Celebrating Public Masses at St. Colette Church During the COVID-19 Pandemic

St. Colette Parish has resumed the celebration of public Masses in our church.  Weekend Masses are celebrated on Saturdays at 4:00pm and Sundays at 8:00am and 12 Noon.   The 10:00am Mass is temporarily suspended so there is sufficient time for our maintenance staff to clean and disinfect the church after the 8:00am Mass and prior to the 12 Noon Mass.  Saturday’s Mass is livestreamed at 4:00pm on Facebook for those unable to attend in person.  Weekday Masses are celebrated at 9:00am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The way we celebrate Mass now is quite different than it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.   First, some guiding principles:

• All Catholics in the Archdiocese of Detroit, regardless of age or health, are dispensed from the obligation to participate at weekend Masses.  This dispensation is granted to all the faithful through Sunday, September 6, 2020 (Labor Day Weekend).
  
• Those older than 65 years old, with a compromised health condition or caring for the sick in any way, should stay home.  Anyone who is ill, has a temperature, cough, etc., should definitely stay home as an act of justice to the whole community.
  
• Remember it is not a sin to miss weekend Masses because we are dispensed from the obligation to do so and/or because someone is sick.  We may feel guilty missing Mass but feeling guilty and committing a sin are two very different things.
  

With these principles in mind, do not feel obligated that you must go to Mass on weekends.  You may decide not to go and continue to participate at Masses on TV or on the internet. You have the option to go to a weekend Mass every second or third weekend.  Or you may decide to avoid weekend Mass and participate at a weekday Mass when fewer people are present.  The decision is up to you.
With Masses in church, we are limited to use only 25% of the building’s total seating capacity so we can maintain six-foot social distancing in the pews.  Therefore, if you want to participate at a weekend Mass we will be using the following procedures:

• You must call this number, 734-464-2827 and inform the person answering what Mass you want to attend that weekend and the number of people attending.  Calls will be accepted only on Thursdays from 9:00am-5:00pm and on Fridays from 9:00am – 12 Noon.  You can only do this for the upcoming weekend and not for any future weekends.  In other words, you must call every time you want to attend a weekend Mass.  It is not necessary to call for Masses celebrated on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Fridays.
  
• Coming to church for Mass, everyone two years old and older must bring a personal facemask (masks will not be provided by the parish).  Wearing of gloves is optional.  Facemasks must be worn when walking from your car to the church doors and at all times in the church.  The only doors available for entrance will be the main/bronze doors located under the outdoor canopy.  These doors will remain locked until 45 minutes prior to Mass.  When you arrive, a line may form outside the church with people waiting to get in.  Social distancing must be practiced in this line unless you are in a group living together in the same household.
  
• You should also bring to church small containers of personal hand sanitizers or a travel pack size such as “Wet Ones” or other brands. 
  
• You must arrive by five minutes before the beginning of Mass.  Otherwise, your space may be given to someone else who forgot or was unable to call ahead of time.
  
• Upon entering the church, first you will stop at a table in the Gathering Space so those staffing the table can check your name on the list of those who called for that particular Mass.  Since we are discontinuing the collection, a basket will be on this table for your church contribution envelope.  Also on the table will be some handouts for you to use at Mass since the missalettes have been removed from the pew racks.  
  
• There is no reserved seat for you in the church.  Rows of pews are marked off to provide social distancing in front and behind you.  Each pew is marked with red tape indicating where you can sit in that pew at a six-foot distance.  Groups of two or more, living in the same household, do not have to sit six feet apart from each other; only six feet apart from other people in your pew.  The ushers will be in church to assist people with seating.
  

For the celebration of Mass, we are using the following procedures and others to maintain good hygiene and safe distancing.  The Archdiocese of Detroit has mandated the majority of these guidelines.

• Parts of the Mass that are temporarily discontinued: the collection, the Presentation of the Gifts of Bread and Wine, holding of hands during the Lord’s Prayer and shaking hands during the Sign of Peace (except those living together in the same household), and receiving Communion in the form of the consecrated Wine.
  
• With the missalettes removed from the pew racks, the Scripture Readings are printed in the weekly church paper that you will receive in the Gathering Space upon arrival.  Singing by the assembly must be modified so the hymns will not be announced nor will the lyrics be made available.
  
• The procedures for distribution and reception of Holy Communion:
  
  • There are three stations for Communion: the center aisle and the two window aisles.  Communion will be taken to those in the pews for people with special needs.  The line in the center aisle is single file with two ministers distributing Communion.
    
  • A six-foot distance must be maintained between you and the person in front of you when walking in line to receive Communion.  The ends of the pews are marked with green tape to indicate the six-foot distancing.  You must continue to wear your facemask when in line for Communion.
    
  • For good hygiene, it is highly encouraged that everyone receive Communion in the hand and not on the tongue, even if you have never done so in the past.  If you absolutely must receive Communion on the tongue, you must go to the priest to receive Communion.  During the pandemic, our Eucharistic Ministers will not be distributing Communion on the tongue.
    
  • To receive Communion in the hand keep your facemask on and take off any gloves.  Make the necessary reverence by a simple bow (nod) of the head, say “Amen” and extend your hands to receive Communion.  Then step aside a few feet, lower your mask, consume the host, place your mask over your nose and mouth, and return to your pew.
    
  • To receive Communion on the tongue keep your facemask on, make the necessary reverence by a simple bow (nod) of the head, say “Amen,” remove your mask, and extend your tongue.  Then place your mask over your nose and mouth and return to your pew.
    

• At the end of Mass, to maintain social distancing people must leave the building in an orderly fashion rather than everyone leaving at once as a group.  Therefore, the ushers will direct people to leave pew-by-pew.  For those sitting in the section along the parking lot you will be directed to leave by way of the door to the right of the altar.  For those sitting in all the other sections of the church you will be directed to leave via the Gathering Space and exiting using any of the other church doors.  After the 4:00pm and 8:00am Masses people must vacate the building as-soon-as-possible to allow our maintenance staff to clean and disinfect the building for the next Mass.  Socializing at these Masses must be done outdoors.
  

If you have any questions regarding these Mass procedures, please contact me at 734-464-4433 or at gmichalik@stcolette.net.
Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes (patroness of the sick)...pray for us.
St. Colette…pray for us.
Please stay safe and healthy and may God bless you,
Rev. Gary Michalik