Reopening Guidelines
June 16, 2020
Fr. Patrick Lewis
Our long-awaited re-opening has finally arrived. I want to thank each of you for your prayers and patience during this time. I want to assure you of that we are doing our best to make this a smooth transition back to our scheduled worship.
Make sure to check out our new website at www.stphilip.net and sign up to receive notices and updates. Please make sure we have your email address.
The dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation issued on March 12, 2020, is still in effect until further notice.
Even with the resumption of public liturgies, parishioners who are particularly vulnerable (e.g. over the age of sixty, existing heart or lung conditions, diabetes, or otherwise immuno-compromised) should be urged to remain home. Such individuals should not volunteer or be asked to fulfill liturgical ministries. Likewise, parishioners who feel sick in any way and those with any form of fever or cough should be urged to refrain from public gatherings, including liturgical celebrations.
There will be some changes as we come back to Mass and I wanted to let you know of some of those changes. We are not opening at full capacity at this time and we will notify you as things move forward.
Mass and Confession:
Mass times will remain as they were before we closed the church building.
Confession – 4:00pm Saturday
Vigil Mass – 5:00pm Saturday
Mass Sunday – 9:00am and 11:30am
Daily Mass – 8:30am M-F and 9:00am Saturday
Health and Hygiene
Church Capacity – Until further notice, we will operate at 25% capacity. You will notice that certain pews are taped off for social distancing purposes. Members of the same household may sit together, but there should be at least 6 feet of separation otherwise. Gatherings and mingling before and after Mass or celebrations are prohibited.
Face Covering – All parishioners except those with breathing conditions and very young children are to wear face coverings at all times while in church. (Please continue wearing the mask as you come up for Communion, and only remove the mask for the brief time you place the host in your mouth.)
Temperature Checks – Ushers may take your temperature prior to entering the church. We encourage you to take your temperature before coming to Mass and please do not come to Mass if you have a fever.
Sanitize Hands – Make sure you sanitize your hands upon entering the church.
Cleaning - Pews and other surfaces in the church will be regularly and thoroughly disinfected.
During Mass
Choirs
Choirs will not sing during Mass and we will only have music during the Vigil Mass. Please do not sing along.
Ministers
Use of Altar Servers, Readers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion will be omitted until further notice.
Sign of Peace
The Sign of Peace will be omitted until further notice.
The Lord’s Prayer
Please do not hold hands during the Lord’s Prayer.
Collections
You may place your offerings in the collection baskets collected by the ushers or you may continue your online giving at www.stphilip.net .
Holy Communion
Holy Communion will only be offered under one species. We will not distribute the precious blood from the chalice.
The Deacon or another lay minister will guide you to the front of the Church to receive Communion. Please keep in mind social distancing during this period.
If you are at risk, don’t feel pressured to come up for Holy Communion.
Dismissal
There will not be a processional to the back of the Church at dismissal. The Priest, Deacon and Seminarian will process to the Sacristy.
Please keep in mind social distancing as you exit the Church.