Memorial Day observances continue — ‘virtually speaking, that is’

Memorial Day church services and other observances went on largely without a hitch Monday, though many churches around the state chose to live stream or put together a video for their ceremonies rather than let people gather in person.

At the mausoleum at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, the Rev. Larry Sullivan, the priest director of Catholic Cemeteries, started by thanking those participating in the services “virtually speaking, that is,” as the city’s Catholic cemeteries sought to continue a Memorial Day observance tradition under unusual circumstances.

“Each and every year there are field masses at all of our cemetery locations,” Sullivan said. “This pandemic has made that impossible for us to do, but we wanted to make sure that we still remember all those who mourn the loss of their loved ones on this day in a very special way. We also want to remember all those who gave their lives in service to our country and so we remember all of our veterans, those who died in service to our country, and all those that we have lost.”

The nearly 45-minute service, available on the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Catholic Cemeteries website, started with images from cemeteries and those honoring fallen service members as well as a simple message: “This Memorial Day, we can’t come together as usual but we still remember all who served and all whom we miss.”

Led by Bishop-elect Michael McGovern, the service itself didn’t contain many overt nods to the pandemic that’s disrupted church services. During prayers, however, God was asked to hear “all who are on the front line of this COVID-19 pandemic.”

It also was asked that “all gathered in their homes may find comfort in the Lord” and that the “men and women who have died in service and all others who have died may find peace in your presence.”

The Village of Riverside commemorated Memorial Day with a video of its own, splicing together footage from previous services.

On a Zoom video call, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin urged people to “remember the true meaning of” this holiday.

“It’s not about the parade, it’s about the patriotism,” Irvin said. “It’s not about the barbecue, it’s about the bravery. It’s not about the swimming pools, it’s about the sacrifices. ... It’s not about the holiday itself, it’s about the honor. We don’t have a parade this year. barbecues are limited, swimming pools are closed, but this holiday is still relevant.”

President Donald Trump on Friday called for churches and other houses of worship to reopen on Friday, sparking criticism from Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who called Trump’s remarks the latest in a long list of the president’s “dangerous and foolish” comments.

Trump, who has been pushing for the economy to reopen even as the virus continues to spread in the country, stressed on Friday the importance of churches in many communities, and took issue with other businesses and services that have been allowed to continue to operate.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he’s “as anxious as anybody to make sure that our churches or mosques or synagogues open back to where they were before COVID-19 came along.

“We’re gradually moving in that direction, but there’s no doubt, the most important thing is we do not want parishioners to get ill because their faith leaders bring them together,” Pritzker said from Springfield Friday.

Contributing: Mitchell Armentrout