A socially distanced meeting of EPIC Ministry on June 22.
The Knights of Columbus may meet again. So can religious education classes and the parish pastoral council. The Diocese of Honolulu is now open for other activities and ministries in addition to Mass.
The heads of the diocesan offices for religious education, youth and young adult ministries, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), the marriage tribunal, and human resources issued on June 12 a 1,000-word set of guidelines listing what was permitted, and what was not, for church groups returning to business.
Bishop Larry Silva, with governmental approval, had already opened churches for public worship May 30-31.
The new guidelines are, for the most part, familiar — face masks, six-foot distancing, sanitizing and disinfecting.
For sacramental preparation classes, parishes are “urged to find creative ways” to meet through “virtual gatherings or other practical means.”
“If a gathering is necessary, the number of persons may not exceed limits set by the county and must adhere to social distance requirements,” the guidelines state.
Gatherings must not exceed limits set by the county.
Overnight retreats on diocesan property are not permitted
Parish finance and pastoral councils, liturgical, family, youth and young adult ministries, and other groups may meet but not exceed county attendance limits.
Associations of the faithful, such as the Legion of Mary and the Knights of Columbus, may meet at the parish. However, no other groups are permitted.
Church offices may re-open to the public following safety measures.
The guidelines state that meeting places are to be thoroughly cleaned and high-touch surfaces sanitized. The same goes for tables and chairs and restrooms.
For meetings, leaders are asked to establish room capacity, entrance and exit procedures and, if possible, delayed or staggered schedules.
Any food provided must be pre-packaged. Buffet or family-style meals are not permitted.
The guidelines also ask program leaders to learn how to identify possible COVID-19 cases and what to do when someone gets sick.
Program leaders are also asked to remind participants, through signs, email, text messaging and other means, about proper hygiene and sanitization, the use of face masks and the necessity of social distancing.
