The government has introduced temporary measures that will take effect on Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 8 am.
These temporary measures are being introduced by the government to prevent further spikes in confirmed cases.
Masking Measures
Masks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces & workplaces.
Mask use is not required if
- The individual is under 2 years of age
- The individual qualifies for a medical exemption
Mass
- The use of masks is required in all public facilities of the parishes & diocesan facilities.
- Exceptions cited by the government will be followed.
- Priests & lectors must always wear the mask unless speaking & proclaiming
- Altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, the cantor & instrumentalists/musicians must wear masks at all times.
- Congregational singing is suspended at this time.
- Only one cantor/soloist is allowed.
Distribution of Holy Communion
- Priests &extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion must wear a mask during the distribution of Holy Communion. Hands must be sanitized prior to the distribution
- Mask use is mandatory for all the faithful. Parishioners who are not able to wear a mask for medical reasons can be exempt for this regulation except when receiving Holy Communion.
- All parishioners must wear masks when lining up for the distribution of Holy Communion, including those receiving Communion on the tongue or a blessing
- The communicant removes the mask in front of the priest/deacon/Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion to receive Communion & must put it back on after consuming the consecrated host.
Social Gathering Measures
- Albertans are encouraged to limit in-person contacts
- Unvaccinated Albertans are strongly recommended to limit indoor social gatherings to close contacts of only 2 cohort families up to a maximum of 10 people.
The Diocese cannot require the identification of the vaccinated & the unvaccinated, thus in order to protect the most vulnerable, all indoor social gatherings are limited to 10 people at this time
- Social gatherings are where people move freely to mix with others & have conversations
In-person meetings & faith-based meetings, which are not social gatherings, are allowed to continue without restriction on the number of attendees, i.e. council meetings, RCIA, support groups etc.
- Masks must be worn at all times.
Reminder
- Please practice proper hand hygiene (handwashing or sanitizer).
- Please practice respiratory etiquette (eg, coughing or sneezing into a bent elbow, promptly disposing of used tissues in a lined garbage bin).