Physician feedback for Mass procedures
St. Philip’s resumed its Mass schedule a few weeks ago. Providing the opportunity to worship must be balanced with being mindful of the safety of others. Feedback on evolving recommendations and practices is appreciated. Recently, two physicians who are parishioners offered compliments on some practices and areas that can be approved.

GENERAL PROCEDURES
Positives: Seating and sanitation (disinfecting, hand sanitizer, tissues and masks available at entrance points).
Room for Improvement: Actively encouraging all parishioners to wear masks.
DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION
Positives:

• Priest/EMHC sanitizing hands
• Wearing a face mask
• Distributing to people in the pews

Room for Improvement:

• Encourage people to continue wearing their masks until the priest has given them communion and moved on (created distance), then remove their mask and consume the host. (This minimizes risk to person distributing Communion.)
• For those who choose to receive Communion on the tongue, raise your hand when the Priest/EMHC comes through to distribute Communion, so he/she knows to return when distributing to people who receive in the hand is completed.  

DIOCESE OF CROOKSTON PROCEDURE RECOMMENDATIONS

CROOKSTON, MINNESOTA, May 23, 2020 – Recognizing the spiritual impact the COVID-19 crisis is having on the people of Minnesota and the resulting psychological consequences, the Bishops of Minnesota have developed protocols to be taken for limited religious services in church buildings. These protocols have been developed mindful of the Governor’s executive order and guidance for faith-based groups to gather developed by the Minnesota Department of Health.  These preparedness plan protocols are meant to ensure social distancing and minimize the risk for the spread of the virus. Just as other activities are being allowed for the health of the people, Minnesota Bishops believe it is possible to provide public Masses in a safe way. The six Catholic dioceses in Minnesota seek to be uniform concerning both when public Masses will begin again and how the numbers attending Mass are approached.

Religious services in buildings
Groups should not exceed 25% of the seating capacity of the church or a maximum of 250 persons. More services should be offered if necessary and people are encouraged to come on other days of the week instead of Sunday, in order to spread them out. People should be reminded with regularity that the bishops of the state have removed the religious obligation to attend Mass on Sunday, so no one feels obliged to come if they do not feel safe. To ensure the number of people who come to church does not exceed the agreed upon limit, online sign up and other ways to spread out attendance should be used.
In addition to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, other group gathering inside church buildings are possible; these include sacramental celebrations (e.g. baptisms, weddings, and funerals), and other important prayers or devotions (e.g., Eucharistic adoration), small scripture study groups, prayer meetings and  other “rituals.” This does not include social gatherings or other support meetings. Those over age 65 are strongly encouraged not to attend. In addition, anyone showing any symptoms of sickness, or anyone who has a household member who is sick or showing symptoms of sickness should not attend; this includes priests or other ministers who are sick or showing signs of sickness. Priests who are part of a vulnerable population should keep social distance very strictly by not processing in and out of the sanctuary through the center/main aisle and not distributing Holy Communion.
The following precautions should be taken:

• Every third pew will be used so people cannot sit too close (unless they are members of the same household living together).
• The space should be thoroughly sanitized before and after each service/gathering, including all entryways and doors. CDC guidelines for cleaning: https://bit.ly/2yHXpq2
• Doors should be propped open and one-way traffic patterns should be introduced to ensure social distancing. Ushers should assist when necessary to help maintain social distancing.
• The Preparedness Plan and signs should be posted concerning social distancing and sanitation requirements, and reminders should be offered.
• Hand sanitizers should be available at all entryways.
• Collection plates and other items should not be passed person to person.
• Masks are encouraged but not required. CDC guidelines for face covering: https://bit.ly/2zsXSMG
• People should be instructed not to greet each other with touching.
• There is to be no congregational, choir or schola singing. Singing by a single cantor is allowed at a distance of at least 12 feet from others. Hymnals and missalettes should be removed from the pews.
• Signs and other instructions should encourage normal, safe practices necessary to slow and/or stop the spread (e.g. cough or sneeze into a shirtsleeve, handkerchief, or tissue; avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth).
• Holy water fonts should be empty, and hymnals should be removed from pews.
• Ventilation should be increased as much as possible, opening windows and doors, as weather permits.
• Special attention should be given to children to make sure social distancing is practiced. Parents should be encouraged to speak to their children before coming to Mass to let them know things will be different. (Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2 – see CDC recommendations for face coverings above).
• Each facility should develop a plan for restroom use to limit the number of people who enter a restroom at the same time, and place tape on the floor outside the restroom to indicate where people should stand in line to wait for the restroom, maintaining 6-foot distance from each other.
• If Church leadership becomes aware of a clear, immediate, and imminent threat to the safety of the attendees or determines the abovementioned protocols cannot be observed, the gathering will be cancelled until the protocols can be observed.
• The priest and other liturgical ministers should not wear masks during the celebration of the Mass. Instead, they should remain more than 6 feet from the congregation during the entirety of the Mass to minimize the risk of infection. To the extent possible, the other ministers (deacon, servers, lectors) should maintain 6-foot distance from the priest and from each other.

These guidelines are intended to create basic standards applicable to all settings. Due to the diversity of church architecture and the unique needs that may arise in a particular setting, there may be slight variances in application; similarly, additional measures may be required. Parish leaders are urged to consult with the Office of Worship. Civic officials are invited to hold parishes accountable to these measures through periodic checks. Violations of these measures could cause public celebrations to be cancelled.

Distribution of Holy Communion

Distribution of Holy Communion is an important part of the Catholic Mass and requires special care. The directives given here reflect both the Church’s great reverence for the Eucharist and the powerful sacramental and liturgical symbolism of Holy Communion, while also providing appropriate precautions against infection. [1]
Prior to the distribution of Holy Communion, the priest should explain how those who desire to receive Holy Communion will be able to do so, explaining especially that they must maintain 6-foot distance as they come forward. Tape should be placed on the floor to indicate proper spacing between people for the procession to communion. No one is required to come forward who does not feel comfortable doing so.

• Holy Communion should be given to the people only by the consecrated host; there will be no sharing of the communion cup.
• A sufficient quantity of hosts for the faithful should be consecrated at the Mass but placed on a corporal on the side of the altar to allow the priest to consecrate the main host without fear of breathing on the hosts for the faithful.
• A small table will be placed at each communion station with an unfolded corporal and a bottle of hand sanitizer.
• The number of communion stations and ministers of communion should be limited so the 6-foot distance can be maintained at all times.
• Ministers of Holy Communion are encouraged to wear a mask. Note that masks are encouraged but not required. Ministers should sanitize their hands before and after distributing Holy Communion.
• The priest or the deacon takes his place next to the communion station.
• The faithful remove their face coverings as they approach the priest.
• The faithful receive Holy Communion in the normal way.[2] If the priest senses his fingers have made contact with a person’s hands or mouth, he is to pause, place the ciborium on the corporal, and use hand sanitizer. He may repeat this as often as he judges necessary during the distribution of Holy Communion. It is not necessary for him to use hand sanitizer between each communicant, unless he actually makes contact.

[1] Here we are taking into account the FDA Food Safety recommendations, it is important to note their statement: “Unlike foodborne gastrointestinal (GI) viruses like norovirus and hepatitis A that often make people ill through contaminated food, SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is a virus that causes respiratory illness. Foodborne exposure to this virus is not known to be a route of transmission” ( https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-during-emergencies/food-safety-and-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19). The CDC adds: “Currently, there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food… It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object, like a packaging container, that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads” ( https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#How-COVID-19-Spreads).
[2] Experts at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., in consultation with medical experts have carefully considered the question of communion on the tongue vs. communion in the hand. Given the Church’s existing guidance on this point (see Redemptionis Sacramentum, no. 92), and recognizing the differing judgments and sensibilities that are involved, they believe that, with the precautions listed here, it is possible to distribute on the tongue without additional risk. The mouth and the hand pose the same risk of infection if they are touched.