The loosening of some coronavirus pandemic regulations by the Mayor Kirk Caldwell Sept. 23 has meant a slight relaxing of some constraints affecting Catholic worship and ministries.
How the new rules affect church practices was explained in a five-point memorandum sent Sept. 23 by the diocesan Office of Worship to “clergy, parishes and the faithful.”
Here are the changes:
Singing is allowed back into liturgies but only by one instrumentalist and one cantor, both of whom must be at least 10 feet away from the congregation and wearing face masks at all times. The congregation may not sing. “The use of instrumental music only during any liturgical celebration is still highly recommended during the duration of the Tier 1,” said the memo. Tier 1 is the classification for the highest level of community spread of the virus in the mayor’s four-tier categorization of the virus threat.
Priests, deacons and other commissioned extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may take Communion to the homebound, as long as they themselves are not at high risk of infection and wear masks and follow proper hygiene procedures.
Church meetings of no more than five people are allowed with social distancing and facemasks. Otherwise, meetings should be conducted virtually.
Attendance at wakes, prayer services and burials at funeral homes and cemeteries are limited to 10 people. Funerals in church follow the same protocols as regular Masses.
Churches may remain open during the day for private prayer at the discretion of the pastor and in observance of his guidelines.
All prior state, CDC and diocesan directives and protocols for Masses, funerals, weddings, baptisms and other services remain in force.
With Mayor Caldwell also lifting his “work at home/stay at home” order, diocesan human services director, Dara Perreira on Sept. 24 announced the reopening of parish and diocesan offices. Employees must still follow social distancing, wear face masks, sanitize their work area and comply with other safety regulations.
Employees may continue to work from home with their supervisor’s approval. “Remote work is still encouraged,” Perreira said.
