Procedures for Resuming Public Sacraments

Step 1: Decide Whether You Should Come to Mass
- Bishop Brennan has dispensed the faithful of the Diocese of Columbus from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass until September 13, 2020. We want to emphasize that anyone who is at increased risk of complications from COVID-19, who is sick in any way, or who simply does not feel safe being in public is not obligated to attend Mass. We need to emphasize, as well, that anyone in those categories is always dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass, even when the Bishop has not made a formal declaration.
  
  Further, we ask that if you are experiencing any symptoms that include a cough, fever, and/or fatigue for any reason (even if you’re sure it’s allergies), to stay home. We appreciate the great longing to attend Mass again, and we understand that many of you with mild symptoms will feel “well enough,” but please, out of charity for others in our parish family, do not come until you are completely well.
  
  We will continue to live stream Mass even after public Masses have resumed.
Step 2: Before Coming to Mass
- Sign up for which Sunday Mass your family would like to attend. We need to limit our attendance in a way that will allow for social distancing. We will be using Sign Up Genius to help us keep count. You can sign up HERE. We will not have sign ups for daily Mass, but the rest of these procedures apply to both Sunday and daily Masses. Signing up will allow us to make sure we have space for everyone and will allow you to choose a Mass that is less-populated. If your preferred Mass is full, please choose a different Mass. Signing up in advance is not required, but it helps everyone be better prepared.
  
  Bishop Brennan has asked that those attending Mass wear a mask, unless they are under the age of two. Further, Franklin County is currently under a Level 3 emergency, which makes masks mandatory in any indoor building that is not a private residence. We have a very limited number of masks, in case you forget, but please plan to bring your own. We understand that some people have medical issues or other exemptions under the order of the OH Department of Health. If you are exempted from the order and someone asks you to wear a mask, simply state that you are exempt. A full list of exemptions is HERE. Bring some hand sanitizer with you to Mass so that you can clean your hands before and after Communion. Please do not bring any bleach products, as they can damage the pews.
  
  Use the bathroom at home. Our public bathrooms will be available, if necessary, but it is difficult to monitor social distancing in private spaces, so we ask that you only use them when necessary.
Step 3: When you Arrive
- Put on your mask before entering the church building.
  
  Doors to the church will be propped open so that you don't have to touch them.
  
  Sanitize your hands before entering the church building. We will have hand sanitizer stations near the entrance to the building, but ask that you bring your own hand sanitizer if you can.
  
  We have blocked off every other pew with red tape; do not sit in a marked off pew. Please sit as far as you can (6 feet minimum) from the next person or family in the pew.
  
  We have removed all books and paper products from the pews, but we encourage you to follow the readings and Mass parts with an app on your phone, such as Laudate or iBreviary. You can also find the readings at USCCB.org.
Step 4: During Mass
- We are discouraging the congregation from singing. Singing requires projected voices, which increases the amount of droplets in the air, and deep breaths, which increases the amount of droplets that are potentially inhaled.
  
  We will not be sharing the Sign of Peace with each other. Please take care not to touch anyone outside your family.
  
  We will not be passing baskets for an offertory collection. We will place baskets near the exits of the church in which you may place your envelope after Mass. However, we encourage you to take advantage of Online Giving or Text-to-Give.
Step 5: Communion
- Leave your mask on until you approach the priest. Unhook it from one ear or untie it enough to expose your mouth, and then replace it after receiving Communion.
  
  We will not be offering the Precious Blood. The Precious Body will be distributed in either the hand or on the tongue. No matter how you receive, please take great care not to touch the Communion minister. If you receive in the hand, open your non-dominant hand flat, with your dominant hand underneath it. Leave your hand flat as the Communion minister places the host in your hand. Once his hand is clear, use your dominant hand to pick up the host and place it in your mouth. If you receive on the tongue, open your mouth widely and stick your tongue out so that the minister can place the host in your mouth without touching you.
  
  Communion on the tongue will only be available from a priest. Priests will generally be stationed at the main aisle and at the aisle nearest the baptismal font. If you want to receive Communion on the tongue, please plan to sit in one of these sections.
  
  We will have only three Communion lines: one in the middle aisle and one in each of the two side aisles. Pews on either side of the aisle will alternate joining the Communion line, taking great care to leave several feet of space between family groups.
Step 6: The End of Mass
- Pews will be dismissed one at a time from back to front. (Think of it as a reverse Communion line.)
  
  Do not congregate in the Gathering Space. Please leave the building directly for your car.
  
  We will not have paper bulletins for the near future. Our current bulletin and past bulletins are always available on our website.
Additional Information
- Sacrament of Confession
  
  We will continue to offer the Sacrament of Confession outside the church building, under the portico, on Wednesday, May 20, by appointment. Call our office at (614) 471-0212 to make an appointment.
  
  Beginning the weekend of May 30/31, we will resume our normal weekend Confession schedule, Saturdays at 4 pm and Sundays at 11 am, and no appointment will be necessary. Confessions will be held in the confessionals, but will be behind the screen only. Please stand or kneel when you make your confession.
- Private Prayer
  
  Beginning Monday, May 18, the church building will be open for private prayer Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 5 pm. Once daily Masses resume on Monday, May 25, the building will be open from 8 am to 5 pm. If you come for private prayer, please wear a mask, bring hand sanitizer, and maintain social distance from other people. Only certain pews will be available so that we can more easily determine which areas need to be sanitized.