Catholic Church on College Hill still adjusting through pandemic

PULLMAN, Wash. – As Pullman continues to watch Coviid-19 cases increase, Father Steve Dublinski of Sacred Heart Catholic Church finds himself stuck in the middle of it all.

The parish, notably, is tucked between rows of undergraduate housing atop CollegeHill.“Our fundamental concern in for the health of the whole community,”

Father Dublinski said. “We do what we can. We can’t control what other people do, but we can control what we do.”

Sacred Heart has provided online Mass for those at-risk since early March, offered socially distant confessions, suggested scripture readings for their parishioners, and even delivered holy water to 80 different families for Easter Sunday.

However, all in-person services have been cancelled as of Sept. 15 according to a letter written by Dublinski on behalf of the Parish. This is the second time since March Sacred Heart has suspended in-person services – the previous of which this past March via the advisory of Bishop Thomas Daly.

The New York Times lists top cities in the United States for Covid-19 cases percapita. Pullman, once peaking high as number one, still remains in the top five.

“What we have seen this year compared to previous years is not much of achange,” Commander Jake Opgenorth said. “When we’re trying to slow or stop thespread of Covid and enforcing the governor’s proclamation, that was kind of concerning.”

To many students, this comes as no surprise.“It’s kind of a given,” WSU Student Mwila Mwila said. “When you get thousands of socially deprived students and you put them in a college town with no parents, there is definitely bound to be some people who feel like they don’t need to take on the responsibility.”

In the meantime, Sacred heart continues to adapt – not expected a return to normal, in-person services for another year according to Father Dublsinki.