Updated Parish Covid Protocols
November 2022
While the state of emergency is officially over and liturgical restriction lifted, it is important to remember that COVID-19 is still present in our communities and the risk of catching the virus remains. The parish is committed to provide as safe a place as possible so we can all gather for worship, formation, and fostering community. We hope all will feel welcomed and safe.
Here is what you can do for the parish:
- Stay up to date with vaccines and boosters.
- If you or a family member have any symptoms of Covid, stay home and do not attend any parish events. Symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Follow CDC recommendations when you have been exposed to Covid, or have suspected or confirmed Covid.
Here is what the parish will do:
- Continue to provide masks for those who wish to use them.
- Continue to have one socially distanced section in the church. Masks are now optional in this section.
- Continue to use maximum airflow in our ventilation system during Mass.
- Doors will be opened in between Masses to maximize air exchange, but will no longer be opened during Mass in the winter season.
- Sacristans will continue to wear masks when they prepare the bread and wine.
- When the bread and wine are on the altar, they will be covered when the priests speaks without a mask.
- Eucharistic Ministers will continue to wear masks while distributing Holy Communion and they will sanitize their hands before and afterwards.
- Holy Communion may once again be received on the tongue, however the Eucharistic Minister will sanitize their hands after giving Communion on the tongue out of an abundance of caution and reassure for those next in line. Sanitation stations are now placed next to the bread ministers for this purpose.
There are several ways to mitigate the risk of the coronavirus, including: wearing masks, keeping physical distance, introducing fresh air, reducing the amount of time people are together, keeping current on vaccinations and testing.