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June 17, 2020You can access a PDF of the full document, which inludes Bishop Fabbro's letter here. The directives and guidelines are also below:
1. The Universal Application of Physical Distancing
In all cases, when community gatherings take place, or when individuals are using the church or other facilities, a physical distance of two metres (six feet) is to be strictly maintained.
2. Temperature Monitoring
Those who will be involved in ministry during the Mass, or any other sacraments, must take their temperature before arriving at the church. Any individual whose temperature is above 37.8°C/100°F or who shows any compatible symptoms must not enter the church, and should ask for medical help. Priests who are ill must not celebrate Mass.
3. Cleaning of Churches and Related Facilities- Pastors/administrators of Families of Parishes or parish clusters may choose to open one or more sites at their discretion during the pandemic.
- Churches should always be clean and tidy; however, in times of pandemic, extra care and attention must be taken to ensure that surfaces remain as clean as possible to reduce the transmission of infection.
- All staff engaged in cleaning (including the handling of soiled laundry or waste materials) must wear masks and disposable gloves. Masks must be disposed of when dirty, or no later than the end of the day. Gloves should be changed as often as necessary, usually at the end of any task or after cleaning a washroom.
- All surfaces (floors, seating, kneelers) must be wiped at least once per week with warm water containing sanitizing agents that are related to killing germs; carpets must be vacuumed. All pew fronts and the tops and sides of benches must be wiped with a sanitizing agent after each event. Disinfectant cleanser to be used should not be damaging to wooden surfaces, but should be germicidal, meaning having an alcohol content of 70% or 0.5% hydrogen peroxide or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite (bleach) or electrolyzed water (hypochlorous acid). See Appendix I.
- During the week, if the church is open for private prayer or for liturgies with small groups, it is recommended that seating be restricted to one area so as to eliminate the cleaning of other areas.
- It is generally accepted that any surface contagion on floors, pews and other surfaces will live no longer than 72 hours. If there are gaps of 72 hours between uses of the church, no further cleaning/disinfecting need take place.
- When someone falls sick in the church, the area within a two-metre (six-foot) radius is to be thoroughly cleaned before it can be used again.
Church washrooms are to be used for emergencies only. No more than one person/family (living at the same address) at a time should use a washroom. Notices to this effect must be posted outside the washroom. Hand-washing signs should be placed in the washroom. Washrooms must be cleaned after every Mass In the event that a washroom is soiled due to some accident, it must be closed, pending thorough cleaning with disinfectant.
Water Fountains
Water fountains or coolers must remain out of service during the duration of the pandemic.
Disinfectant Hand Sanitizer Dispensing Machines
Each church should have a minimum of two of these devices at the entrance and exits doors of the church. Each parishioner should be directed to sanitize their hands when entering the church. These devises should be touchless and must be maintained.
Holy Water Fonts
Holy water fonts must remain empty until further notice.
Sacred Vessels
All sacred vessels used in the liturgy shall be cleaned with warm soapy water and hot rinse after they have been purified following each Mass.
4. Posting of Notices
It is important to post notices in prominent places at all entrances to the church regarding the requirements for entering the church and participating in any liturgical celebrations. Notices should include the following directives:- Entrance is not permitted to those who have an elevated temperature, or are suffering from cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, undue fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle aching, runny nose, chills involving shakes, loss of taste or smell. Those who feel sick, are expected to stay home.
- Be sure to follow the guidance of the ushers/ministers of hospitality and sit only in the designated places to ensure physical distancing at all times.
- Avoid touching your face or other persons.
- All persons over the age of eight are strongly encouraged to wear a mask.
5. Preparing the Church for the Liturgy
In addition to cleaning and disinfecting the church and adjacent facilities before the use of the church for the liturgy or for personal prayer, the following directives shall to be observed:
Volunteers
Training for volunteers must take place before opening for Mass. See Appendix II.
Signage
In addition to notices mentioned above, signs should be posted at the entrance(s) of the church listing times of liturgical celebrations and times when the church will be open for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and personal prayer. Link to the webpage with downloadable signs has alreadty been communicated.
Church Entrances
Where possible, weather permitting, it is recommended that the doors of the church should be open to avoid contact with handles. If this is not possible, ushers, wearing masks, should assist. In addition, signs are to be posted regarding who may enter, the use of Personal Protective Equipment and distancing, as noted above.
In order to avoid surface contact, all printed material such as bulletins, pamphlets and newspapers should be removed. Areas for the sale of religious articles and votive candles should be closed.
Hymnals, Prayer Books, Envelopes
All hymnals, prayer books and other papers shall be removed from the pews during the pandemic.
Elevators
Only one person (with an assistant, as needed) is to use the elevator, preferably with an attendant who will ensure that doors and handles are kept clean after each use.
Seating
During the pandemic, to ensure that physical distancing takes place, each church must be cordoned off in such a way as to promote two-metre (six-foot) distances. Seats should be designated by tape markings. Seating must be marked in such a way that there is alternation of patterns of every third row to guarantee spacing. Depending on the width of the aisles, seats at ends of pews may need to be blocked. See Appendix III.
Floors and Aisles
In high traffic areas (entrances and aisles) tape must be used to designate spacing of two-metre (six-foot) increments and also indicate the direction of movement for the Communion procession. The tape should be a bright colour and distinguished from the colour of the floor surface. It should be of sufficient quality to remain in place and so that it can be removed or repaired without harm to the surfaces. The tape should be inspected every weekend to ensure it is in good condition and remains visible.
Disabled Area
Those who attend church with a personal mobility device should be placed in a designated area with sufficient space to allow a two-metre (six-foot) space between each person.
Sanctuary
Seating in the sanctuary should be limited and must be arranged to ensure physical distancing.
Sacristy
Entrance to the sacristy shall be limited to those who are required to prepare for the liturgy. If the room is small and does not allow for the required distancing, one person at a time should use the room. All surfaces in the room are to be kept clean.
Crying Rooms
Crying rooms must be closed.
Overflow Crowds and Standing Room
This is discouraged unless there is sufficient space to allow for distancing, and for aisles to be clear so that traffic is not impeded.
Washrooms
In addition to cleaning and disinfecting the washroom(s), a sign is to be posted indicating that they are to be used only in necessity, and only by one person or family at a time. A sanitizing fluid device (preferably touchless) should be placed outside each washroom.
Meeting Rooms
All adjacent meeting rooms shall remain closed during Mass.
Confessionals and Reconciliation Chapels
Most confessionals and reconciliation chapels are too small to ensure physical distancing. A larger room elsewhere in the parish complex should be used. In addition to the opportunity for face-to-face Confession, a portable kneeler with a screen should be in place for the penitent who wishes to remain anonymous, provided the penitent wears a mask. The penitent should wipe the door handle with disinfectant upon leaving the room.
Capacity Control and Contact Tracing
Pastoral teams will face the challenge of determining how to ensure compliance with capacity restrictions when welcoming parishioners to Mass. To help regulate capacity, the team/staff at a church should first determine how many places are available through measurement and cordoning off sufficient pews and seats to maintain the regulated capacity. See Appendix III for a sample method to determine this.
To be able to determine when parishioners will arrive for Mass, one of the following methods may be used:- an on-line reservation system such as EventBrite, Survey Monkey, or Sign-Up Genius;
- allow parishioners to telephone the parish office to indicate their preferred time to attend Mass;
- a “first come, first served” basis.
In the event of an outbreak (even one person) of the virus at any Mass, the parish should alert all those who attended that Mass so that they can get medical assistance and be quarantined. When parishioners are making their reservation, therefore, the parish should collect the surname, number of members of the household attending, and their telephone number. This, or some other means of knowing who attended any particular Mass, should be collected to provide “contact tracing” in the event of an outbreak. Parishioners or visitors who arrive without a reservation should also be asked for their name and phone number for the same reason. One surname and phone number per group is sufficient.
6. Churches Open for Prayer
Since most adoration chapels are too small to ensure physical distancing, they must remain closed during the pandemic if social distancing cannot be assured and enforced. However, a church may be open for determined times for prayer and adoration. Times when a church is open should be posted. Seating should be limited to specific areas for later cleaning.
Supervision
Churches should never be left open unsupervised. Compliance with physical distancing should be enforced by an attendant in charge. Any refusal to comply should be reported to the Pastor or member of the pastoral staff.
7. Schedule for Masses
Pastors/administrators, for the duration of the pandemic, may adjust the timing of Masses and the number of Masses celebrated within their Family of Parishes, or their parish cluster, to meet the needs of their communities. They should take into consideration the time needed to clean the church between Masses, and the number of spaces available for each Mass.
Pastors/administrators of Families of Parishes or parish clusters may choose to open one or more sites at their discretion during the pandemic.
8. Directives for the Celebration of All Masses
Arrival
Parishioners should be encouraged to arrive early for Mass, since welcoming, screening, and seating will take more time than usual. Volunteers should be ready to receive parishioners 45 minutes prior to the start of Mass.
Sacristy
Entrance to the sacristy must be limited to those who are required to prepare for the liturgy. If the room is small and does not allow for the required distancing, one person at a time should use the room. All surfaces in the room are to be kept clean.
The Assembly
All in the assembly (eight years of age and older, with the exception of the priest and ministers) are strongly encouraged to wear a mask upon the recommendation of the Canadian Medical Officer of Health.
Ministers of Hospitality
Ushers or ministers of hospitality are to be present before Mass at the entrance(s) to the church to direct people to the hand sanitizers and to their seats while observing physical distancing. Ushers/greeters shall wear masks while carrying out their ministry.
Priests and Deacons
Priests and deacons must wash their hands before and after Mass, and use sanitizer before and after distributing Holy Communion. They must not wear disposable gloves during the liturgy. Masks, however, must be worn for the distribution of Holy Communion. Wearing a mask during the entire liturgy, though not necessary, is optional.
Music during Mass
Singing is a major way in which moist particulate is pushed out of the body through breathing and projecting one’s voice. Parishioners attending at Mass shall be directed not to sing on account of the potential spreading of airborne contagion. A cantor, accompanied by a single instrumentalist, may sing at Mass as long as the cantor is a minimum of 3 metres (10 feet) distance from anyone else. Choir members may join only if the same minimum of 3 metres (10 feet) distance can be maintained.
Consequently, all the parts of the ordinary of the Mass which are normally sung at Sunday Masses, including the Glory to God, the Psalm, the Eucharistic acclamations, and the Lamb of God, must be recited. This practice allows the congregation to take their rightful part in the celebration.
Entrance Procession
The entrance procession takes place directly from the sacristy. If the sacristy is located at the main entrance to the church, every effort should be made to maintain physical distancing (i.e., by having people seated away from the centre aisle). The cantor may sing an entrance hymn in accordance with these guidelines. It is recommended that only the priest (and deacon) and possibly a single server participate in the procession. The Book of the Gospels should be placed on the altar before Mass.
The Introductory Rites
The priest leads the Introductory Rites in the usual manner from the chair. The presider must use a simple lectern for the prayers, rather than have a server hold the book.
Liturgy of the Word
The Liturgy of the Word takes place in the usual manner. In order to minimize contact with the Lectionary, it is recommended that only one lector proclaim the Scripture readings from the Lectionary already placed on the ambo. The lector should be seated in the assembly close to the ambo. After the proclamation of the first reading, the Psalm is recited by the lector at the ambo. Following the second reading, the lector removes the Lectionary so that the priest (or deacon) can proclaim the Gospel. No candles are used for the Gospel. The Creed is professed and the Prayers of the Faithful are offered. The petitions are announced by the deacon at the ambo, or the priest at the chair.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
The celebration of the Children’s Liturgy of the Word must not take place during the pandemic.
Offertory / Presentation of the Gifts
The monetary collection is omitted at the usual time, and the bread and wine are not presented in procession as usual. The collection is to be received at the doors of the church at the end of Mass, where people can place their donations in baskets supervised by ushers from a safe distance. The bread and wine are placed on the credence table near the altar before Mass. If the credence table is placed beside the altar, there is no need for a server to assist at the altar.
Credence Table
In addition to all that is needed for the Eucharistic Prayer and Communion, hand sanitizer should be placed on the credence table to be used by the priest and ministers before and after distributing Holy Communion.
Vessels on the Altar
It is recommended, where possible, to place the ciboria containing altar breads, to be consecrated for the assembly, at some distance from the priest’s chalice and paten. If the ciboria have covers, these may remain in place during the Eucharistic Prayer.
Eucharistic Prayer
The Eucharistic Prayer is prayed by the priest with the assembly making the usual responses and acclamations, all of which are recited. Whenever the priest is praying with hands joined, it is important that his hands not be near his face.
Communion Rite
The Greeting of Peace is maintained; however, there must be no contact such as shaking hands during the pandemic. A simple bow of the head towards one’s neighbour may be offered as a sign of peace.
Concelebrants and deacons shall receive Communion from separate chalices. Communion from the Cup must not be given to the congregation.
Communion is normally distributed by a priest, deacon or extraordinary ministers of Communion. If a priest, for reason of age or pre-existing condition, does not feel comfortable distributing Communion, he may delegate that to another minister. All ministers of Communion, after receiving Communion themselves, must sanitize their hands before and after distributing the Eucharist. They must wear a mask during distribution.
On the direction of medical authorities, Communion must be distributed only in the hand. The reception of Communion on the tongue will be restored as an option as soon as the public health officials allow it.
Ushers, respecting their own distance, should direct communicants to the minister of Communion at the proper time to ensure physical distancing.
Communicants are to be instructed to come to the front of the line where is marked a two-metre (six-foot) line away from the minister of Communion. After the dialogue (The Body of Christ / Amen), they step forward to receive the Host, taking it in their hand (the dominant hand placed under the other). They step to the side (a proper distance marked on the floor), remove their mask from behind one ear, consume the Host, replace the mask, and then return to their place in the pew.
If the minister inadvertently touches the communicant’s hand, the minister must sanitize his/her hands before the next communicant approaches.
If the minister inadvertently touches a person’s hand, they must sanitize before the next communicant approaches.
Following the distribution of Holy Communion, the remaining Eucharist is placed in the tabernacle in the usual manner. All vessels are placed on the credence table, to be taken by a server or sacristan to the sacristy following Mass. There they are to be purified and then washed with soapy water.
Communion to the Sick and Homebound
Only members of the same household may take Holy Communion to those who are sick or homebound. If those ministering to their family are not already officially mandated by the Bishop for this ministry, Bishop Fabbro gives this permission for the duration of the pandemic. Pastors/administrators must ensure these family members are properly instructed in the ministry.
The pyxes, which have been prepared with altar breads, must be placed on the credence table before Mass. After the Prayer after Communion, they are presented to those who will bring Holy Communion. When arriving at their home, they should wash their hands in the usual manner, before distributing Communion.
Concluding Rites
The concluding rites take place in the usual manner. Any necessary announcements may be made. In particular, people could be reminded to place their offerings in the baskets provided. They should be reminded to follow the direction of the ushers or ministers of hospitality when exiting the church in an orderly way, while maintaining physical distancing. Parishioners should be instructed to leave the church without spending social time with the priest or other parishioners at the door or in the parking lot. The use of printed bulletins shall be suspended so as to reduce physical contact.
9. Other Rites Celebrated in the Church
Since these rites take place in the worship space, the requirements for preparing the space, physical distancing, the use of music and procedures for liturgical ministers as they apply to the particular rite are to be observed.
Baptism
The Baptism of infants and young children must not be celebrated during Mass at this time, nor are they to be celebrated communally, i.e., with several families at the same time.
With the exception of maintaining physical distancing among family and friends, and the priest or deacon sanitizing his hands before and after the pouring of water and anointing, the sacrament of Baptism is celebrated in the usual manner according to the Rite of Baptism. The water in the font is to be replaced after each baptism.
Priests and deacons are to wear masks for the celebration of baptism for the protection of the infants and children being baptized.
Christian Initiation of Adults
The Christian Initiation of Adults (including children of catechetical age) is celebrated during Mass, since the rite includes the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. The Reception into Full Communion is also to be celebrated during Mass. It is strongly recommended that these rites not take place at this time during the Sunday Mass.
Marriage
Marriages may be celebrated with small communities, according to the number of people permitted by health authorities. As of this date, the limit is set at 30% capacity. The norms for physical distancing pertain to all present with the exception of the bride and groom. Parishes should give the number of the seats available to the bride and groom, and instruct them to prepare the guest list accordingly. The parish should receive a copy of the guest list in advance of the wedding. If a detailed seating plan is prepared in advance, the groomsmen could seat the guests accordingly. Volunteers would be needed to clean the pews before the next Mass.
Reconciliation
Provisions for General Absolution have been made for the communities in the Diocese of London. Pastors/administrators may choose to offer this possibility for Penance according to the directives of Bishop Fabbro previously released ( cf his letter dated 12 June 2020, and “Message Regarding Reopening our Churches, Celebrating Postponed Sacraments and General Absolution”, 27 May 2020).
Opportunities for the celebration of individual confessions should be posted for the faithful. The need for social distancing is to be maintained between the priest and the penitent. For those waiting to celebrate the sacrament, social distancing must be observed. Both priests and penitents must wear masks.
Funerals
Funeral Masses may be celebrated in the church, according to the number of people permitted by health authorities. As of this date, the limit is set at 30% capacity.
Parishes should give to the family of the deceased the number of the seats available, and instruct them to prepare the invitation list accordingly. The parish should receive a copy of the guest list in advance of the funeral. If a detailed seating plan is prepared in advance, volunteers could seat the congregation accordingly. Volunteers would be needed to clean the pews before the next Mass.
Wake Services and Funeral Services may now be held in funeral homes, where the onus on enforcing capacity and distancing requirements is on the funeral home staff.
First Communion and Confirmation
The scheduling of First Communion and Confirmation has been addressed elsewhere and should be postponed until the fall. These celebrations should be scheduled in conjunction with the local parochial schools ( cf “Message Regarding Reopening our Churches, Celebrating Postponed Sacraments and General Absolution”, 27 May 2020).