Bishop Sweeney, along with the other Bishops in New Jersey, officially welcomes you back to Mass! Today, we celebrate The Feast of Corpus Christi. What an appropriate time to restore our obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. This is a time to reflect on the true presence of Jesus in the Body and Blood of the Eucharist and respond to Jesus’ invitation, “Here is My Body, take and Eat…Do this in Memory of Me.”
My sisters and brothers, let us pray fervently for one another, that we may be the faithful disciples Jesus has called us to be, realizing that we are each members of the “One Body of Christ”. We are most fully His Body, when we gather, physically present to one another, around the table of the Lord, listening to His Word, united in prayer and receiving His Body and Blood in Holy Communion.
This obligation does not apply to those who are ill; those who have reason to believe that they were recently exposed to the coronavirus or another serious or contagious illness; those who are confined to their home, a hospital or nursing facility; or those with serious underlying health conditions. One should consult the pastor if questions arise about the obligation to attend Mass. Liturgical directives (communion in the hand, communion under one species, etc.) in each New Jersey diocese remains in place until modified or revoked by the Diocesan Bishop.
· Masks are no longer required if the person is vaccinated
· The requirement to safe distance is eliminated
· People not vaccinated are required to where a mask
· Enforcement of masks is on the honor system
· Masks will still be available in church
· Occupancy restrictions are lifted
· Communion will continue to be distributed only in the form of the host for the time being
For more information please visit rcdop.org/welcome-back
CLICK HERE for a full list of the protocols as issued by Bishop.