Faith Forward
Returning to Public Worship
 
As public Masses and worship opportunities begin to resume, our parish needs your help! We need hospitality volunteers willing to welcome parishioners back to church with a smile and help keep our church at a safe capacity limit as we begin reopening.
 

• We believe that public worship can continue to take place safely in an era of social distancing.

• The Catholic community in New York is eager to resume public worship in a safe and responsible way. Our people believe that worship is an essential service. To that end, the archdiocese is proposing, Faith Forward, a phased plan which outlines its plan for reopening. Learn more at www.archny.org/faithforward

• The resuming of public worship incrementally in each phase will be announced by the Vicar General’s Office in the coming weeks, in consultation with health and government officials and in consideration of the current health situation. It is expected that different regions of the archdiocese will begin the process of reopening at different times. 

• The archdiocese looks forward to working with state and local officials to realize its goal of bringing the Mass and sacraments back to the Catholic community responsibly and expeditiously with its Faith Forward plan. 

• Those who are at a higher risk for COVID-19 (i.e., those who are older than 65 or who have underlying health conditions) are urged not to come to church for Mass. Those who cannot attend Mass may be encouraged to spend time daily reading the Scriptures, praying with their families, watching a broadcast or livestreamed Mass, and making an act of spiritual communion.

• Those who feel in any way sick (e.g., oral temperature higher than 99.5°F, cough, chills, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell) or who are worried about attendance should not enter the church.

• Churches will be regularly sanitized and disinfected. Signage will be placed on entrance doors instructing anyone with fever or flu-like symptoms not to enter the church. Parishioners must wear masks.

• No physical contact during the Sign of Peace will be permitted.

• Frequently touched surfaces in the church (pews/pew tops, door handles, microphones, etc.) will be cleaned and sanitized per CDC recommendations after every liturgy. Restrooms will be cleaned between Masses.

• Hand sanitizer dispensaries will be available at all church entrances.

• At arrival and departure times, entrance doors will be propped open to limit contact with door handles. Where possible, pedestrian movement patterns will be instituted that will minimize the potential for close contact between parishioners, including dedicated access ways for entrance and departure. Signage will be used in implementing these measures.

• Utilization of lower church/parish center facilities for additional Masses if the Church is full, and live video display of services will be continued in order to alleviate any overflow in attendance.

• Holy water and baptismal fonts will be emptied.

• Non-essential gatherings will be suspended, including Children’s Liturgy of the Word, post-Mass social gatherings/refreshments, etc.

• Communion will be distributed only via the Host; the Precious Blood will not be offered.

• A cantor will be permitted, but large choirs will not be used.

• Collection baskets will not be passed from person-to-person. Baskets with long handles will be allowed. Ushers taking the collection will wear masks and gloves. Large baskets may be placed at church exits for people to drop envelopes or donations. Ushers must immediately sanitize their hands after the collection.

• Offertory counters will wear gloves and masks, and practice social distancing.

• There will be no greeting of people after Mass. 

• Tables and chairs in gathering areas will be put into storage so as not to invite people to use them.

• Baptismal pools or those with fonts that flow into a basin will be emptied after each use.

We thank all of you for your continued support.  It is only through your financial donations that we can keep our parish alive and functioning.  You can donate through We Share (blessedsacramentnyc.churchgiving.com) or mail your check directly to Blessed Sacrament, 152 W. 71 Street, NY, NY 10023.

God bless all of you.  Be stay safe and strong.

Father David Nolan