AS OF 29 MAY 2021 (WEEKEND OF TRINITY SUNDAY)
Following the recent decisions of the Indiana Bishops’ Conference and the new guidelines of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, we want to celebrate our progress, keep people safe from the lingering pandemic, and make our liturgies as inviting as possible to as many people as possible. We want to honor and respect both those faithful who long to return to a more “normal” form of liturgical celebration and those who are justifiably concerned about too much exposure to contagions too soon.
Our basic decision is, therefore, to create a hybrid model where there is a more restricted and a less restricted section within the main nave of the church. We ask that only people who already have been fully vaccinated should sit in the less restricted area, along with their children. Adults who have not yet been vaccinated should sit in the socially distanced area with masks.
These protocols will be used for about three weeks, although some things we will need to evaluate every week to see how it’s going. By about June 20 (Father’s Day) there will be a new set of protocols.
- Pews, masks and seating: We seek to be accommodating to as many faithful as possible. The nave will be divided into two sections.
- In the three seating sections on the west side of the nave (on the right as you enter the church) all pews are available for seating. In this area, masks are not required.
- In the two sections on the east side of the nave (on the left as you enter the church), every other pew remains roped off. We ask that masks be worn in this area. We ask further that anyone who is not vaccinated please take a seat in this area.
- This arrangement will be evaluated every week.
- The choir area remains reserved only for musicians. The large plastic barrier will remain in place a few more weeks. (The smaller one can be removed.)
- The extra chairs around the perimeter may be used, and the reconciliation room may be used as extra seating for one family. There is room for up to 40 people in the gathering area, if need be. Finally, the choir rehearsal room can be used as the last seating option.
- Ministers in the sanctuary (celebrant, altar servers, lectors etc.) do not need to wear a mask. (Cf. below under “Mass”.)
- Capacity: By opening up pews in some areas but not in others, and factoring in the perimeter seating, our practical capacity would now be about 375.
- Holy Water:
- There will be slightly chlorinated holy water in the two small stoups by the entrances. We will continue to wash the stoups and switch out the water twice a week all summer.
- There will be slightly chlorinated holy water in the two small stoups by the entrances. We will continue to wash the stoups and switch out the water twice a week all summer.
- Altar: The altar returns to the pre-Covid setup. That is, there is one big corporal in the middle of the altar.
- Credence Table (Credence Wagon): We return to the pre-Covid setup, except we will not yet offer the chalice to the congregation. For a weekend Mass, there are usually 4 ciboria, 1 chalice 1 large corporal (unless it is already on the altar), 1 purificator and 2 extra chalice palls on the cart.
- Ushers & Greeters: You will continue to keep an attendance count. Since we no longer need a precise count, you can use the counter or do a nose count during the Gloria – either method is fine. Someone should also be available at the Welcome station.
- Altar Servers: There will be two altar servers – a cross bearer and an altar master. There is no book bearer at this time. The servers do not need to wear masks. The servers will not hold the book for the priest. They will, however, assist with the lavabo.
- Music:
- There are no longer any restrictions on wind instruments.
- There are no longer any restrictions on choir size.
- The large transparent shield should stay up at least a few more weeks.
- We are now using the hymnbooks (Today’s Missal Seasonal and Music issue).
- The congregation is invited to sing both the hymns and the Mass parts.
- Lectors:
- Starting Saturday, May 29, 2021, we will again use two lectors at each Mass.
- We will continue using the loose-leaf lectionary for a few more weeks.
- We will not carry the Gospel Book in the opening procession just yet. Therefore, the lectors will not join in the opening procession.
- For the next three or four weeks, here is the division of tasks:
- Lector 2 reads the announcements before Mass.
- Lector 1 reads the First Reading. (Note: the choir is responsible for the responsorial psalm.)
- Lector 2 reads the Second Reading.
- Lector 1 reads the intercessions, followed by the offertory announcement.
- Lector 2 comes to the microphone and reads the communion announcement.
- Lector 2 returns to the microphone for the closing announcements. NOTE: on the weekend of May 29/30, a special speaker will do the closing announcements instead.
- At the end of June, we will re-evaluate this whole process.
- Offertory Procession: The bread, wine and water are on the offertory table. There should be at least three people in the procession. Masks are optional.
- Collection: The ushers will not take up a collection and we will not pass a basket from hand to hand. Two large baskets are set up near the door and people are encouraged to put their gifts there. We will re-evaluate this system in July.
- Our Father & Sign of Peace: People may now shake hands at the sign of peace, as they wish. Holding hands during the Our Father is not a Catholic custom but is not forbidden.
- Communion:
- The next few weeks, we will use four communion lines: two in the center aisle, one at each side aisle.
- The priest may elect to distribute communion himself or may ask for a fourth extraordinary minister.
- We still offer communion only in the form of the host. Each distributor may decide whether or not to give communion on the tongue.
- Communion ministers should continue to wear masks at least until the end of June. Please note: this is the only required use of masks now at Mass.
- The communion ministers should also continue to sanitize their hands before distributing.
- The ushers will help guide the congregation forward for communion, starting from the front, like we used to do pre-covid.
- We are no longer enforcing physical distancing during communion.
- After Mass:
- Social events may now be held in the gathering area. We hope to offer refreshments quite often this summer.
- We will continue to fumigate the church every Monday through the end of June.
- Until September, baptisms, weddings, First Communions, confirmations, and similar celebrations will largely be celebrated as separate liturgies and not during Sunday Mass. Exceptions can be made, especially for blessings for a wedding anniversary. With the return of the winter Mass schedule on September 11, 2021, we will also return to our practice of encouraging baptisms and other sacraments at the Sunday assembly.
- Baptism preparation for families returns in September – obligatory for baptism of the first child, optional after that.
- The quinceañera preparation class has returned. This will again be required for anyone who has not yet scheduled a quinceañera. For the four young women already scheduled, it will be optional.
- Marriage preparation continues as usual. Weddings can be celebrated with no particular restrictions.
- Confessions continue as normal. The normal placement of the chairs has been restored. Masks are optional – the priest will probably keep his mask on.
- First Friday Devotions and similar events continue as normal. The Eucharistic Adoration Through the Night will return in July.
- Sacrament of the Sick –
- No group celebrations are planned at this time.
- Individuals may arrange with any of the priests for an anointing in the church at any agreed upon time.
- At this time, only Fr. Bob will be regularly visiting the sick in their homes or at the hospitals. Thank you for your understanding.
- Hospitals and Nursing Homes – There are now new groups of volunteers to visit the nursing homes monthly. These visits will take the place of the previous nursing home Masses.
Friar Robert Showers OFM Conv.
May 27, 2021