Official Message from the Bishops

​New Target Date for Phased Reopening
 
 
May 1, 2020
 
 
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
 
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!  
 
We begin this short communication with words of praise and gratitude for the tremendous efforts being made across the diocese to maintain communication, times of prayer and study, and caring for the needs of our most vulnerable within and beyond our congregations.  The real struggles of this pandemic have been met with much grace and holy care by our clergy and people. 
 
We write also today to share with you that after careful consideration and consultation with local health care providers, public health officials, and our own hospital personnel; and in coordination and prayerful consultation with the Bishops of New York, we together have determined that the target date for what may be the beginning of a  “phased-in” commencement of public gatherings for liturgy will be July 1, 2020.  
 
In the next few weeks, a group of clergy and lay leaders will meet with us, via zoom, to begin the process of determining a phased-in plan which will respect the need for social distancing, and other serious health safety considerations in order to begin to gather people for liturgy while we await the creation of a vaccine and/or treatment for COVID-19. This group will also consider the necessary liturgical adaptations that will be set by the diocesan bishop. 
 
We understand that setting the date of July 1st as a target to begin in person gatherings is a disappointment to us, but the science and medicine are clear, and our first and most serious consideration must be the safety of the most vulnerable around us.  
 
Weddings, funerals and other liturgical events will have to be postponed and when rescheduled will have to conform to the distancing guidelines of the CDC and the State Department of Health and have the permission of the diocesan bishop.  
 
For now, let us fully engage the creativity of online gatherings for prayer, worship, and formation, remembering that Zoom and other platforms of electronic communication do not convey consecration of the elements remotely in the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist and therefore is not permitted. 
 
We are so grateful to all of you for the generosity and genuine, holy caring that has been evidenced these last several weeks.  Let’s engage further in this time of exile and continue to support and encourage one another in our life together as we remain apart. 
 
Be safe, be careful, keep praying.  With our love, prayers, and gratitude,
 
 
The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano                          
Bishop of Long Island                                                   
 
The Rt. Rev. Geralyn Wolf
Assistant Bishop of Long Island 
 
The Rt. Rev. Daniel Allotey
Assisting Bishop of Long Island
 
The Rt. Rev. R. William Franklin                                    
Assisting Bishop of Long Island

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