Office of the Vicar General

1. All parishes and schools should FIRST review and follow your local public health department’s guidance. If it is unclear, contact these local health officials directly.
2. If your parish is not under a local mask mandate- the diocese strongly encourages that masks be worn at all times in an indoor setting and in large outdoor gatherings where the social distance cannot be adhered to. This includes Masses, meetings and appointments.
3. Priests, deacons and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion must sanitize their hands prior to distributing Holy Communion and must wear masks and while doing so.
4. Should a priest, deacon or other parish minister have direct contact with a Covid 19 positive person, they should immediately get tested. 
5. Pastors are still encouraged to move slowly in returning to the shaking of hands at the Sign of Peace or after Mass. Other forms for the Sign of Peace should be used and encouraged.
6. Communion under both species is still not allowed at this time.
7. Offertory Procession with gifts is permitted.
8. Holy Water fonts should remain empty at this time. Some parishes have given bottles of Holy Water to the people or purchased touch less dispensers. Both practices are encouraged.
9. Faithful can receive Holy Communion on the tongue or on hand. 
10. Purification of the chalice and other sacred vessels should be done only by the main celebrant of the Mass. (Concelebrating priests should receive communion only by “Intinction”) The sacred vessels are to be purified after communion or after Mass, at the altar or credence table.
11. It is recommended for unvaccinated clergy members to be tested once a week.