‘God certainly understands’: Marty Walsh urges Bostonians to stay home for Passover, Easter Sunday
"This Easter I urge you to respect life by protecting life," the mayor said.
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Mayor Marty Walsh will not be seeing his mother this Easter Sunday — the first time they have spent the holiday apart.
But Walsh said he’s doing so out of necessity as the region braces for an expected surge in COVID-19 cases, and he’s urging other Bostonians keep their distance from relatives and loved ones, too, during the Passover and Easter observances.
“I’m going to talk to her and call her,” Walsh said during a press conference Thursday. “I’m going to tell her I love her. But I’m not going to see her because I love her.”
As city officials reported 2,800 coronavirus cases and 34 total deaths in Boston, Walsh implored residents to stay home to observe religious holidays in the coming days.
Passover began Wednesday and continues through April 16. Walshes remarks came on Maundy Thursday — or Holy Thursday — as Christians await the arrival of Easter this Sunday, April 12.
“For many people, not seeing family on Easter is hard to accept,” Walsh said. “But listen to me: God certainly understands.”
He advised those taking part in festivities reach out to family members virtually, as many have already done.
“Easter is a time of reflection on permanence of love and faith and how we all overcome darkness,” Walsh said. “This Easter I urge you to respect life by protecting life. Take the time for reflection and prayer at home for what we have to look forward to when we overcome the darkness together.”
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