On This Date in Nativity History
16 March 2020
The coronavirus pandemic came into public awareness in late January 2020; by mid-March, it was obvious that drastic measures had to be taken to avoid a public health disaster. And so, across the country, in community after community, people began to lock down in their own homes to avoid contagious contact. On Monday, March 16, Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge announced precautions to be taken in view of the spread of the covid-19 virus. Effective immediately, all public celebrations of the Mass were cancelled throughout the Diocese, an unprecedented measure. Churches were to remain open for those who wish to pray so long as they followed safe distancing practices and did not exceed ten persons.
At Nativity, school leaders were the first to be challenged by the lockdown. School administrators had already begun to plan for a shutdown of schools before Friday, March 13; on Friday morning Virginia Governor Ralph Northam closed all schools for two weeks (an order that he was soon to extend to cover the rest of the school year). So, that day all available parish personnel allowed to enter the school, including the clergy and building maintenance staff, went through every desk in every classroom, putting each student’s belongings into plastic bags labeled with the student’s name. All these bags were then gathered outside the school so that families could drive by and pick up their child’s bags. Those not gathered in this way were delivered to each family’s home by the school Registrar and Administrative Assistant, Shannon Murphy (photo). The following Monday and Tuesday were declared “snow days,” and then classes went online for the rest of the school year.