INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Monday, the Catholic church suspended all Masses in all its churches across the entire state. The decision affects more than a half-million parishioners in large cities and small communities.
At St. John Catholic Church in downtown Indianapolis, Father Rick Nagel looked over the small crowd of parishioners gathered for the last daily noon Mass.
“I will have to admit, I am a little choked up,” he told them.
All public Masses in all of Indiana’s Catholic churches are called off for no one knows how long.
Kelly O’Hanrahan attends Mass frequently.
“It hurts. It absolutely hurts," she said.
More than a half-million Catholics are left to worship on their own.
Brea Cannon attend the Mass with her husband and their two small children.
“It’s going to hurt our hearts,” she said.
According to a written statement, Indiana’s five bishops canceled Masses after getting new information and recommendations from health officials trying stop the spread of COVID-19.
“It is a hard time for our world,” Paul Sifuentes said quietly as he left the church.
It is a world battling a seemingly unstoppable deadly virus.
It’s been said that there are no atheists in foxholes. Because in times of war and major uncertainties, many people turn to God and the church. Catholic and many other churches, when needed most, are having to close their doors.
“When there is something going on like this, then you want to be with those people,” Cindy Maude said. “You want to be able to pray and ask for peace ask for calmness.”
And in a world where everyone is now expected to live and work in isolation.
“There is a community here,” said Missy Brassie. “There are people here we can rely on and people we can connect with.”
Father Nagel is optimistic that even without a worship service, people will find God and each other.
“Because all of us will be searching for answers and for goodness that God wants to do in the midst of this darkness," he said.
The faithful charged with spreading their faith are instead trying to stop the spread of the coronavirus.