Q: Our parish is growing rapidly, and we do not have enough room in the church proper for everyone. So we’ve added seats right outside the front door of the church and have two large monitors. Now we’ve outgrown that space, despite the fact that we’ve added a fifth Sunday Mass. Our pastor wants to add seats in our church hall, which is on church grounds but not attached to the church. There would be monitors, and extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist would bring Holy Communion to those in the hall. I’ve told Father that I think this set-up will cause confusion. People are just getting beyond the “watch Mass on TV” during COVID mindset, and the proposed set-up seems to me to be a broadcast Mass (not an overflow) because the space is not contiguous with the church. Am I correct in this? And, if so, is there some authoritative statement about a situation like ours? Just as an added note: there are PLENTY of churches in our area, many with extra room. But our parishioners have strong preferences for Mass in Spanish and at certain times of the day. Unfortunately, we don’t have the funds to build a larger church right now.
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A: Having too many participants at Mass is an enviable problem, but the potential solutions are unfortunate. You’re not alone—I’ve heard of other churches where something similar has been practiced before, during and after the lockdown.
I don’t know of any authoritative statement on such an arrangement, but you’re right that the proposed solution is not ideal. It does not meet the expectations for full, conscious, active participation that the Council requested.
Best may be to ask for assistance from diocesan leadership to ensure that you’re all taking appropriate actions within the diocesan vision for parish worship and ministry.