MASS WILL BE THE SAME... BUT DIFFERENT

Things will be very different, we need everyone to be extremely patient, understanding and kind to others. You will be given precise directions to follow in order to keep everyone safe and adhere to public health directives. There will be trained ushers on hand to assist. Please follow their instructions at all times. 

Here are some things you can expect to be different:

• WASHROOMS: Please use the washroom at home before coming to Mass. Washroom use is only for emergencies.
• ENTERING THE CHURCH: There will only be one door open. There may be delays when entering which may cause a line, please be sure to stay 2 meters apart in any line ups.
• SEATING: Some pews will be blocked to ensure physical distancing. Families will be seated together and must be six feet away from others. You will be directed to a specific seat by an usher.   
• OFFETORY: Please place your Sunday Offering in the basket at the doors on your way out of the Church. Ushers will be there to assist.
• SIGN OF PEACE: There must be no contact such as shaking hands. A simple bow of the head towards one’s neighbour may be offered as a sign of peace.
• APPROACHING THE MINISTER FOR COMMUNION: At the time of communion, all will be asked to be seated. Communion will be distributed by section. You will process up the aisle starting from the back rows. The ushers will indicate when it is your turn to proceed. Keep your mask on, and maintain a safe physical distance from others. On the floor there will be a line in front of the minister of Communion. Please stay at this line while the minister says, "The Body of Christ", and you respond, "Amen". With the Host in your hand, step to the side to the marked area, remove your mask from behind one ear, consume the Host, replace your mask, and then return to your place in the pew and be seated.
• RECEIVING COMMUNION: Receiving Holy Communion from the Cup (the Blood of Christ) will be unavailable. On the direction of medical authorities, Communion must be distributed only in the hand. The reception of Communion on the tongue will be restored as an option as soon as the public health officials allow it.
• MUSIC: There will be no hymnals (books) in the pews. Music may be limited.
• NO PHYSICAL GREETINGS: Please limit your greetings to fellow parishioners, volunteers, and priests to a wave (or an air high five).
• NO PHYSICAL BULLETIN: There will be no physical bulletin. Please sign up for our email list to get regular updates.
• LEAVING: At the end of Mass, everyone will be asked to be seated. You will be dismissed by section in order to maintain physical distancng. Everyone will be asked to leave the church in an orderly fashion. Please leave the church immediately after Mass and do not congregate after.
• ENHANCED CLEANING: Enhanced cleaning procedures will be in place between Masses. Staff and volunteers will be sanitizing and cleaning after each Mass.

We miss seeing you, and we are so excited to be back. We want to make sure everyone’s experience is safe. Thank you for your patience as we embrace this new and unusual time.