RETURN OF THE FAITHFUL

SPRING 2021

FOR NEW YORKERS STILL DECIDING WHEN TO RETURN to Mass, the decision may seem bewildering. In early April 2021, we asked ArchCare’s Dr. Mona Rao and Dr. Walid Michelen to help us answer some basic questions that might help readers decide. (See the editor's note, below, for an update regarding new guidance from the archdiocese.)

How has the Archdiocese of New York arrived at its practices regarding in-person Mass attendance?
The archdiocese bases its decisions on guidance from public health authorities and medical experts. “The basic principle guiding a return to in-person parish activities has to be safety,” Dr. Rao says. “We have to account for the person who is the most vulnerable. At this point [in April 2021], that means practicing social distancing and wearing a mask, as well as good hand hygiene and the disinfecting of high-touch surfaces.”

Is there a risk to individual parishioners in returning to in-person Masses and other parish activities? 
“There is a chance of exposure in any congregate setting, whether that’s attending Mass, dining in a restaurant, or going to the grocery store,” says Dr. Michelen, “but there are precautions we can all take to make these activities as safe as possible.” To a significant extent, in the Archdiocese of New York, this risk is being managed at the parish level by strict observance of health protocols.

That said, Dr. Rao observes, “Seniors and those with pre-existing medical conditions are most vulnerable to COVID-19 and, if exposed, are at risk for severe disease.” Unvaccinated individuals with these risk factors may want to consult with their doctors before returning to Mass.

Once someone has been fully vaccinated, is there any reason not to return to in-person Mass?
According to researchers, fully vaccinated people have very little risk of becoming seriously ill with Covid-19. “All of the approved vaccines are effective, and they all offer protection against severe disease,” Dr. Rao says.

But vaccinated individuals should still wear masks and observe social distancing in public when instructed to do so. “We need to keep one another safe until a critical mass of people are vaccinated and we have achieved herd immunity,“ Dr. Michelen says. “This means continuing to follow safety guidelines, even after you’ve been vaccinated.”