Amendments to WorshipSafe document procedures for Parishes:

Clergy News – July 26, 2021 (Official PDF)

CHAPTER 5 & 6: BASIC RULES APPLICABLE TO ALL CHURCHES AND PARISH FACILITIES AND FOR THE CELEBRATION OF MASS:

• Physical distancing of two metres (six feet) remains the requirement for attendance in church and parish facilities, including seating, however, groups of people from the same household may be seated together.
• Mask wearing remains required. Masks should be fitted properly to the face.
• Cleaning procedures for pews, washrooms, confessionals, reconciliation rooms are relaxed so as to require only regular cleaning in accordance with pre-Covid-19 routines.
• Churches should be well ventilated when possible.
• Bulletins, envelopes, pamphlets and newspapers may again be distributed as per pre-COVID-19 practices.
• Votive light stands may be re-opened, subject to notices requiring appropriate distancing of two metres (six feet).
• Crying Rooms and Small Chapels may be used again as long as proper distancing is maintained. Children’s liturgy may resume with proper distancing and supervision.
• The preference continues that confessions should be heard outside of the Confessional to allow for proper distancing, cleaning and contact tracing
• Collections may again be taken up using baskets in the traditional fashion. All Ushers involved in taking up collection should ensure that they wear masks while undertaking this task and use a collection basket with a long handle to maintain the two metres (six feet) distancing.
• Hand Sanitizing – It is no longer necessary for all entering a church to use hand sanitizer, though churches are encouraged to have such sanitizer on hand and available should it be asked for.
• Altar servers may be employed again, as long as they maintain the two metres (six feet) distance.
• Communion procedures are unchanged despite the lessening of restrictions in other areas. Both the person distributing communion and the communicant must be fully masked. Communion received only in the hand at this time.

– ALL OTHER DIRECTIVES IN THE PANDEMIC MANUAL REMAIN IN FORCE – FOR A FULLER EXPLANATION OF THE AMENDMENTS – PLEASE CALL THE PASTORAL CENTRE TO DOWNLOAD THE FULLER DOCUMENT.