It was a blessing - or several blessings. In a variety of ways.
Since parishioners couldn’t come to church for Mass because of coronavirus restrictions, the priests went out to them. Some met in the parish cemetery. Other priests and a deacon met parishioners at their church window.
And since the laypeople couldn’t receive the Eucharist outside of Mass, the pastor, the associate pastor and the retired priest and a deacon gave them a blessing.
This was the scene Sunday in St. John’s Cemetery in Lancaster and on the weekend at St. Joseph Parish in Charlton.
In Lancaster, one by one vehicles pulled up to where Father James S. Mazzone, pastor of St. John, Guardian of Our Lady Parish in Clinton, was standing with Father Juan-Sebastian Sanchez, associate pastor; Father Raymond M. Goodwin, retired priest, and Thomas Nohrden, the 9-year-old crossbearer.
The typical scenario was praying the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be together. Then Father Mazzone would ask Jesus to bless the vehicle’s occupants, whom he said fervently desired to receive the Eucharist. He asked that they be united to Jesus in a spiritual communion. Some people told the priests about specific concerns of theirs, and Father Mazzone then prayed aloud for those concerns.
Sometimes a bit of small talk was exchanged. Or Father Mazzone would encourage motorists with messages such as: “Your prayers help us. I’m hopeful. I’m joyful. You made our day by coming. Thank you for your beautiful smile.”
A person walking by told the priests, “God bless you.”
“It’s just amazing that they’re here for us still,” said parishioner Sharon Diaz, adding that this was an opportunity to get blessings and prayers at the tough time everyone is going through, and that it was especially significant that day, for personal reasons.
“I just feel every one of us can use (the blessing),” said parishioner Sarah Lefebvre, adding that next she was going to the church - which Father Mazzone left open - to pray there. “I’m very proud of our pastor - he’s doing a wonderful job - and his associates. He’s all for the people.” She said he would have offered Masses for them if he could have.
“We’re obviously in prayer,” said parishioner Joseph Goodwin. “We like to draw closer to the Lord in these times.”
“We’re so grateful for what the priests are doing here,” added his wife, Alexandra.
“We know that the unity of Christ is still with us,” said her husband. “You can feel his presence.” The prayer will bring the virus to an end sooner; the times are scary but God is good.
It was “nice to see a real priest in person,” said Emily Nohrden, from the Boston Archdiocese, who was visiting family here with her husband, Stephen, and their children.
“It’s inspiring to see him standing out in the cold, serving the people,” added Mr. Nohrden.
The people had been coming steadily, despite the fact that blessings were also offered at other times that day and on other days.
“They were lined up when we arrived” at noon for the one-hour time slot, Father Mazzone said. Later it was a car or two at a time. But just when the priests thought they could go warm up in their own vehicle, up came someone else seeking a blessing.
“We miss them; we love them,” Father Mazzone told The Catholic Free Press. “I’m so happy we have this consecrated ground at St. John’s Cemetery at which to meet them.”
“It’s strange to meet people here … but the parish goes where the people are - Church on wheels,” said Father Sanchez.
In Charlton the scheduled half-hour of blessings turned into an hour when more than 100 cars lined up outside St. Joseph Church Saturday afternoon. The scene was repeated Sunday morning with the same results and the added help of a deacon.
Father Robert A. Grattaroti, pastor, invited parishioners to come to church for a special blessing during the time Saturday’s Mass and Sunday’s Mass would usually be held. Since Masses have been suspended due to the coronavirus, Father Grattaroti wanted to gather his flock this way so that they would know he had them in his prayers.
He also wanted to keep everyone safe, so, with an army of volunteers, regular parish greeters, the cars were ushered one-by-one under the portico at the front of the church. People got out of their cars and went to the side window where Father Grattaroti greeted them with air-hugs and kisses and imparted a blessing on them during this challenging time. Sunday Deacon William Shea assisted with the blessings.
Families, couples, individuals, and even a dog, approached the window where Father Grattaroti was standing. There was a basket of blessed prayer cards outside the window and another basket where people could leave their weekly offerings. The prayer on the card was the diocesan Prayer in Time of Pandemic which asks God to “deliver us from this time of trial.” It also asks for blessings on all doctors, nurses, researchers and public servants.
– Margaret M. Russell, CFP editor, contributed to this report.