On successive Sundays on March 1 and 8, 2020, Archbishop Wilton Gregory presided at a ceremony at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to personally welcome more than 1,100 people preparing to become full members of the Catholic Church during this year's Easter Vigil in their parishes across the Archdiocese of Washington.

But by mid-March, Archbishop Gregory had to announce a moratorium on public Masses at churches in the archdiocese due to government restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. That temporary ban continues until further notice, and is in keeping with local and federal mandates prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people and limiting other social interaction.

For the 1,142 people set to become full members of the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil at parishes and campus ministries in the archdiocese, that meant a delay in their reception of the Sacraments of Initiation.

“It is very disappointing to be in this process (of preparing to enter the Church) for a long time and have the finish line in sight, and now the line has been moved,” said Sara Blauvelt, the Archdiocese of Washington’s director for catechesis. “It's hard not to be discouraged, but we have to remember there is great hope in Christ, and that is what we have to cling to.”

Father Martino Choi, director of the archdiocese's Office of Worship, said in an e-mail to the Catholic Standard that “for those who were to receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil, that’s all unfortunately been postponed.”

Blauvelt - echoing the words of Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and one of the lead members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force – said, “We don't make the timeline, the virus makes the timeline.”

“Humility makes us realize that we are not in charge like we are used to being,” she said. “We must have the humility to say, 'This is in God's time, in God's hands.' God knows their (the candidates' and the elects') hearts are ready to receive Him, but we cannot gather together and endanger people's lives.”

Father Choi said, “We are hoping that we’ll be able to resume large gatherings during the Easter Season.”

“The Pentecost Vigil, which traditionally was also a time when the Sacraments of Initiation were conferred, in the early Church, would be an appropriate time for them to receive the sacraments, and we hope it can happen,” he noted.

Blauvelt agreed, saying, “Our hope is (to have people enter the Church) at the Pentecost Vigil. At Pentecost, we celebrate the birthday of the Church. There is a lot of nice symbolism to the Pentecost liturgy, and it is a nice time for the Sacraments of Initiation.”

She added that while Pentecost is a hoped-for date, there are no guarantees. Easter this year is on April 12, and Pentecost will be on Sunday May 31.

The Archdiocese of Washington recently posted a special message from Archbishop Gregory to those preparing to become full members of the Church, including the Elect who will be receiving Baptism, Confirmation and Communion, and Candidates who are already baptized but will be receiving the sacraments of Confirmation and Communion.

Archbishop Gregory noted how joyful it was at the beginning of Lent to celebrate together their desire to become members of the Catholic Church in the archdiocese.

“In the intervening weeks, an unimaginable pandemic has altered every aspect of our daily lives. Our new reality is that we live in a paused moment,” the archbishop said, noting that has prevented “our ability to join together in worship of God as a community of believers.”

Archbishop Gregory said that “my disappointment blends with yours as we must wait,” while the time to resume public gatherings is unknown at this time.

“Know that as soon as we are safely able to welcome you into the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation, our parishes will throw open wide their doors and our arms in an embrace of welcome,” he said.

The archbishop concluded his message by saying, “As we continue to pause, I pray that together we look with confidence to an Easter horizon of resurrection, hope and new life. Until that joyful day, know that you remain close to my heart. Your initiation truly brings remarkable joy and new life to the heart of your archbishop and to all the faithful who will be joined with you as brothers and sisters in Christ.”

In her earlier interview with the Catholic Standard, Blauvelt noted, “This is a sad time for us and our Church, but new life will come after the pandemic, and new life in Christ will come for our Candidates and Elect.”

Blauvelt said that the delay in receiving new members into the Church should be a disappointment shared by all the faithful.

“Every parish is enriched by new family members. Every time someone joins the faith – comes to Christ in the Catholic Church – we are richer. So, we are impoverished as we wait with them,” she said. “We are all in this together. We acknowledge their disappointment, and we are disappointed alongside them.”

She added that “parishes have learned to value those who have joined us, and we look forward to welcoming those who will be joining us. We are serious about welcoming them.”

Blauvelt noted that Easter is celebrated for 50 days and receiving people into the Church during this season “is tied to the new life we have at Easter.”

“There will be Baptisms and Confirmations and First Eucharists. We don't know when it's going to happen, but it absolutely will happen,” she said. “Right now, we are not saying 'No,' we are saying 'Not yet.' This waiting is a time of frustration, but we anticipate the joy to come. Holy hope is a spiritual challenge for our elect and candidates and all of us. Just image when that happy day comes and the celebration there will be.”

(Mark Zimmermann contributed to this article.)