Current disappointingly low Mass attendance

[PeterT]

Where do non medical people get N95 masks? The only masks we wear here are cloth washables or disposables you can pick up at the grocery store. And, per public heath rules, we are to wear them entering church until seated when we may remove them. We must put them back on to go up and receive Communion, remove immediately before receiving, consume, and replace mask before returning to our pew.

Where I live, KN95 masks are readily available at stores where masks are being sold. KN95 is the Chinese standard of the U.S. N95 standard, the main difference being KN95 masks can be attached to one’s ears while true N95 masks must be attached with the two ribbons going behind one’s head.

Both N95 and KN95 block out 95% of the air.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Where do non medical people get N95 masks

In the US you get them at 'the getting place" aka Amazon. They are not inexpensive, between $2.15 and $4 each. That would get spendy pretty quickly as they are one time use

Cloth masks are far more cost effective.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

HomeschoolDad:

I have to think people are just erring on the side of caution. Sitting in a closed space for one hour, six feet from the other people around you, wearing an N95 mask, is still a lot of risk. 5 percent of air and particles getting through is still a lot of air and particles.

Where do non medical people get N95 masks? The only masks we wear here are cloth washables or disposables you can pick up at the grocery store. And, per public heath rules, we are to wear them entering church until seated when we may remove them. We must put them back on to go up and receive Communion, remove immediately before receiving, consume, and replace mask before returning to our pew.

Actually, the masks I bought the other day are KN95 masks, not “N95 masks” strictly speaking, but according to the safety standards I read, they are equivalent if not better. They fit so snugly that I do not feel the need to wear my N95 respirator anymore (what I call my “Ghostbusters mask”).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086JD7TKZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use mine over and over until it just gets too skunky, then I discard it and replace it with another one. The “one-time-use only” thing is probably to keep the manufacturer in some kind of compliance or something.

Wasn’t crazy over using a Chinese product, but these days, you just have to do the best you can. The CCP (who are now persecuting Muslim Uighurs) is not going to rise or fall over my purchase or non-purchase of a pack of masks.

 

[Anne1964]

My parish added a third Sunday Mass to accommodate everyone who wants to come to Mass but our online registration often fills up within 30 minutes of the link being advertised.

We are getting many people from other parishes that are still closed.

 

[GEddie]

Methinks everybody is still afraid of the virus.

Wait until it starts to recede, or after the vaccine, before drawing any conclusions.

ICXC NIKA

 

[dochawk]

I live with my elderly father and I have to be very careful about possibly exposing him to the virus.

I’m in that boat, too.

Our parish went to outside Sunday morning liturgy some months ago, still with plenty of spacing.

And then I came one Sunday, and it had moved inside for the heat.

I spent the whole time looking about nervously . . . our parish is tiny, and 100 is close to the limit in normal times.

My daughter’s lung was collapsed for a severe scoliosis surgery (to give them the room they needed to work).

At the time, iI assumed they simply reinflated and she went along with life, but no. ANY vascular illness will be a heightened threat for the rest of her life.

So, no, I’m not returning to a space that small . . .

 

[Allegra]

We haven’t even had our dispensation lifted. A large portion of our parish are elderly and immune-compromised. Another large portion are families with many young children who probably feel there’s no way to keep their kid wearing the required masks or keep them from getting their germs everywhere because they are little kids. Most of the Mass attendees I’ve seen are singles or middle-aged couples. I think there was one family with children this morning. My husband is the music director at our parish and he says that most of the Masses are fairly close to the capacity that church is allowed to have currently. I’m waking up early to go to a 630AM Mass at another parish because that’s the only way we have figured out for me to go before my husband has to leave for 9AM Mass. We really don’t see any feasible way of taking our children. THey are too young to understand about germs and my youngest is too young to wear a mask. They are also in school everyday and while I’m not overly worried about them getting seriously sick due to their age, I worry about them passing it along to elderly parishoners at Mass.

 

[Allegra]

PS- I hate this by the way. My 6yo, who is supposed to receive her first holy Eucharist next year hasn’t been to Mass since Palm Sunday. THe other two haven’t been since February. It’s so messed up, I can’t stand it.

 

[Dan_Defender]

In my parish we have been having live Masses for about 5 weeks now. At first, very few of us attended. But attendance has been growing, to the point that I have to go early to make sure I get a seat and not be left out because the capacity has been reached.

 

[Sarcelle]

I have severe asthma. I know COVID will kill me.

Thankfully, the bishop has not reinstated the obligation.

 

[pnewton]

Yes, I am disappointed the numbers are still low. I would hope we would be maxing out seating by now. Nonetheless, the numbers are increasing. We have gone over 50% (COVID) capacity.

I think every bishop, priest, and all of us understand those with conditions that make Mass attendance too risky. May God bless all of you, and we that can will attend until you can safely attend.

As to masks, I like the disposable, and use a fresh one for each Mass, that is twice per weekend. Fortunately, our local convenience store, Buc-ees has engaged in what is kind of a reverse price gouging. They have got their cost down below $10 for a box of 50, down from $20. They are buying in bulk and selling at cost, at least at our local stores. They are now at $8.95 for 50.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

I have severe asthma. I know COVID will kill me.

Thankfully, the bishop has not reinstated the obligation.

I don’t think you would be obliged, even if the bishop did reinstate it. We all have different levels of risk we can tolerate, and the legitimate reasons for missing Mass on Sunday are more liberal than people generally think they are. And I refuse to be bullied by all the hard-nosed people who insist that masks are unnecessary, who insinuate that the severity of the risk is exaggerated, and who further insinuate that it is an attempt to impose social control. Look at what happened to Herman Cain — not saying that he was one of these people, but he went to the rally, and he didn’t wear a mask.

My family and I are staying safe, for as long as we have to. If it is “deep into 2021”, as Dr Fauci says it might be, then so be it. We’re really very boring people, and we don’t do that much anyway, that would bring us into that kind of contact.

 

[MrsAngelala]

Our church is bursting at the seams within COVID restrictions (on Sundays). I have an infant, and there’s no longer any room at the back of the church to walk her when she gets antsy; I have to go into the vestibule now.

It’s a good problem to have, though the people standing in the back will have to bear with us walking back and forth in front of them when it gets too cold for the baby to be in outdoor temperatures. Get there early enough to find a socially distanced seat, or try to concentrate on the homily while the parish’s only baby repeatedly passes in front of you beaming her wide smile to get your attention. Your choice!

 

[Reverent_Howler]

Since churches were reopened here, we’ve had Mass attendance of about 100. One must wear a face covering and apply hand sanitizer upon entering and exiting church. The bishop here has extended the dispensation to not attend Mass through next month now.

 

[Shasta-Rose]

Thanks for posting that ad, HomeschoolDad. I had one like that that somebody had given me some time ago, and I’m going to order a package now.

 

[Socrates92]

I’d be curious to know if there is anywhere in the world that doesn’t have a dispensation in place at the moment. Is that the case for anyone reading this?

 

[Socrates92]

And I refuse to be bullied by all the hard-nosed people who insist that masks are unnecessary, who insinuate that the severity of the risk is exaggerated, and who further insinuate that it is an attempt to impose social control.

How is such an insistence a case of “bullying”?

Look at what happened to Herman Cain

The guy was 74, and thus at risk. That is no reflection on the efficacy or lack thereof of a mask.

 

[Elf01]

I’d be curious to know if there is anywhere in the world that doesn’t have a dispensation in place at the moment. Is that the case for anyone reading this?

I’ve heard that some dioceses have ended the dispensation.

 

[Socrates92]

I’ve heard that some dioceses have ended the dispensation.

Hm, ok. Do you in which countries that has happened?

 

[Socrates92]

Wait until it starts to recede, or after the vaccine, before drawing any conclusions.

Hmm, that implies there is some connection between people’s fear level and the risk level. Not so sure that is the case.