Tanaiste Leo Varadkar shares the optimistic view of resuming public Masses at Churches during early December.
The priests had already begun to draw up plans for the upcoming Christmas services through online mediums.
‘The plan at the moment is not to ease any restrictions, and that means that Masses can only happen online.’ These were the words of Mr Varadkar as he was speaking in the Dail last day.
Varadkar has also said that Taoiseach Micheal Martin has met and discussed the issues with the four Catholic archbishops.
‘Early in December, we hope to be in a position to allow Masses to resume again,’ said Varadkar.
He said that Level 5 restrictions were implemented in worship places because there are the risk of people gathering in and around exit points and also people may take public transport for commuting and this could spread virus.
“All of these things increase the risk of the virus spreading and that is the reason the rules apply. December is not too far away, and I hope it will be possible to allow Masses to resume in person from December 1,’ he added.
Meanwhile, Fr Roy Donovan Co. Limerick priest and a leader of the Association of Catholic Priests, said that he expects the restrictions will be lifted and thus socially distanced congregations of 50 people can gather again.
‘Assuming things do open up, we are planning to increase the number of services we offer. Numbers were getting bigger before the lockdown, and an extra Mass on Sundays will reduce pressure all round,’ he said.
‘In Germany, they have a booking system for Mass, but I’m not sure that would work here. We’re a bit more spur-of-the-moment about things, even going to church,’ he added.