2020 St. John Berchmans Catholic Church
Reopening The Church Guidelines
As your pastor, I have consulted with the parish Task Force Committee for the COVID-19. The Committee is in conjunction with the CDC, state and city recommendations and is taking into consideration the directives from Archbishop Gustavo. The following guidelines have been created and will remain in effect for the safety of all involved, including myself. This will allow us to gradually and responsibly reopen the church for prayer and public celebrations of the sacraments within our community of St. John Berchmans:
Capacity & Seating:
Our maximum capacity for each mass is 100 persons including daily masses, in compliance with the state 25% policy. Once this limit is reached, persons will regrettably be turned away and asked to attend mass at another time.
Ushers will be seating everyone in the appropriate pews.
Before Arrival of Mass:
Please wash your hands for at least 20 seconds before leaving your home.
Face coverings are required and worn throughout the entire Mass.
Hand sanitizers are placed at the doors of the church. We ask that everyone should sanitize their hands as they enter and exit the church.
Please do not bring items that contain bleach as it will damage the wood surfaces.
Arrival Proceedings:
Arrive 20-30 minutes before mass begins to stand in line outside the Church and wait to be escorted into the church. Please keep a minimum distance of six feet while waiting.
Please note that we will be managing the flow of traffic into the church. This means that we may use only one or two doors when persons are entering church; however, once Mass is begun, we will have all doors open for exit in accordance with fire safety code.
Mass attendance is on a first come, first seated basis.
All persons coming into church must wear face coverings throughout the entire Mass. Face coverings must cover their nose and mouth, except those too young to wear a mask and anyone unable to remove a mask without assistance.
Ushers will seat you and/or your household.
In order to enforce safe social distancing, we will leave every other pew vacant to allow for space between rows. Members of the same family, or household, may sit together in a normal manner but a minimum of distance of six feet must be maintained between groups and individuals that are not of the same household.
Holy Water fonts will remain empty.
Songbooks will be removed from the foyer pending further notice; however, missals will be distributed to those attending mass on May 23rd and 24th to be taken home for your own reading and meditation.
Mass Procedures:
Lectors must wear a mask and avoid touching the ambo and microphone.
The Sign of Peace will be expressed with a simple sign of a head bow or other gesture of greeting while maintaining the required six-foot radial distance.
The Precious Blood of Christ will not be distributed.
Please keep your mask on during the duration of the mass.
Communion Procedures:
Ushers will assist in guiding the communion line.
We ask parishioners to receive Holy Communion on the hand only.
The Precious Blood of Christ will not be distributed.
I will be distributing Holy Communion with the assistance of one extraordinary minister. During Holy Communion, keep your masks on; receive Holy Communion on your palm; step to the side and gently lower your mask to consume the host.
Use of personal hand sanitizer, before communion, is strongly encouraged.
Departure Procedures:
After the final blessing, parishioners will be dismissed in an orderly fashion.
Ushers will begin dismissing from the rear of the church and move forward.
Face coverings must remain on during dismissal.
You must exit your pew when prompted. Please avoid socializing after mass to allow the church to be cleaned and disinfected for the next mass.
The bulletins will be handed to you at the end of each mass by the ushers as you leave the church.
I will not be available for hand shaking, but will stand outside and wave (weather permitting).
Church Cleaning Procedures:
Pews, bathrooms, door handles, and other frequently touched surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected after each mass.
Volunteers and Task Force Committee will be required to wear face masks and gloves.
As you can see, it will take the coordination and our mutual cooperation to prepare for the reopening of our church and to maintain proper and safe health standards while we stay open. If you have questions, please call the office at 210-434-3247.
Join Father Fidele Praying the Rosary
Mon. - Sunday @ 6PM
Livestream On The Church Facebook Page
Adoration Thursday
Every Thursday Of Every Month
In The chapel 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Please Find Time In Your Busy Schedule To Visit With The Lord
And Offer Him Quality Time
