The Archdiocese believes the health and safety of everyone in our church and the Archdiocesan facilities is the top priority for the Archdiocese, the pastor, parish staff and volunteers, especially during this time of pandemic. As a result, the following measures are to be implemented as of this date:
Places of worship:
- Masks are mandatory and are to cover the nose and mouth. The only mask exceptions are for children under two years of age and those with medically certified exemption.
- Church capacity is limited to 1/3 of fire code capacity
- Two metres of physical distancing must be maintained between households, or two close contacts for those living alone
Liturgical Guidelines on Mass:
- Attending Mass is on a first come, first served basis
- No contact tracing information will be collected
- Priests, deacons, and lectors must always wear a mask unless speaking or proclaiming
- Altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, the cantor, and instrumentalists/musicians must wear a mask at all times
- As mentioned above, two metres of physical distancing must be maintained between households, or two close contacts for those living alone
- Congregational singing is suspended at this time
- Only 1 cantor/soloist is allowed
- The cantor/soloist must wear the mask while singing/chanting and must be located away from the congregation and the instrumentalists/musicians
- The use of the mask is required when singing/chanting
- Singing by the cantor/soloist will be limited to the following: Entrance antiphon or unfamiliar hymn, preparation of the altar, Communion, recessional
- Instrumental music may replace singing
- The offertory procession will not resume at this time to avoid unnecessary contact with the vessels. Its resumption will be decided by the end of October 2021
Distribution of Holy Communion:
- Priests/deacons/Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must wear the mask during the distribution of Holy Communion. Hands must be sanitized prior to the distribution
- Mask use is mandatory for all the faithful. Parishioners who are not able to wear a mask for medical reasons can be exempt from this regulation except when receiving Holy Communion
- All parishioners must wear masks when lining up for the distribution of Holy Communion, including those receiving Communion on the tongue or a ‘blessing’
- The communicant removes the mask in front of the priest/deacon/Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion to receive Communion and must put it back on after consuming the consecrated host.
- Communion is only given under one species – the consecrated host
- Communion on the tongue continues to be offered
- If the Ordinary/Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion comes in contact with the Communicant in the distribution, hands are to be sanitized with a quick-drying, alcohol-based hand sanitizer before continuing to distribute Holy Communion
Archdiocesan Guidelines for Social Gatherings:
- No social gatherings are permitted in parish halls and facilities
- In-person meetings and faith-based meetings, which are not social gatherings, are allowed to continue with attendance limited to 1/3 of the room’s fire code occupancy, i.e. RCIA and sacrament preparation
- Masks must be worn at all times
Weddings and Funerals (effective Monday, Sept. 20):
- Indoor wedding ceremonies and funeral services are permitted with up to 50 people
- Indoor wedding and funeral receptions are prohibited
Baptisms:
- Attendance at baptism is allowed for up to 50 people
- Proper physical distancing and the use of masks are required during the celebration of the rite
Reminders:
- Parishes that have livestreaming capabilities are encouraged to continue with livestreaming Masses for those who are not comfortable with returning to Mass in person
- The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass continues for dioceses in the Province of Alberta
- Hand sanitizing remains in effect along with proper hand hygiene
- Please make every effort to implement respiratory etiquette, i.e., coughing or sneezing into bent elbow, promptly disposing of used tissues in a lined garbage bin
Thank you.
