In their timeline and plan for safely reopening San Francisco over the next few months, Bay Area officials have announced that churches may resume religious services on June 15!
But before we can open up our parish church for Mass, both government and archdiocesan guidelines require that we recruit a large number of committed parishioners who are willing and able to carry out the following tasks.
Safety Volunteers:
These men and women will need to make sure that people arriving for Mass are not sick, are wearing face masks, have filled out and signed an Informed Consent Form (regarding the potential danger of coming to Mass), use the no contact digital thermometer, and then show each person to one of the pews. We can only allow 25% of the church capacity into the building for any one Mass, so these safety volunteers are essential in making sure we do not violate the regulations about numbers, physical distancing (at least six feet), etc. These ushers will also need to enforce physical distancing rules, the wearing of face masks, and other procedures aimed at protecting everyone at Mass. Please sign up by clicking the button below.
Once public Mass starts again, it will be a different experience. The faithful will be asked to comply with many regulations that are meant to keep people from getting sick. This means being patient and charitable when our safety volunteers as they carry out their duties.
Families living under the same roof may sit together, of course, but others are asked to keep at least six feet away from neighbors in the pew, in the Communion line, while waiting to use the restrooms, etc.
Everyone attending Mass is asked to wear a face mask, for the safety of those in church with you. We have been told to limit Mass to 40 minutes, which means very little singing, no processions, etc.
To avoid endangering people through touch, the collection baskets will not be used by our ushers. Instead, the faithful may drop offerings into the collection baskets near the doors.
The kiss of peace will not be exchanged, to avoid spreading germs.
When you walk up to receive Holy Communion (which will take place after each Mass, not during), communicants will need to observe the six-foot rule of physical distance, and be careful not to touch the priest's hand. (If anyone comes into contact with the hand of the Eucharistic Minister, the Communion Procession will be stopped until that minister has been able to put down the ciborium, wash their hands thoroughly, and then return to distributing the Body of Christ.) The communicant should walk up to communion with his or her mask on, receive the sacrament in the hand, step aside, briefly remove enough of his or her mask to consume the host, replace the mask, and then process to the nearest exist as indicated by a safety volunteer. Only the priest will receive the Blood of Christ.
Unfortunately, we will not be able to gather for coffee and doughnuts, or any other socials, until the authorities have deemed it safe to do so.
The priest will come out of the sacristy when Mass begins, and go into the sacristy when Mass ends, to avoid contamination. It is hard for us to give up our customary greetings with neighbors, and shaking hands, but for now it is required for the common good.
In addition to these safety precautions, the parish has many other preparations to make before we can re-open. For example, certain supplies must be ordered, cleaning contracts must be in place, and a reservation system to attend Mass must be developed. We are working hard to accomplish these tasks, but it is possible that the church may not be able to re-open until sometime after June 15. We will keep you informed of our progress.
Thank you for your patience. We can't wait to see you in-person once again!
