As we begin to open up our Church for public Mass, I want to give some updates of what we are doing in preparation and the guidelines that will be in place until further notice.
As the Vicar General stated in his Letter to the Pastors. “As our Pastors prepare to return to public worship, guidelines are being provided to Pastors at this time to assist them in their pastoral planning as they develop policies and procedures that will be appropriate for their parish communities and worship space.” The safety and security along with respecting our liturgical traditions is of utmost importance.
 
Our maintenance staff has continued to clean and sanitize our Church on a regular basis and will continue to do so with additional cleaning on the weekends when we begin Sunday Mass.
 
        The Public Celebration of Mass: until further notice

• The Mass schedule will remain the same.
• Masks must be worn by anyone over the age of 2.
• The center pews have a maximum capacity marked on each pew. Please separate while in the pew.
• Those with special needs. The first row in each section of the Church is reserved for you as is our practice.
• The remaining sections on either side of the Church are for families. You may sit together with no separation. Please do not sit in the center of these pews which are marked in blue.
• The Chapel will remain closed.
• Holy Water Fonts will remain empty
• Hand Sanitizers will be available at the entrances of the Church if so wish.
• Bulletins will be left at the entrances of the Church for weekend Masses.
• The weekly & second collections will not be collected by the ushers. Collection boxes are located at the entrances of the Church for you to deposit your donation before or after Mass. 
• There will be no Offertory Procession
• The sign of peace will not be offered.
• We will have an organist & cantor at Sunday Mass. However, hymnals have been temporarily removed. 
• Liturgical Ministers will be assigned at the descretion of the Pastor. (Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers, Altar Servers)

• As you approach the altar for Holy Communion please properly distance yourselves.
• The Priests, Deacons & Extraordinary Ministers will sanitize their hands before and after the distribution of Holy Communion and  if any contact should occur during the distribution the ministers will immediately sanitize their hands. 
• The Priests, Deacons will not wear masks during Mass except for the distribution of Holy Communion.

When you come up to receive Our Lord for Holy Communion 
after the Priest/ Minister says, “The Body of Christ- Respond Amen.

Then remove your face covering in front of the Priest/ Minister
You can move the face covering down in front of your face or let it hang on one side of your face.

Then receive Holy Communion in front of the Priest/ Minister.
Put your face covering back on and return to your seat.

This will go a long way in preventing Our Lord from falling to the ground.

Please make sure that when you receive in the hand that you place one hand over the other. Please do not grab or take the host from the Priest/ Minister- Let us place the Sacred Host in your hand.
Also, no gloves, rosary beads should be in your hands
when receiving Our Lord.

We thank you for your cooperation as we navigate through maintaining our Worship and keeping everyone safe.