Bishop Wack released a statement regarding the resuming of Masses with a congregation present. You can find Bishop Wack's entire statement here: https://ptdiocese.org/resuming-the-celebration-of-mass.
Per Bishop Wack's statement, there are five components of this next phase that we all should be prepared for. HNJ's specific policies and practices are noted after each component:
1. A general dispensation from the Sunday obligation will remain. Many people, especially those who are at risk of possible infection or illness, and those who care for them, are strongly encouraged to stay home and participate in live streamed Masses, which will continue. This also means that one can come to church for Mass on any day of the week (not just Sunday). This will help to give people more of a chance to celebrate Mass in person at least once a week.
NOTE: The Sunday Mass and daily Masses will continue to be live streamed from the Parish Life Center at 8 AM. The Sunday 11 AM drive-through communion will also continue. 8 AM daily Mass will be available publicy (with limited attendance) from Thursday, May 7 to Friday, May 15. Saturday Vigil will be available beginning May 9. 8 AM Sunday Mass will be available beginning May 10, and 5 PM beginning May 17. Beginning May 18, the daily weekday Mass schedule will return to the original pre-pandemic schedule. All Masses will be celebrated in the Parish Life Center. Communion services will not be live streamed.
2. Attendance will be limited. Some restrictions will remain on the capacity of large gatherings, so we are working with parishes to determine a fair way to cap attendance for Masses. Unfortunately, during this next phase, no one should expect to be able to attend Mass with regularity.
NOTE: Beginning this Thursday, May 7, Masses will be held in the Parish Life Center with a 30% capacity limit (150 people). An additional 90 seat capacity will be reserved in the church for any potential overflow with a live feed from the PLC being aired in the church.
3. Social Distancing will be practiced. Expect your parish to have pews/rows that are roped off. Families will be asked to maintain 6 feet of separation from other families. Be prepared to wear a mask to Mass to guard against the potential spread of the virus.
NOTE: We are strongly recommending anyone attending Mass in person to wear a face mask/covering. Chairs in the PLC will be set up 6 feet apart, and pews in the church will be marked accordingly. Please follow all directions in terms of social distancing, especially keeping 6 feet apart from other people/families before, during, and after the Mass and also during communion. If you have to cough or sneeze, use the fold of your elbow to cover your nose and mouth. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently and avoid touching your face.
4. Liturgical changes will be in place. Extra precautions will be taken, such as suspending the distribution of the Precious Blood and strongly recommending receiving the Host only on the hand.
NOTE: The distribution of the Precious Blood will be suspended for the foreseeable future, and we are strongly recommending receiving the Host only on the hand. Offertory baskets will not be passed during Mass. Instead, there will be collection baskets at the entrances of the PLC and the church. Additionally, liturgical ministries will be limited. There will be no altar servers at this time. Eucharistic ministers, lectors, and ushers will also be limited. All choirs are still suspended, and audio-visual technicians are not needed at this time.
5. Anyone who attends public Mass will still be at risk. Even with the best health practices and strict social distancing, anyone who enters a public space should be aware of the risk. Our churches will be cleaned thoroughly, but the risk of contracting COVID-19 remains.
NOTE: Use your best judgment when determining your personal level of risk in entering a public space. Please continue to adhere to state and local guidance as well as complementary CDC guidance, particularly with respect to face coverings. As Bishop Wack states, "for the protection of our diocese and local communities, we do not want to contribute to a rebound effect that would push normalized Mass attendance even further into the future."
Hopefully this message provides you some clarity in the resuming of Masses with a congregation present! Please be patient with us in this next phase, and let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We continue to hold you all in our prayers and are here to help you in any way we can, and as always, we will keep you posted with any updates as we receive them.