The Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince Albert is accepting physical gatherings once again after being included in phase three of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Trevor Redden

Back to Church

Places of worship begin to reopen

Jun 9, 2020 | 1:01 PM

After two months, people are able to return to places of worship this week as religious groups were included in phase three of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan.

Don’t expect to see large gatherings however, as crowds are restricted to 25 per cent of capacity up to a maximum of 30 people. While some organizations are ready to move forward with limited attendance, others are taking their time.

Mark Bergen, senior pastor at the Prince Albert Alliance Church (PAAC), said returning to physical gatherings is something they are working toward, but aren’t there yet.

“Our leadership team, made up of our board of elders and our pastoral staff, will be strategizing and working together to come up with a plan to prepare for public gathering,” Bergen said.

Since the pandemic shut down services in March, PAAC has continued to operate with weekly live streamed services along with other smaller video groups, and that will continue moving forward.

Freedom and Flexibility

How App-Based Work Creates Economic Opportunity

4h ago

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Seniors Scene

Christmas is Coming

Dec 09, 2025

“Ministry is ongoing in a variety of ways, the best we can, but in order to resume physical public gatherings our leadership team will be meeting to strategize a slow and steady approach,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince Albert is welcoming congregation members back through the doors beginning Sunday.

Bishop Albert Thevenot said each parish will have its own way of keeping the numbers under the limit.

“We want to respect 30 as the number given to us, and therefore it’s up to the different communities to decide how to distribute or allow 30 people to come in. Sometimes it’s by phone calls, sometimes by emails or conversations, but they will contact people and make sure there are only 30 people in the church,” Thevenot said.

Local Catholic churches have also offered livestream services to members online in an effort to stay connected through the pandemic. Moving forward, Thevenot recognizes not everybody will be able to attend services as they have in the past.

“It might cause a bit of disappointment for some who can’t go to the service [if] they have to wait a day or two. But I think people will be understanding that we can’t put more than 30 in,” Thevenot said.

“We would like it to be 50 or 60 or 100 but that will come with time.”