The new school year came and schools reopened with much emphasis on safety and security against the pandemic. For all schools in the Diocese of Orlando it was important to go back to Church and have the 2020-2021 school year be as normal as possible, while still following the safety precautions needed at this time. Sacred Heart students began attending live stream Masses in hopes to have an in-person Mass in the future.
The most awaited in-person school Mass finally happened on September 23, Wednesday after Catechetical Sunday – almost a month into the school year. Led by the eighth grade class and presided by Father Aldrin Nunes, C.Ss.R., everything was new. There were up-to-date Covid-19 safeguards in the pristinely renovated Church. The latest supplements added to Sacred Heart’s School Mass are hand sanitizer, skipping a pew, staying six feet apart when students are seated, and only having four classes in the church for Mass at one time. Masks have to be worn correctly at Mass, removed only if you are speaking at the microphone or receiving Holy Communion. Modified choir spacing fit parish safety guidelines.
Another new beginning among this year’s eight grade class is the new Liturgy Committee, which is essentially a group of 8th-graders who help prepare for the weekly Masses. When asked what the liturgy committee does, member Abbey M., an 8th-grader, said that it is “a committee formed by religion teacher Mrs. Maria Bilodeau a few years ago to help set up and organize school-led Masses and church events. It develops leadership skills among us.” Abbey commented the first school-led Mass was “safe and it was encouraging to see that our school is staying responsible.”
Article written by Angelina F., an eighth grade student at Sacred Heart Catholic School in New Smyrna Beach.
October 5, 2020