Last year, at Easter, the pews were empty at a closed St. Stephen Church due to the COVID-19 pandemic health situation. This year, the church is open; however, reservations will be necessary for all St. Stephen’s the First Martyr Church Holy Week and Easter Masses in order to comply with social distancing and capacity guidelines. Photo provided.
Last year for Holy Week and Easter, St. Stephen the First Martyr Church was closed as New York State started its “pause” in response to the coronavirus health situation.
It remained closed, with livestreamed Masses only, until June.
Since re-opening in June, reservations have been necessary to attend Mass ensure proper social distancing in the sanctuary as well as adherence to capacity guidelines as set by the Archdiocese of New York and the state.
To that end, Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday, and Easter services will also require reservations in advance.
In order to welcome all who plan to worship during Holy Week and Easter, St. Stephen’s will be holding several Masses, some concurrently in the sanctuary and the school gym at the former St. Stephen-St. Edward School located on the St. Stephen’s campus.
Reservations are required for Holy Week: Palm Sunday Masses at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, and 7:30, 9 and 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 28; and Holy Thursday Mass, April 1, at 7 p.m. A Liturgy of the Word service will take place on Good Friday, April 2, at 3 p.m. Reservations required.
For Easter weekend, reservations will also be required for all Masses. The Easter Vigil Mass will be held on Saturday, April 3, at 7 p.m.
On Easter Sunday, Masses will be held at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. To accommodate more worshippers on Easter Sunday, an additional Mass will be held concurrently at 11 a.m. in the former St. Stephen – St. Edward School gym off West Street Extension across from Warwick Valley Middle School.
The links to make reservations will be available on the parish website, www.ststephenchurchwarwick.org. Parishioners who have signed up for Flocknote will also receive sign-up information via email.
For those who still do not wish to come to Mass for health reasons, St. Stephen’s will be live-streaming Masses on Palm Sunday at 9 a.m., Holy Thursday’s Easter Vigil and at 9 a.m. on Easter Sunday.
The livestream link will be available on the parish website, or on Facebook Live, facebook.com/ststephenwarwick.
For more information, visit the St. Stephen’s website or call the parish office at 986-4028.