MASS PARTICAPATION GUIDELINE UPDATE

The Archdiocese of Washington announced May 20 that it is revising its guidelines on public Mass attendance, reflecting the lowering positivity rate of COVID-19 infections in the area and the increasing numbers of District of Columbia and Maryland residents who have received at least one coronavirus vaccine.

Among the new guidelines are a lifting of church capacity restrictions and not requiring Mass-goers to wear masks if they are fully vaccinated in most areas of the Archdiocese of Washington.

The new guidelines – sent to priests of the archdiocese by Father Daniel B. Carson, the archdiocesan Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia – ease restrictions first established in May 2020, and revised in October 2020.

Among the new guidelines:

• Attendance at church is no longer limited by a percentage of the building’s capacity (this applies to all parishes except those in Montgomery County, where a 75 percent capacity remains in effect until May 28)
• Mask use is not required for fully vaccinated Mass-goers, except in Prince George’s County where masks must be worn indoors by vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals; and Montgomery County where masks must be worn indoors by non-vaccinated individuals. Mask use is recommended for non-vaccinated persons.
• Social distancing in church buildings is still required for persons from separate households, although the social distancing space can be reduced from six feet to three feet. This applies to all jurisdictions in the archdiocese, except Montgomery County which still requires six-foot distancing until May 28.
• Father Carson also announced guidelines for the celebration of Mass have been eased, allowing for entrance and recessional processions; restoring the offertory procession of the gifts; restoring the Sign of Peace while avoiding handshaking; and allowing the use of a cantor, organist or an ensemble of singers no greater than four persons, but the ensemble must maintain enhanced social distancing (more than three feet) from each other and be as separate as possible from the congregation.
• The priest celebrant is welcome to greet parishioners after Mass, but shaking hands should be avoided.
• The use of masks while distributing Communion is still required. The distribution of the Precious Blood remains suspended, and Holy Communion on the tongue continues to be discouraged.
• Baptismal fonts may be used again, and hard copy bulletins and other printed liturgical materials may be used.

Father Carson, in his letter to priests, noted that the guidelines were revised following recent executive orders by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local health departments.
He said the new guidelines for attendance and the celebration of Mass also apply to other parish liturgical events such as weddings, funerals and Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
The dispensation issued by Cardinal Wilton Gregory from the obligation to attend Mass still remains in effect.


Mass Obligation Dispensed  The dispensation from the Sunday and Holy Day obligation remains in effect and you may have to make the difficult decision to remain at home even as we offer public Masses.  This would include those with COVID-19 or exposed to it, as well as those with upper respiratory or flu like symptoms or underlying medical conditions, the sick, the elderly, those who are living with or in the presence of any individual at risk, or those that still do not feel comfortable being in a public setting.  When in doubt, out of charity for others, please stay home.
 
Weekend Mass Schedule:

 The weekend Mass schedule will be as follows with  ALL MASSES at Holy Ghost Church ( St. Francis de Sales Chapel will remain closed at this time): 

•  Saturday at 5:00 p.m. – New Time!!
•  Sunday at 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.  

 
 
Weekday Masses 
Daily Masses will be Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Fri., and will be offered at 8:30 a.m. 
 
Confessions
Confessions will be heard ½ hour before the 5:00 p.m. and 10:30 a.m. Mass.  They will be conducted in the Cry Room where social distancing can be maintained.
 
Face  Masks Requirements
At this time, you are not required to wear a face mask if you have been vaccinated for COVID19.  Please continue to remain socially distanced  of 3 feet from those not in your household.  If you choose to wear protective gloves, they must be removed prior to receiving Communion on the hand.  We will also ask everyone to use hand sanitizer prior to entering the church.  These are little things to continue to keep our parishioners safe in this ever changing environment.  
 
Liturgical Ministers
Only the priests and deacon will be in the sanctuary and serving during Mass.  No altar servers will be serving Mass at this time.
 

Missalettes 
All Hymnals and Missalettes have been removed from the pews.  Sunday Readings can be found at  www.usccb.org.  You may use your electronic device to access during Mass.
 
Seating
When arriving at church, please keep 3 feet socially distanced from other households as you enter.    
 
Communion
All Catholics present who are in a state of grace are invited to receive Communion at this time.
 
Those who have health concerns and do not wish to receive sacramental Communion may make an Act of Spiritual Communion which will be led after the distribution of Communion.
 
Those who will not receive communion should not come forward with hands crossed for a blessing; there is a blessing for everyone at the end of Mass.
 
Children who will not receive communion but who are old enough to remain quietly in their seat should do so, and not get in the line for Communion.
 
Those who wish to receive Communion on the tongue are asked to wait until the end of Communion to help us accommodate this preference. Although each person retains the right to receive on the tongue, the Centers for Disease Control have recommended against it; but more importantly, out of love for our brothers and sisters, and out of kind concern for the vulnerable and our sacred ministers, those who normally receive on the tongue are respectfully asked to consider receiving in the hand as a temporary measure.   It is a legitimate practice attested to in our Catholic Tradition since the ancient Church. The minister will immediately disinfect his hands after each communicant who receives on the tongue, even if no physical contact is made.
 
Offertory Collection The Offertory collection baskets will not be passed but will be available for contributions in vestibule.   Online Giving is another option available by logging on to our website at  www.holyghostissue.org  and clicking of the Donation/Online Giving tab.  Contributions can be done on as a one-time donation or scheduled for weekly or monthly automatic donations. 
 
Dismissal
At the conclusion of Mass, the ushers will dismiss rows beginning from the back to the front of the church. As you go to your car, please keep socially distanced from other households as you leave.  After the dismissal of the last pew, we will be sanitizing all the pews and seating areas, common area surfaces and restroom common surface areas. 
 
We know that this is a trying time, we are all in this together!

To make your contribution to church, please click the link below!

Online Giving can be done as a one time payment or set up to continue payments either once a week, once a month, etc. 

• ONLINE GIVING IS A WAY TO USE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT, DEBIT CARD OR CREDIT CARD TO MAKE DONATIONS/CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CHURCH OVER THE WEBSITE.
• ALL CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE CREDITED TO YOUR YEAR END STATEMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS.
• YOU WILL RECEIVE A RECEIPT BY EMAIL, ONCE YOU MAKE A DONATION. 
• THE CHURCH ALSO RECEIVES NOTIFICATION EACH TIME A DONATION IS MADE. 
• PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT ALL DONATIONS ARE DONE SAFELY.
• YOU MAY CLICK THE LINK BELOW OR GO TO DONATE AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW

https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/emergency-relief-for-mothers-and-children/thecatherinefoundati

We invite you to visit these pages and share the resources provided to pray for each other and stay connected to our faith during this time of social distancing.

https://catholiccurrent.org/covid19/

http://www.usccb.org/about/communications/usccb-president-reflection-and-prayer-during-coronavirus.cfm