Boston College Campus Ministry has reconfigured its campus Mass schedule in recent weeks, as students are beginning to return to campus. Despite a cloud of uncertainty surrounding the safe reopening of classes, limitation of spread of COVID-19 on campus, and scheduling public events on campus throughout the semester, campus Masses are set to resume in-person alongside the first week of courses.
Several regular campus Masses will resume with few changes beyond precautions against the spread of COVID-19, which have been similarly implemented for both on-campus classes and University-sanctioned gatherings of any kind.
However, there are some notable changes in individual Mass locations and times for this coming semester. Regarding the semester’s Mass schedule, Billy Kavula, Boston College’s Campus Minister for Liturgical Ministries, noted that “a great deal of time has been spent planning and adjusting those plans as the situation is constantly evolving.”
Sunday Masses on Lower Campus account for many of these adjustments, as both the 8:00 p.m. Lannon Chapel Mass and the 10:15 Heights Room Mass of previous years will change their respective timing and location. As dining services plans to utilize the Heights Room for campus food service and St. Ignatius Parish has opted to keep its basement chapel closed, Campus Ministry “decided to move upstairs [in St. Ignatius Church] and create a new vibrant community combining the Lannon students and those from the Heights Room,” according to Kavula.
Because of the social distancing restrictions on the number of people allowed in each chapel, however, Campus Ministry established an additional Sunday liturgy in Robsham Theater at 11 p.m.. Adhering to restrictions to ensure social distancing within the expansive space, this Mass is meant to cater to any campus residents who were unable to attend Mass earlier in the day, whether due to chapels reaching their capacity or simply a preference for late-night liturgies.
Campus Ministry also plans to conduct a weekly live-stream Mass, which will begin after the first week of classes. The schedules for daily Mass for the Boston College Law School (at Newton Campus’ Trinity Chapel) and at the School of Theology and Ministry Chapel in Simboli Hall remain unchanged. Celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass at St. Joseph Chapel will be limited to a single weekly Mass on Wednesdays at 1 p.m., according to Una Voce Society President Matt O’Keefe, MCAS ‘21.
Nightly Candlelight Mass at St. Joseph Chapel is set to continue in-person services, although the Chapel itself has been reconfigured to a north-south orientation in the Gonzaga Hall Basement. Every third chair within is marked as available for seating. As St. Mary’s Hall has been closed to the general public for the foreseeable future, both Sunday and daily Masses at St. Mary’s Chapel are not expected to be accessible for students.
As for concrete safety precautions to curtail risk of COVID-19 spread around campus, Campus Ministry plans to follow all directives issued by the Archdiocese of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Dispensers for hand sanitizer have been installed in every chapel, and every student will be required to present their BC daily health check as they enter.
Just as throughout the rest of campus, attendees to any campus liturgies will be required to wear masks. “The people in the sanctuary – priest, lector (only one), one cantor and an instrumentalist do not need to wear their masks. The priest will put his on to distribute Communion,” said Campus Ministry’s Kavula. As Campus Ministry lacks the capability to verify what individuals are roommates, seating in ‘pods’ or alongside others will not be permitted.
Despite the many stipulations out of precaution against the spread of COVID-19, however, the liturgy of campus Masses will remain unchanged. Distribution of Communion, although only under the form of bread, will take place at the usual time in the liturgy. At this time, Campus Ministry confirms there are no plans to conduct regular outdoor liturgies, and the Mass of the Holy Spirit is to take place in a hybrid form, with perhaps most following along via livestream.
An announcement will be read at the beginning of each Mass reminding congregants of restrictions in place to stem the virus’ spread. These include restrictions that are in place throughout the Archdiocese of Boston: the prohibition of congregational singing and the temporary cessation of receiving Holy Communion on the tongue. There will be no hand holding during the Our Father and worshipers will be asked to keep physical distance during the sign of peace. After Mass, to limit contact time, attendees are asked not to congregate in or near the chapel.
- Boston College Tree Stump Returns to Catholic Roots: Strategically Planning Catholic Art Expansion on Campus - April 30, 2021
- Encounters: Inspiration & Conversion on View in Carney Hall - March 26, 2021
- Angels Unawares: An Interview with Melodie Wyttenbach - November 26, 2020