What is Mass actually like at the moment?

[LynetteScavo]

I have read the government guidance, but would like to hear from a real life person what it's actually like (in tier 3). I haven't been to mass since lockdown 1, and would love to go this Christmas, but won't go as there have been so many cases in DDs school last week (although she doesn't need to self isolate). On-line mass only shows the priests (tbh I get bored and switch off after a while )

What I'm wondering is: is singing happening? Are people receiving communion? Are people sitting very far apart if not in a family bubble? (This is one reason I haven't been- I figure if everybody is spread out numbers must be limited, and there must be other people who need to attend more than me).

Singing ? No it’s banned. Communion , not sure. I know it was also banned for a long while. If it’s not then it will certainly be socially distanced and not done in the same order, ie go up then leave. Think it’s still banned though. My church can usually seat 400. There are 50 seats set out in rows of between 1 and 4 each distanced at least 2 metres from each other in every direction. It’s not the same.

We have had communion (CofE) - bread only. Wear mask, sanitise on the way up, then priest in mask and viser drops the wafer into your hand and you eat it back in your seat.
No congregational singing, but we have said some verses together and had a single singer at the far end of the building as well as lots of piano and organ music.
Yes, you do sit far apart, but it does feel like a worshipping community.

No singing which is sad. But communion at our Catholic church, which is great. All very hygienic with sterilized tongs and no speaking allowed throughout. We dont stand or kneel much as they dont want us leaning on the bench in front!

I think you should go if you want. You are as deserving as anyone else in the parish

Mass is short but worthwhile. Sparsely attended. We have a busier church in the parish and so we have to book in in advance. We have tickets for Christmas day!

I go to Mass regularly, only missed it in full lockdown
My parish is a cathedral, usually can seat nearly 700, bu now numbers are restricted to 130 each Mass.Alternative pews are cordoned off, only thee people allowed n remaining ones 2 metres apart unless you ae from same household.Floor is marked in arrows for direction.
Masks or face shields worn all the time, only removed when you receive Holy Communion which is on the hand only. No chalice.
Priests wear face coverings when administering Communion.Separate lecterns for priest and lay reader.Priest or minister sanitises their hands before and after administering Holy Communion.
No choir but can have one cantor singing from organ loft.
Your hands are sanitised on entering and leaving church and an army of volunteers wearing masks and gloves wipe and clean every seat after each Mass.
No Holy Water in stoups.
That is it really.

Please excuse typos am feeling tired today.

Thank you- this is really helpful. I'm really feeling the need to go to mass atm (also last Easter, I found that tough) but am just too nervous. Maybe in the new year.

Catholic church in Scotland.
We are allowed 50 people in our large church, and must be booked in advance.
No singing - just music from the priest’s phone.
No offertory.
Hands sanitised and names ticked off on way in, stewards show you to a seat which have gaps of two rows between people.
Communion - we stay kneeling and priest goes round distributing communion to keep movement to a minimum. He sanitises and puts on a mask before doing this.
Stewards show congregation out row by row.
One way in, one way out.
Priest goes outside at the end, puts his mask on and still has a blether with everyone.
It is a bit different, but still pleasant.

There's no need to be nervous unless you are vulnerable and even then I would have thought it would be very socially distanced. It is at both churches I go to. Getting out gets easier the more you do it and you dont need to be cavalier.

My parish us also a cathedral. And pretty much the same as @nildesparandum. We do communion to go at the very end of mass. In week days you are allowed to return to your seat afterwards, but Sunday mass it's straight outside.
Which cathedral are you @nildesparandum?

Oh and we have to pre book online. It's all very safe. Though I'm trying to put a stop to the altar servers putting alcohol gel on the priests hands at various intervals as they should do it themselves!

@Toddlerteaplease

Thankyou very much for your question.
I have forgotten how to send a private message so cannot state which one on here.
I was ''outed'' at one time that's why!

As a priest, we are doing everything we can to make communion safe. This does mean that some things have to change - the government (in Wales) have said we can meet for worship not to socialise so no chatting after the service for example.
In the service people must be socially distanced and wear a face mask at all times except for the very few seconds of receiving communion.
When we bless the elements we have to have the bread covered whilst we are talking (only the priest at present can have the wine). We can't speak when distributing communion so say the words 'corff crist (body of Christ) to the whole congregation beforehand rather than individually. If we so much as brush hands when we are giving out the bread we have to sanitise.

There is no congregation singing, responses have to be said quietly, we can't share the peace.

Is it how we would love to worship? No
Is it safe? I hope so
But, it is still communal worship. Lots of priests are improvising - we can't sing but we can listen to the hymn and read the words, we can say the words quietly together. We can wave the peace.

C of E here. For the last 2 Sundays the vicar said he could now share the wine by dipping the wafers into it.

Mass today was packed. They were putting extra chairs out and sitting people in the retro choir. I couldn't believe it. They should have turned people away. It was way over capacity. It's not going to take much for the council to say that places of worship are not safe and close them down.