DIOCESAN AND PARISH DIRECTIVES FOR PUBLIC MASSES
May  28, 2020

 
Bishop Robert Deeley of the Diocese of Portland, has granted permission to begin reopening public Masses for up to 50 persons as soon as of June 1, in accord with directives from the Maine CDC and Governor Mills.  The bishop has given us directives to follow which are incorporated in our parish policies.  However, there is no obligation to attend Mass on any day in our diocese for the time being.  We will continue to live stream the 4pm Saturday Mass each weekend.
  
As we begin to re-open our churches for Mass in Good Shepherd Parish, all must follow the health-related policies established by the CDC and governor.  These policies may change in the future, so our church policies and procedures may change as well; we will re-evaluate them frequently and make revisions when necessary. To begin celebrating Masses in public, our pastor agreed with our pastoral council that we will begin the process with one daily Mass at St. Joseph Church in Biddeford.  To arrive at this decision, the council gave consideration to the many stipulations required for reopening including how easily our worship sites can accommodate the 6-foot social distancing requirement for 50 people, parking availability for Masses and geographical location. St. Joseph Church is our largest church and more easily satisfies the safety protocols defined by the CDC and our governor.  More Masses will be scheduled at other church locations after a few weeks of experience if the protocols established by the state can be met at those locations.

We know many parishioners are eager to gather for Mass and receive Holy Communion, but space will be limited. The initial plan is for one Mass per day, 6 days a week, in St. Joseph Church at these times: Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 6pm; Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday at 9am.  We will continue to a livestream a 4pm Mass on Saturday; this must take place at another location for video recording which requires hardline internet access.
 
Because attendance is limited to under 50 persons, advance registration for Mass will be required.  We are beginning by listing Masses for the first two weeks on our parish website.  You can reserve a seat online or you can call the parish office (282-3321), and someone will make a reservation for you.  Please sign up for only one Mass so that all parishioners who want to participate can do so as soon as possible.  If you plan to participate in one of these Masses, you should read the information that follows.  Thank you for your patience and compliance. 
 

CAPACITY & SEAT RESERVATION

• For now, Masses will be limited to 50 persons at each Mass, including the priest.
• We ask parishioners to reserve their seat at least 3 to 4 days prior to the Mass.
• We are required to keep registration lists for 6 weeks in the event there is a community transmission of coronavirus at one of our Masses. These lists will help the CDC to alert people and/or perform investigations. When you sign up for Mass, you are authorizing Good Shepherd Parish to furnish your information to the Maine CDC for communication purposes.

• We are using WeShare Events for Mass registration.  There is no cost and you will not be asked for any financial information when signing up for WeShare events. The registration form will ask how many in one household will be attending.  This is important because individual households will be seated together.  The online form will ask for your name and email address which will allow us to notify you with a confirmation email for one to two days prior to the Mass you have chosen.
• If you do not list/have an email address there will not be a confirmation, but you will be on the registration list for check off at Mass.
• You must show up no later than 5 minutes before Mass or you will not be seated.
• Those who show up without a seat reservation will be invited to register for a Mass in the future. 

• Wash your hands at home. 
• For those age 3 and up, face coverings are required on our church grounds and during Mass.
• Bring your own hand sanitizer that can be used before entering the church and receiving Holy Communion.
• Do Not bring items that contain bleach into the sanctuary as this will damage the pews.  

• Masks (for ages 3+) should be worn as soon as you exit your vehicle.
• You are urged to arrive 20-30 minutes to stand in line before Mass begins.
• Please have a hard copy of your email confirmation or on your phone to show the usher when entering if you provided an email. This will speed up the process for all; an usher will have a list of all those who registered.
• The handicapped entrance of the church will open 15 minutes before the start of Mass. This is the only church that will be used for entrance and exit.
• Ushers will seat everyone. The church will be seated to fill the available seats from front to back.
• Pews marked with white tape is where seating is allowed.  Seats with caution tape are not available for seating. 
• You may be sharing a pew or seating area with another household, but 6-foot social distancing is required between each person or household (which may a household of husband and wife, for example).
• There will be no seating in other areas.
• The holy water fonts remain empty at this time.
• Restrooms will be available.
• If someone arrives without having a reservation, they will be invited to register for a Mass in the future. 

• Mass will be celebrated as you have seen livestreamed with staff & volunteer lay ministers when needed.
• Communion will be distributed by a priest only (unless he has health issues) for the time being.
• Parish staff & trained volunteers will serve as ushers until further notice.
• Please keep your face mask on for the duration of Mass.
• The optional Sign of Peace will be omitted and there should be no holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer outside of one’s household.
• Baskets will not be passed during the offertory. You will be able to place your weekly gift in a basket as you exit the church, but we strongly encourage online giving through WeShare or by mail.  

• Bishop Deeley strongly encourages everyone to receive Holy Communion in the hand at this time for safety reasons and as sign of Christian charity towards those who would receive Holy Communion after you.
• The Precious Blood will not be offered to the congregation.
• Advance notification at registration is needed from those who need a gluten-free host.
• The use of personal hand sanitizer before receiving Holy Communion is strongly encouraged.
• There will be a single communion line in the center of the main aisle. Ushers will provide direction when it is time for each person to join the line.
• No gloves are to be worn receiving communion.
• Masks should be worn in the communion line. After the priest offers you the Eucharist, step to the side, remove your mask, consume the Sacred Host, and then re-mask as you head back to your pew.  
• Return to your pew immediately after receiving.
• Some may not be comfortable receiving Holy Communion for some reason and that is alright.

• Parishioners should remain in their seats at the conclusion of Mass.
• Ushers will dismiss everyone in an orderly fashion, starting in the rear of the church and then moving forward. 
• You must exit your pew when prompted. Private prayer is not available after Masses because the church must be sanitized after each Mass.
• You will exit the same door by which you entered the church.
• At every Mass, you can drop your weekly offertory in a designated basket as you depart.
• Clergy will not shake hands.
• Please do not congregate outside but go directly to your vehicle.   

• We will continue to implement cleanliness and sanitization practices, including cleaning seats after every Mass, and disinfecting bathrooms, door handles, and other frequently touched surfaces.
• Any parish staff and trained volunteers will be required to wash hands and wear face masks. You are reminded to follow CDC recommendations regarding your own health. If you fall into an “at risk” category, please stay home and join us by livestream.  However, anyone who registers for Mass will be welcome.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR MASS