Some Manitoba places of worship welcome limited congregants, but others not ready to reopen

Places of worship across Manitoba could open their doors on Friday, and while some have welcomed their much smaller congregations back, othershave decided it's not the time.

New public health orders came into effect across the entire province allowing arange of businesses,services and activities at a strict25 per cent capacity, beginning on Friday.

But places of worshipcannot exceed 10 per cent of their usual capacity or 50 persons, whichever is lower.

Muaaz Jutt, who sits on the board of directors forthe Manitoba Islamic Association, says capacity limit or not, hewas happy to be back in a mosque on Friday.

"It was a definite sigh of relief to be able to come back and connect with our community," he said.

"The mosque is a essential place for the believer. It's an essential place for a Muslim to connect with their community, to find peace in knowing that you're one body."

Normally, observers stand shoulder-to-shoulder and feet-to-feet. That's not possible now, but Jutt says the feeling of solidarity is still there.

"Eventhough we're standing apart, we know we're standing together."

Marty McLean, the pastor of Encounter Life Fellowship, is also opening his doors for the first in-person service of the year on Sunday.

"I'm overjoyed," he said. "We've been looking forward for this time and praying towards this time that we could gather again, even if it's just the 50 maximum, we're fine with that, as long as we can gather."

McLean says in addition to distancing from one another and wearing masks, congregants will have sanitize before sitting down.

They'll also have tosign in to help with any future need forcontact tracing.

Some places of worship being 'extra careful'

Manitoba's largest gurdwara reopened in Winnipeg on Fridaybut not for in-person services, says Jasdeep Devgan, the vice president of the Sikh Society of Manitoba.

He says the space is open for up to 50 people to come and pay their respects, but it didn't seem worth it to reopen for programs orservices for so few people because they are used to seeing more than 2,000 people there in a week.

He says it's easier to maintain a 50 person limit when the doors are open throughout the day, but there aren't any scheduled services.

"We've sort of taken a step a little bit beyond as a matter of precaution," Devgan says.

Likewise, Congregation Etz Chayim in Winnipeg's North End is also not holding in-person services.

Rabbi and spiritual director KlielRose says it doesn't feel fair for only a few members of his congregation to be able to attend in-person services.

But the biggest reason for not holding the services is because of a core tenet of Judaism:saving a life.

"Part of saving a life isn't just arriving on the spot and giving somebody CPR. It's also about putting precautionarymeasures in to prevent anyone from being in harms way," Rose said.

"The virus is most likely going to spread when people congregate in person indoors. And so, we want to just be extra careful and cautious."

Places of worship welcome limited congregants

4 years ago

Duration 1:57

Places of worship across Manitoba could open their doors on Friday, and while some have welcomed their much smaller congregations back, others have decided it's not the time.