Church Opening Protocols

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.

General Guidance to Parishioners

• Dispensation from obligation to participate in Sunday and Holy Day Mass remains in effect, however parishioners should view the on line Mass if they chose to not attend Mass live in the church
• Hymnals and missals will not be used and have been removed
• Those who are vulnerable should remain at home until all restrictions are lifted
• Anyone with cough or fever should remain at home
• Anyone concerned with crowds or potential spreading of germs should remain at home
• All persons over age 2 should wear a mask at all times
• Families are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizer, however sanitizer will be available
• All people inside the church must practice social distancing - 6 feet minimum (unless they are from the same household)
• Collection baskets will be available in Narthex for parishioners to drop their envelopes - no formal collection will be taken
• Exchange of Peace is to be shared without human contact
• Maintain social distancing during Communion time
• Maintain social distancing during arrival and at recessional
• No congregating will be allowed after Mass
• Restrooms should only be used in case of necessity
  • Hand sanitizers will be available in restrooms
  • Please inform an usher if you use the restroom to ensure sanitization
• Ushers will monitor attendance to ensure we do not exceed the maximum allowed - arrive early to ensure not being turned away due to full capacity

Entering/Exiting Church

• All will enter via the doors by the school
• All will exit via main doors
• Exceptions for seniors and handicapped
• Immediately leave at end of Mass, no congregating

Masses

• All Masses will be in the Church to ensure enough space for social distancing, including the 730am Sunday Mass normally in the Chapel
• Masses will be as follows:
  • 5pm Saturday
  • 730am Sunday
  • 9am Sunday
  • 11am Sunday
  • 6pm Sunday
• Saturday attendees are encouraged to attend the 9am and 6pm to spread the crowd out
• 11am Sunday attendees are encouraged to attend 730am, 9am and 6pm to spread the crowd out
• We will record the 5pm Saturday Mass and post on the website and Facebook.  
  • This will be done via phone/ipad and will not be at the quality of the prerecorded Masses during the shutdown.  
  • The recorded Mass will be available for Sunday am.
• Starting Monday July 6 the 8:15am Mass will be in the church on a daily basis

Sanitizing

• Portable dispensing stations are available throughout the church 
• Sanitizer dispensers will be installed in each restroom
• Liturgical ministers and Ushers will also have bottles of sanitizer to "dispense" to each parishioner as they enter

Ushers - Collection/Sanitizing

• Open all glass doors prior to mass
• Open exit doors just prior to end of mass
• Enforce alternate pew, mask, 6 foot separation guidance, total attendance and entering/exiting guidelines
• Guide attendees ONE ROW AT A TIME through communion
  • Start with center sections
  • Then move to out sections
  • See diagram below
• Provide masks and sanitizer as necessary
• Add folding chairs as necessary to accommodate overflow attendance
• Baskets will be placed at the doors for folks to drop in envelopes
• Ushers will wear masks 
• Ushers use gloves when bagging the collection and sanitizing after mass
• Congregation exits by pew starting in rear of the church
• Will wipe down all pews and door handles AFTER Mass in prep for the next Mass
• Surfaces in bathrooms to be wiped down as well

Music/Choir

• No singing is allowed for the immediate future
• All parts of the Mass will be recited
• Michael will still provide background music 

Lectors

• Will be required to wear mask
• Will NOT process in or out 
• A sanitizing bottle will be available for use before and after reading
• Lector A will do First Reading and lead the recited Responsorial Psalm
• Lector B will do Second Reading, the Prayers of the Faithful and lead Spiritual Communion
• The Book of Gospels will be placed on the Altar before Mass starts
• Lectors may sit with their families or on the altar as desired - please let priest know before Mass starts

Eucharistic Ministers

• EM's will be allowed but will NOT process in
• EM's may sit with their families or on the altar as desired - please let priest know before Mass starts
• EM's will be required to wear mask
• Only one EM in addition to the priest

Holy Communion Process

• Communion will be distributed only via center aisle
  • Proceed one row at a time, one section at a time, maintaining social distancing - Ushers will coordinate
  • Ushers will ensure congregation only proceeds via center aisle
  • See diagram attached
• Communion will only be in one form and in the hand of recipient
• A sanitizing bottle will be available at each communion station for the ministers as necessary
• A sanitizing station will be available for communicants as well as they come up the center aisle
• Spiritual communion will also be offered for those not partaking in the Eucharist

Altar Servers

• Will be suspended for the time being