Helpful things to know for return to Mass:

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WARNING ABOUT RISK ASSUMED BY PARISHIONERS:

While our parish staff will attempt to take appropriate precautions consistent with the advice of public health authorities, parishioners and guests should understand that they assume the risk of contracting COVID-19 anytime they enter a public space since such precautions do not eliminate the risk of infection.

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DIOCESE OF BELLEVILLE

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UPDATED MASS AND LITURGY GUIDELINES - February 23, 2022

 

CHURCH CAPACITY AND MASKING

• Beginning Ash Wednesday, March 1, masks will be optional at Mass and all liturgical
  celebrations.

• Churches may be at 100% capacity. At this time we will continue to reserve a section in the church for those
  who wish to maintain social distance.

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CELEBRATION OF THE LITURGY

• Hymnals, votive candles and holy water may all be in use.

• Liturgical Ministers – greeters, ushers, gift bearers and servers – may resume their regular roles 

• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may assist with the distribution of Communion.
  Ministers of Holy Communion are required to wear masks during the distribution of Communion
  and to sanitize hands (before and after distribution).

• Congregational singing, choirs and instrumentalists are allowed.

• Processions may resume and continue.

• The Sign of Peace: It will be the decision of individual worshipers as to how they will offer the
  sign of peace. There are various ways to extend sign of peace by gesture.

• Holy Communion: For the foreseeable future, Holy Communion will remain only under the form
  of the consecrated HOST. Communion on the tongue will be permitted, but it is recommended
  that those wishing to receive in this manner present themselves at the end of the Communion procession.

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SACRAMENTS

Funerals and Weddings

• Follow same guidelines as Mass.

 

​Baptism, Confirmation and Anointing of the Sick

• At this time, the use of cotton swabs or cotton balls for anointing should continue.

 

Reconciliation

• Face-to-face may continue.

 

POST-CELEBRATION OF MASS AND LITURGIES
Sanitizing and Disinfecting

• It is no longer required to sanitize the church on a weekly basis. However, it is recommended that
  during flu and cold seasons, disinfecting high-traffic and high-touch surfaces resumes for a period
  of time.

• After every Mass (daily and weekly), it is still required that chalices and patens be washed with
  soap and water. The vessels must first be purified by the priest, deacon or instituted acolyte after
  the distribution of Communion or after Mass. At the conclusion of Mass, after purification, the
  chalices and patens should then be taken to the sacristy and washed with soap and water.

 

OTHER​

Pastoral/Nursing Home Visits

• Pastoral visits may resume with caution in cooperation with facility and county guidelines.

 

Funeral Lunches, Meetings, Social Events, Fish Frys, Parish Festivals

• Capacity may be 100% of area/building space.

• If serving food, food safety precautions must continue to be maintained per the local county
  health department.

• Staff and volunteers serving food are highly encouraged to wear masks and gloves.​