Dear St. Joseph Parish Family,
Exciting news! The Cardinal announced last night that public Masses can begin in NYC this Monday. Therefore St. Joseph's will be restarting public Masses this Monday, and will again have Mass every day thereafter, including Sunday.
The Cardinal has still dispensed people from there Sunday Mass obligation – so you are not obliged to attend Sunday Mass. Please stay home if you are sick or have been exposed to Covid-19.
Also, there are a lot of rules from the Cardinal, city, and state that we have to follow. Occupancy is capped at 25%, or 130 people, and social distancing must be maintained. I have prepared a list of policies for the reopening that are below.
The Mass and confession schedule is the same as before the pandemic, please check our website for details.
Here are some highlights of the new rules for reopening (for a more detailed list of policies and procedures please refer to the "St. Joseph's Church Reopening Policies" below):
•Masks are required in the church.
•An usher will inform you where to sit. The church pews are marked so that social distancing can be maintained during Mass.
•The procession at the beginning of Mass will not go up the center aisle, nor will the recessional.
•There will be no servers at Mass, except for Br. Paul on occasion, so that social distancing can be maintained in the sanctuary.
•There will be no offertory procession, and the basket will not be passed around. Instead please use the collection baskets in the vestibule or give online through WeShare or Faithstreet (see our webpage for details).
•Communion will be given only under one species– the Precious Body. A friar or an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion will bring you communion in your seat – there is no need to line up in the aisle.
•There will be no sign of peace.
There are other smaller changes as well, but those are the biggest ones. These changes allow us to be in compliance with the rules from the Cardinal, city, and state.
Masses will continue to be live-streamed.
Also, we need more volunteers to help usher at this time – ushers are required at every Mass in order to keep the public liturgies open. If you can help usher please let us know, we certainly need your help.
God Bless, and see you soon!
Fr. Boniface
St. Joseph Church Reopening Policies
As a community centered on the worship of God, we are happy to return to public liturgies. We also want to safeguard the health of our community and city; therefore, St. Joseph Church will use the following rules will help us balance the need to worship God and the need to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Both worship and protecting public safety are requisites of justice.
All people at St. Joseph's Church are required to follow these rules and ushers will be present to answer questions and help ensure the rules are followed.
I. People
The following rules apply to those in St. Joseph's Church:
•The Cardinal and City of New York currently permit the Church to be filled to 25% of capacity, which is 130 people. When the church reaches 25% capacity no more people will be allowed to enter. Currently St. Joseph's is using a first come first seated policy, but if this policy results in parishioners being unable to attend Mass due to large crowds then we will switch to a reservation policy. We will keep everyone informed about what policy is in place.
•Confession and Mass times are listed on the webpage and are the same as before the pandemic.
•Please stay home if you feel sick or have been exposed to Covid-19.
•The Cardinal has dispensed everyone from their Sunday Mass obligations, so please consider staying at home if you are at increased risk from Covid-19.
•Everyone entering the church must wear a mask at all times.
•At all times people are to remain at least 6 feet apart from each other (social distancing), except among groups of people who live with each other.
•For Mass an usher will greet everyone entering the church and seat them. Before Mass, during confession times, people must maintain social distancing while waiting for confession. 6-foot intervals will be marked for the confession line. An usher will then seat you for Mass or you can exit the church.
•Seating in the church will be split between a section for individuals and a section for groups that live together. An usher will show you which seat to take.
•People are to remain in their seats for the entire liturgy. Currently, the parish bathroom is closed. If there is an emergency, please have an usher come to assist you.
•People are to remain in their seats during communion. The friars or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion will bring communion to parishioners in their seats. Communion will be under one species only– the Precious Body. During communion, ministers are to wear masks and sanitize their hands before and after communion, as well as whenever they inadvertently make contact with another person.
•There will be no offertory procession, and collection baskets will not be handed out. Instead, please place your offering to the Church in the collection baskets or boxes in the narthex (vestibule), or please consider giving online through WeShare or Faith Street.
•After Mass, while exiting, please retain social distancing (6 feet).
II. Places and Procedures
The following procedures will be followed in the church:
•The church will be sanitized between every liturgy. That includes door handles, the confessional, pews, and any other frequented surface or place.
•Ministers, volunteers, or parishioners are not to enter the church if they feel sick or have been exposed to Covid-19.
•The entrance procession will go from the sacristy to the sanctuary, rather than down the main aisle of the church. The recessional will follow the reverse path, from the sanctuary to the sacristy.
•There will be no sign of peace during the Mass.
•The priest will use two corporals to separate on the altar the hosts that will be distributed to the people from the main chalice and paten.
•Servers will not be used at Mass, except for Br. Paul, in order to retain social distancing in the sanctuary. The presidential prayers at the beginning of Mass will take place at the altar rather than at the celebrant's chair.
•Choirs will be kept small in order that they may maintain social distance (6 feet). Choirs will be in the choir loft, which will be separated from the rest of the upper level of the church.
•Some pews will be roped off so that social distancing can be maintained while people are in their seats. Please see the seating diagram for details.
•Open pews will be marked with tape signs to indicate where people must sit in order that social distancing can be maintained.
•All worship aides (hymnals, Mass aides) have been removed to prevent infection.
•Holy Water founts have been emptied to prevent infection.
•Signs have been placed in the church so that everyone is aware of the safety measures they must follow.
Thank you for helping to keep our community safe while you join us in worshipping God.