Resuming Public Masses in the Catholic Diocese of Wichita ......Resuming Public Masses in the...
Transcript of Resuming Public Masses in the Catholic Diocese of Wichita ......Resuming Public Masses in the...
ResumingPublicMassesintheCatholicDioceseofWichita
PhaseOne|May6-20,2020
OnMay6,2020,publicmasses,includingfuneralsandweddingswillresumefortheCatholicDioceseofWichita.Pastorsmaychoosetostartatalaterdateiftheyrequiremoretimeforpreparation.Thefollowingguidelinesandrestrictionsaretobeobservedwithoutexceptions.
1. ThedispensationoftheobligationtoattendtheSundaycelebrationoftheMasscontinuesforthosewhoseekitinordertoavoidtheriskofinfectionofCovid-19.Thisdispensationwillremainavailableuntilfurthernotice.• PleasenotethatCatholicsdonotcommitamortalsinwhentheydonotattendSunday
Masswhenthebishophasdispensedthemfromtheobligationtodoso.• Personswithhighervulnerabilityarerequestedtousethisdispensationandrefrain
fromattendingtheMassinordertopromotethehealthandwelfareofeveryperson.o TheCatholicChurchhasalwaystaughtthatseriousillnessautomatically
dispensesaCatholicfromtheobligationtoattendSundayMassandisavalidreasontostayhome.
• Pleasedonottakeunnecessaryriskswithyourhealthoradverselyaffectthehealthofothers.
• Thishealthcrisiscontinuestobeveryseriousandrequiresallofustodoourpartinreducingthespreadofadeadlyinfection,forwhichwecurrentlyhavenovaccine.
2. Ifpossible,livestreamingMassesshouldcontinueforthosewhoremainathomeduringthisperiod.
3. Eachmassislimitedtonomorethan33%oftheoccupancyofthechurchandotherindoorspacesusedforoverflow.Pastorsareaskedtoregulatethisattendanceinordertoprovidethenecessaryspacetopracticesocialdistancingduringtheliturgies.OutdoormassesduringPhaseOneoftheplanareprohibited.
4. PastorsmayconsiderofferingadditionalMassestoaccommodatemoreofthefaithful.Iftheychoosetodoso,theymayalsoofferSundaycelebrationsoftheMassbeginningatNoononSaturdayafternoon.Thistemporaryallowancewillremainineffectuntilfurthernotice.
5. AdorationoftheBlessedSacramentmayresume,limitingthenumberofadorersinthechapelsatanyonetime,providingthenecessaryspaceforsocialdistancing.Pastorsareaskedtofacilitatethisfortheirparishes.
6. Otherparishgatherings,suchasadultfaithformation,BibleStudies,etc.thoughimportantarenotessentialandshouldremaindiscontinueduntilfurthernotice.
TheBishop’sLeadershipTeamwillmonitortheseguidelinesandmakeadjustmentsasneeded.
Pleaserefertotheaccompanyingdocument,“GuidelinesonResumingPublicMassesintheCatholicDioceseofWichita,”thatlistsguidelinesforresumingpublicMasses.