Rite of Election at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa on Feb. 21. (Photo courtesy Dann Ebina)
The Diocese of Honolulu sent out a letter clarifying changes that will take effect as of Feb. 25 now that Oahu has met the COVID-19 guidelines to move up a tier on the City and County of Honolulu’s reopening plan.
The biggest changes are that church social gatherings and meetings can have up to 10 people and that funeral homes and cemeteries can have 25 attendees at funeral services.
Good Morning!
Effective tomorrow, Thursday, February 25, 2021, the City and County of Honolulu (Oahu Island) will move to Tier 3. All other counties (islands) need to continue observing the rules promulgated by their respective Mayor’s offices. An official declaration from the Mayor of Honolulu office is not yet published, so we don’t have too many details regarding how it will affect our spiritual services and current practices. However, the following is already known:
1. Spiritual Services (i.e., Sunday and daily Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, prayer groups, Stations of the Cross, etc.): Allowed at full capacity as long as we continue to maintain 6-foot distancing (not much change here from our current Tier 2 situation).
2. Social gatherings/meetings at church grounds: Allowed now for up to 10 people maintaining 6-foot social distancing.
3. Funeral Homes/Cemeteries: Allowed to have up to 25 people at their services (i.e. Vigil for the Deceased, Wakes, Funeral Liturgy outside Mass and burials).
4. Funeral Mass at Church continues with an URN only – at full capacity – as long as we maintain proper social 6-foot distancing (no change in this area).
5. Continue the MANDATORY use of mask/face shield by everyone at all times.
6. Continue the use of hand sanitizing and washing hands as often as possible.
7. Use of conference/breakrooms: Allowed – spaced 6-feet apart.
8. No change on current music/singing practices.
9. Religious Education continues as currently directed. Please check with the Office of Religious Education (Jayne Mondoy) and the Office of the YYAM (Lisa Gomes) for more information.
I will send more information out as soon as the new proclamation is issued by the office of the Mayor of Honolulu.
Peace!
Deacon Modesto R. Cordero
Director, Office of Worship
Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu
