Working toward re-opening our churches and public worship
Bishop LaValley opened a dialogue with his priests about the steps we must take to re-open our churches for public worship. Bishop LaValley has been meeting with public health officials, medical professionals and others to formulate a plan to safely reopen our churches. Bishop LaValley wants us to become aware of the changes we will have to make to once public worship is allowed. These changes will require the understanding and cooperation of us all. These changes include:
- Our churches will have to undergo intensive cleaning and sanitizing to reduce the spread of the virus.
- At the outset, only a certain number of people will be able to physically go to Mass. This is largely determined by the size of the church and the requirements of social distancing.
- All parishioners will wear face coverings while in church to protect themselves and others.
- There will be no holy water in fonts to reduce the risk of infection.
- No offertory processions.
- No passing of the collection basket. The basket will be placed in a fixed location and parishioners will be asked to drop their contributions into the basket as they enter or leave the church.
- The distribution of Communion will be different.
- No worship aids will be available for use, such as missalettes and hymns. This will reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
- There will be no choirs in the early phases of our return to public worship.
- There will be no congregating in the church, on the steps or at the doors of the church so we can maintain social distancing.
- Bishop LaValley will extend the dispensation for Sunday Mass until further notice.
Bishop LaValley has asked his priests to seek ways to implement these changes and to take all necessary steps to assure that we proceed in a way that prevents a resurgence of the virus. Each parish will prepare a specific plan that will incorporate these new features of our Mass experience. These changes are temporary, and the guidelines will change as we make progress against the Coronavirus. Let us pray to St. Joseph for guidance and strength so that when we are allowed to resume public worship we will be prepared.