Dear friends,
This morning, we received new directives from the Archdiocese Office of New Evangelization regarding social distancing and masks.
To summarize:
1. St. Monica continues to follow the guidelines of the Archdiocese as informed by the CDC, State of PA and other medical resources.
2. Based on CDC recommendations given Thursday, parishioners can freely comply with new relaxed measures with regard to face coverings/masks for the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy, namely, “people who are fully vaccinated against the virus no longer need to wear masks.”
2. Based on CDC recommendations given Thursday, parishioners can freely comply with new relaxed measures with regard to face coverings/masks for the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy, namely, “people who are fully vaccinated against the virus no longer need to wear masks.”
3. Through May 31, we will continue to social distance by having people sit in every other pew as instructed by the AOP.
4. No one should be turned away from attending Sacred Liturgy for not wearing a mask. No one should feel mandated, nor compel others, to wear a mask to attend Sacred Liturgy.
4. No one should be turned away from attending Sacred Liturgy for not wearing a mask. No one should feel mandated, nor compel others, to wear a mask to attend Sacred Liturgy.
The full communication from the archdiocese:
Dear Parish Leaders,
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued new guidance on the use of face coverings and masks on Thursday, May 13, 2021. People who are fully vaccinated against the virus no longer need to wear masks or follow social-distancing guidelines in most indoor and outdoor settings, except as required by state and local laws or other regulations, according to the guidance. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania automatically adopted the relaxed measures on Thursday. However, the City of Philadelphia is still waiting to announce the adoption of the relaxed measures.
Therefore, churches and institutions of the Archdiocese in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties can freely comply with the relaxed measures with regard to face coverings/masks for the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy. People no longer need to wear face coverings/masks in church nor follow any social distancing if fully vaccinated. In Philadelphia County, churches and institutions are to continue for the time being to encourage everyone in the nave of the church to wear a face covering or mask.
The May 13, 2021 guidance does not apply to capacity regulations currently in place. Every other pew must be roped off in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties until Memorial Day, May 31, 2021. The same continues for Philadelphia County until June 11, 2021.
Please see below the notice of the upcoming webinar to present more fully liturgical updates in light of the lifting of COVID 19 restrictions.
Thank you and God bless, Father Dennis Gill, Director, Office for Divine Worship
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 – 10:00-11:15 AMArise Webinar: Liturgical Update in Light of the Lifting of Restrictions
In light of the lifting of restrictions in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia, join us for a webinar that will cover updated guidelines for the celebration of the sacraments as well as for non-liturgical parish ministries. The update will also include directives for graduations and Baccalaureate Masses. Additionally, we will give a brief introduction to our Archdiocesan-wide initiative to invite Catholics back to the in person celebration of Mass. There will be time at the end of the webinar for Q&A.
Webinar hosts: Fr. Dennis Gill, Director, Office for Divine Worship and Meghan Cokeley, Director, Office for the New Evangelization
To register, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZuRsflB1Qve1PZ0lAfBn3g (Even if you can't attend the webinar live, please register and a recorded version will be emailed to you.)
Blessings and peace,
Deb Rojas
