellation of church services.

“We went twice, but we couldn’t continue due to the virus,” said Flavia Pineyro, who was also involved in the project.

Then the church saw it necessary to cancel their services to keep their communities safe.

“It was awful,” said Falvia. She lives by herself and, before the shutdown, would see her friends three times a week when she went to church. “The quarantine has affected me a lot because I am forced to be apart from the people I love.”

But parishioners have found ways to continue with their religious practices.

“I watch the mass on TV and even though I don’t receive the body of Christ physically, I get it spiritually,” Pura said. She also reads the Bible and prays the Rosary in her home.

Aside from services aired on TV, priests have offered spiritual relief for people all around the world by recording the mass and other services and sharing them online.

“Since the beginning of the quarantine, I haven’t stopped providing my community the religious services through Facebook Live,” said Fr. Felix Reyes, pastor of St. Jude Church in Inwood.

Fr. Reyes streams mass in Spanish Monday through Friday at 7:00 p.m. and on weekends at 10:30 a.m. Around 105 people tune in for the daily services. But even larger numbers tuned in during Holy week.

For the Catholic church, Holy Week is one of the most important weeks of the year. The week, starting with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter Sunday, commemorates Jesus’ last days before his death and then his resurrection. For many, this was their first time staying home during this important week. So the church looked for alternatives to continue their traditions.

“More than 1000 people tuned in for our masses during Holy Week,” said Fr. Reyes, who provides these services along with another priest.

It’s also been very important for the church to communicate with its parishioners during the quarantine. Fr. Reyes has developed a personal system to help him stay in touch with his community.

“From the beginning of the quarantine, all the calls for the church go straight to my phone. That way I can stay in contact with my community,” he explained. People reach out to him daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“There are around 1000 people who used to attend the five masses offered on weekends, and most of them are seniors,” he said. He dedicates one day every week to call the senior parishioners from his community.

Parishioners have appreciated the contact. “Although the services don’t continue, our community keeps in contact with each other via phone calls and text,” Pura said.

“There hasn’t been a day when at least one family [hasn’t] asked me to pray for a sick member or someone who is at risk of dying,” Fr. Reyes said.

At Flavia and Pura’s church in Harlem, two people have died, and one priest tested positive for the virus and was hospitalized. The parishioners were updated via emails and text messages from the church. The priest has now been discharged from the hospital.

Five people have died and about 15 have tested positive at St. Jude Church. Others have not contracted the virus but have still been touched by it one way or another.

“Many of our parishioners are affected emotionally and suffer from depression, anxiety and fear,” Fr. Reyes said sorrowfully.

“We are a family united by our faith. May God have mercy on us,” Pura said.

Regardless of the challenges caused by this pandemic, parishioners see the benefits of staying at home.

“I understand that these precautions were taken for our safety,” Flavia said. “Now more people get to dedicate more time to themselves and their families.”

Flavia used to have little time for herself because of her work schedule. Now she finds herself focusing on the things she prefers to do during her free time.

“I have had the opportunity to dedicate more time to read the Bible, watch the Pope’s daily mass on TV, pray the rosary, and dedicate more time to reflect on myself,” said Flavia.

“We need to overcome fear, trusting that God will help us develop an interior peace within ourselves and know that this pandemic will be over, making us stronger,” said Fr. Reyes during a message dedicated to those affected by COVID-19.

“One adapts to the situation,” Pura said. “I feel at ease as I pray and keep in touch with my community.”