Churches within the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will begin gradually reopening Friday as Southwestern Pennsylvania moves to ease restrictions in place for the covid-19 pandemic.

In order to adhere to social distancing regulations, facilities will reopened based on a strategic plan put in place by Bishop David Zubik, with the intention of returning to public Masses starting June 1 and weekend Masses starting June 6. Further details on those plans will be released closer to those dates.

A date for in-person Masses has not yet been set by the Diocese of Greensburg.

“We are eager to return to the comfort of our churches and join together in prayer as a source of spiritual strength to support us through the suffering and anxiety caused by the covid-19 pandemic,” Zubik said in a news release. “We are working with health agencies and in coordination with other religious leaders to proceed in a way that tends to spiritual health, while protecting the physical health of our community.”

While full church services are still prohibited, other events such as limited funeral Masses and weddings are allowed as long as they are groups of 25 people or less. Baptisms can be scheduled, although there will be restricted to only one family baptism per ceremony.

Churches in both the Diocese of Pittsburgh and Greensburg will be open for private prayer as long as social distancing is adhered to and masks and hand sanitizer are utilized.

They will also be open for confessions, which will be heard at posted times and “in a manner that preserves the sanctity of the Sacrament,” the release reads. Confessionals do not meet public health and safety standards.

Livestream Masses and prayer services will continue as they have since the Diocese of Pittsburgh cancelled Masses starting March 15 to help curb the spread of the virus.

In order to keep the public and pastors safe, a document titled “Moving Forward Together” will be released Friday detailing health and safety guidelines that will need to met by church officials. Diocesan leadership will work with pastors on making decisions on reopening based on government guidelines specific to their counties.

“It fills my heart with so much joy to think of the doors of our churches opening once again,” Zubik said. “I’ve heard from so many who have missed praying in their parishes. I’ve missed it, too.”

While a date for public Masses at the Diocese of Greensburg has not yet been set, officials are already planning on how to keep the public safe.

When that decision is made, members of the public will be required to sit in every other pew. For Communion, worshipers will be encouraged to receive the host by the hand rather than the tongue and the cup of wine will not be offered. The sign of peace will not include a handshake.

“I remind you that we must always proceed with caution, empathy, understanding and faith,” Bishop Edward C. Malesic said in a news release from earlier this month.

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