On Friday, April 24, Nebraska Governor Ricketts announced the opportunity for the re-opening of faith based services throughout Nebraska, beginning May 4, 2020. Since then I have consulted with members of the Presbyteral (Priests) Council of the Diocese of Grand Island about how we might proceed.
While some parishioners are eager to re-open their churches, many others feel that May 4 is simply too soon. Some priests have advocated that all parishes remain closed until we can all re-open at the same time. Some are concerned that if there is a partial re-opening, people will travel from areas that remain closed to parishes that have re-opened, and unknowingly transmit the virus.
With this new policy below, it is my desire to recognize the vast differences between some places like Hall County and Dawson County that have very high incidences of the COVID-19 virus and the many other places that have few if any cases of the infection.
Therefore, anticipating the governor’s re-opening date of May 4th, and as of that day, I am establishing the following measures:
The Dispensation from the Sunday and Holy Day Obligation remains in force.
Furthermore, parishes do not have to re-open at this time, if parish leaders believe it would be unsafe to do so. This policy anticipates good pastoral judgement about re-opening in areas that may be virus free or with only a few confirmed cases.