All Saints Parish Reopening Plan
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ALL SAINTS PARISH REOPENING PLAN
All Saints Recommendations:- As people of faith, we must always be aware of the importance of acting in a socially responsible way, to give good examples to others, and to act with charity toward all. Everything possible will be done to provide the church’s sacramental life in a timely and reasonable way. The current situation remains dangerous and fragile.
- Our first consideration is the spiritual and physical health of our parishioners and those whom they encounter, especially the most vulnerable—the elderly and those with chronic illness. We must rely on medical professionals and governmental standards to inform our decisions.
- The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday and Holy Day Masses continues until further notice. Although the faithful are dispensed from their obligation to attend Mass, they are encouraged to spend time in prayer on Sunday (such as following a livestream Mass or participating in a spiritual or corporal act of mercy). Out of an abundance of caution for those at high risk, the dispensation from attending Sunday Mass continues even after public Masses resume.
- Those who are at higher risk of COVID-19 (e.g., those who are sixty-five and older or who have underlying health conditions) are advised to continue staying at home. Likewise, anyone with a temperature, a cough of any sort, and anyone feeling ill, should not come to the church for a visit or for any ceremonies. As circumstances allow, a visit from a priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion to bring them the Eucharist is encouraged.
- All Clergy and Lay ministers are encouraged to be tested for COVID-19 where this is possible.
- We will continue to livestream our 11:00 AM Mass.
- We ask that no one or group hold events before or after Mass
Physical Arrangement and Procedures
- All Parishioners are asked to bring their own sanitizers and mask.
- All door handles, pew seats and items of devotion will be sanitized after every Mass
- Signs will be posted close to the entrance door to alert parishioners to the safety protocols to be observed especially face coverings and social distancing
- The side entrance close to the courtyard will be our main entrance and the main doors will be our exit except for Seniors and those with disabilities who can exit through the side entrance
- Please observe the floor signage and six-foot distance rule, It will be strictly enforced.
- Please observe social distancing whenever you use the bathrooms. Bathrooms will be sanitized after every mas
Protocol for Mass
At the beginning of Mass, an announcement is made communicating the temporary liturgical alterations such as no handshake at the sign of peace, no holding of hands at the Lord’s Prayer and explaining the distribution of communion as well as exiting the Church.
All Liturgical ministers maintain six-foot distance from each other at all times. All ministers must wear mask at all times during Mass, with the exception of receiving Communion or perhaps reading while serving as lector.
All ministers must sanitize their hands before Mass and before preparing all necessary books, sacred hosts and vessels.
Offertory procession is omitted. All cash collected will be directly place on the safe and it will be quarantined for three days.
Beginning of Mass
1. The only entrance to the Church will be at the side close to the courtyard.
2. All ushers are required to wear facemasks.
3. Each person must wear a mask at all times inside the Church.
4. Parishioner must physically distance themselves and to follow the signs on the pavement as they enter the Church.
5.Temperature of people will be taken as they come to the entrance of the Church.
6. Each person are asked to bring mask and must wear them at all times inside the Church.
7. Each person will be given a number and escorted to their assigned seat.
8. Do not move around or to try to find your own seat,
During Mass
1. Once Mass starts, ushers should accompany each person to their seat.
2. Once a reading has begun, ask them to wait until the reading is completed before being seated.
3. During the collection, ushers must wear mask and protective sanitation gloves, and use the collection baskets with handles. Ushers must wash their hands after touching these items.
4. The collection then is taken directly to the sacristy and put in the safe.
5. Holy Communion is distributed only to the Liturgical ministers at the usual time during mass. Communion for our parishioners in the pew will be distributed immediately after the conclusion of Mass with no recessional music.
6. All Communion ministers will wear mask while distributing Holy Communion.
6. Holy Communion will be given only by section and by pew. Persons receiving communion should remove gloves before coming forward.
7.. During the Communion distribution, the ushers will ask each person in a pew to stand and line up, following social distancing and the markers on the floor.
8. After receiving Communion, people may depart after making a brief prayer of thanksgiving.
9. The ushers will allow each person to exit following social distancing.
10. The only exit will be at the main entrance of the Church, except for Seniors and those with disabilities who can exit through the side entrance.
After Mass
1. After all the people have exited the Church, the pews will be sanitized using wipes or our sanitizer machine.
2. Make sure all trash is deposited in the trash bins.
3. Check if all the blue tapes are still in place and if not fix them.
4. Close the Church until 15 minutes to the hour to allow time for sanitizing as well as for clean-up and preparation for the next Mass.
Other Services
Reconciliation/Confession- The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated in the parking area close to the School at 3:30 PM on Saturdays. This is preferable so that there is better circulation of air and additional space for safe distance between the confessor and the penitent as well as other penitents.
- The confessor and the penitent must wear mask.
- There will be 2 tents with two chairs separated by flexi glass.
- The penitents will observe a distance that provides privacy from the penitents.
- Those who are waiting must observe six feet of social distancin
Baptism
1. The celebration of Baptism is allowed but restricted to the immediate family members and godparents. They must wear face masks during the ceremony and observe social distancing.
2. The baptismal water to be used should be clean and blessed for that celebration.
3. The Holy Oils should be applied, using cotton, on the one baptized. The cotton with holy oils should be burned after the celebration or disposed of properly.
Funerals
1. Attendance is restricted to the immediate family and relatives.
2. All must wear face mask and all should observe social distancing.
Anointing of the Sick
1. As we have done during the Shelter in Place, we will anoint the sick. Everyone near the sick person should wear mask as well as the priest. The priest can use cotton with Oil of the Sick.