June 9, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It has been almost three months since we last offered a public celebration of the Mass. Today I write to inform you that our parish will begin to offer limited public weekend Masses next Saturday/Sunday, June 13/14 and limited public daily Mass beginning Monday, June 15.  “Limited” refers to the number of persons who can attend, the number of Masses offered, as well as the way in which some of the actions at Mass will be carried out.  Please understand that due to the mandatory safety measures we must follow, your experience at Mass will be somewhat different from the days prior to the quarantine.

This pandemic is still serious, so for your health and safety and that of your fellow parishioners, I ask that those who attend please social distance and follow all the guidelines and safety measures given by the Diocese of Trenton, health officials, and state and local authorities.
 
Faithful from at-risk groups as identified by CDC/NJ DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; and people who currently test positive for COVID-19, or who do not feel well, and people who are their close contacts should remain at home.
Please keep in mind that Bishop O’Connell has granted a dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday/ Holy Day of Obligation Masses until at least September 7, 2020.  Our live stream Mass will continue, although at a new time: Sunday at 9:00 am (now with a congregation in attendance).
I thank our parish COVID-19 Task Force volunteers and parish staff, who have been working very hard to establish a plan that does everything we reasonably can to make this a safe reopening for those who are able to attend.

This is the next step our parish is taking to bring us back to worshiping together in person fully with an unrestricted celebration of the sacraments.   
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. McClane
 

GUIDELINES FOR PARISH LIMITED CELEBRATION OF MASS updated 6/11/20 to include daily Mass guidelines PUBLIC WEEKEND MASS TIMES – Starting June 13/14 Saturday at 5:00 PM, Sunday at 9:00 AM (both with congregation and Live Stream) and Noon. PUBLIC DAILY MASS TIMES – Starting June 15 Monday – Saturday at 8:30 AM in the Church. MASKS and SANITIZERS Masks must be worn from the time you leave your vehicle and until you return to your vehicle.  Parishioners are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizer.  The church will be sanitized after every Mass. SEATING  Currently, there will be no online registration. Seating will begin 30 minutes before the start of Mass. Please arrive early. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. Family/members of the same household will sit together. Everyone else will be placed 6’ apart to comply with social distancing. Self-selection of seating is not possible at this time. Weekend Masses  Mass will be limited to a 30% attendance capacity. At St. Gregory the Great, in abiding by social distancing requirements, we can accommodate approximately 288 people maximum at each Mass. A volunteer at the entrance will provide you with a seat assignment before you enter the church. An usher will escort you to your assigned pew.  Daily Mass  Mass will be limited to 50 people, as directed by the Bishop.  A volunteer will guide each person in finding a seat. ENTRANCE/EXIT Only use the middle center glass doors to enter the church.  The elevator entrance will be available for handicap use.  You will be directed to a church exit at the end of Mass.     Weekend Masses While observing proper social distancing, please stand in a line while awaiting entry. A volunteer at the entrance will provide you with a seat assignment before you enter the church.  Please follow the lane/s and socially distanced floor markers as you enter the Gathering Space.  Once you reach the Nave, an usher will escort you to your assigned pew.  Daily Mass While observing proper social distancing, enter the Gathering Space.  Please follow the lane/s and socially distanced floor markers to the door of the Nave. Once you reach the door to the Nave, a volunteer will direct you to a seat.  COMMUNION – Weekend and Daily Mass Communion will be distributed at the end of Mass. After the final blessing you should remain in your pew until you are directed to a Communion Station.  It is strongly recommended by the Bishop that communion not be offered on the tongue but only be received in the hand.  Use of personal hand sanitizer before communion is strongly encouraged. No gloves should be worn while receiving communion. Upon reaching the Communion Station the communicant should lower (not remove) mask, receive the host and consume it at the Communion Station, and put mask up after consuming host. Follow directions of the ushers to exit the church. PLEASE NOTE No public gatherings or greetings are allowed before or after Mass. Please proceed directly to your car following Mass.  There will be no bulletins or missals.  At the Bishop’s request singing by the congregation is discouraged. The ordinary parts of the Mass (i.e. the Gloria, Sanctus, Lamb of God) will be recited.  There will be baskets in the Gathering Space at the entrance and exits to church for your offertory contribution on the weekends. There will be no procession of offertory gifts.  There will be no Sign of Peace.  Our Holy Water fonts will remain empty.  No food or drink will be permitted in church. The restrooms are available for emergency use only.