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Sacramental Guideline to Return to Public Worship
What follows is a series of recommended sacramental guidelines for archdiocesan parishes as we foresee a return to public worship in the forthcoming weeks and months. It is anticipated that the reopening of our churches and the resumption of the public celebration of the sacraments will be a gradual process marked by the following levels of activity:
Level I – Churches Open for Private Prayer and Confessions
Were at this phase right now.
(Confessions will be heard beginning again this Saturday and Sunday. No appointment is necessary. Schedule to follow shortly.)
Level II - Celebration of Baptisms and Marriages (limited to 10 attendees)
Level III - Celebration of the Rite of Distributing Holy Communion Outside of Mass
At the on-line meeting last Friday many pastors, including myself, raised a serious concern about this phase. Why have a Communion service but not Mass? If people can sit in the pew for a Communion service then why can’t they sit in the pew for Mass? It makes no sense. We were told that it will be reviewed and possibly dropped. I hope so!
Level IV – Celebration of Daily and Funeral Masses with Limited Attendance
Level V – Celebration of Sunday Mass with Supervised Attendance Resumption of Full Parish Mass Schedules. -
Guidelines for Upcoming Reopening of Parishes
New York Office of Liturgy Commencement dates and a detailed description of each level will be announced by the Vicar General’s Office in the coming weeks, in consultation with health and government officials and in consideration of current health metrics. It is expected that different regions of the Archdiocese will begin the process of reopening at different times. As our parishes prepare to return to public worship, these guidelines have been provided to pastors to assist them in their pastoral planning as they develop policies and procedures that will be appropriate for their parish community and worship space. Pastors are encouraged to form a “reopening task force” consisting of 3-4 parishioners to assist in reviewing these guidelines and implementing them as will best fit the needs of their parish.
- The obligation to attend Sunday Mass is suspended until further notice.
- Those who are at a higher risk for COVID-19 (i.e., those who are older than 65 or who have underlying health conditions) are urged not to come to church for Mass. Those who cannot attend Mass may be encouraged to spend time daily reading the Scriptures, praying with their families, watching a broadcasted or live-streamed Mass, and making an act of spiritual communion.
- Those who feel in any way sick (e.g., oral temperature higher than 99.5°F, cough, chills, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell) or who are worried about attendance should not enter the church.
- In accordance with current state policy, the faithful (over 2 years old) must wear cloth face coverings when in public, including when they come to church.
- Attendees should sanitize their hands at the entrance of the church via sanitizer stations.
- All present at Mass should sit 6 feet or more away from others. Families may sit together.
- These items should be posted via signage at the entrance of the church. They should also be posted on the parish website or emailed to parishioners.
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