STE Mass August 8, 2020

In-Person Liturgies - Updates to Guidelines (6/28/20)

As Kansas City MO’s guidelines allow for the opportunity to open the liturgy to more people, with social distancing, we are updating our practices in the areas of mask usage and reception of Eucharist.

Personal Risk/Personal Responsibility - There are varying data, practices and opinions on the risks associated with engaging in communal life during this pandemic. We have done our very best to respond to this situation. At this time, our precautionary practices for attending public Mass are still very restrictive and maintain very low risk tolerance. That said, you attend at your own risk and agree to take personal responsibility for following our guidelines. If you are uncomfortable, or not ready to return to church, please remember that Bishop Johnston has dispensed the faithful from the obligation to attend Mass and we continue to livestream our Mass each week.

We will continue to limit the number of people who may attend Mass in order to practice social distancing. Pre-registration and check-in to will still be required.

After reviewing the following information if you would like to attend Mass on August 8 at 4:30 pm please click on the "Register Now!" button below to reserve your spot and place your name on the list.

Masks - Still Required. The simplest rule to follow is this: if you’re in your pew and Mass has started with the Opening Song, you may remove your mask if necessary. It is strongly encouraged that masks remain on at all times (unless you are exempt under the Mayor’s order) but you may remove it briefly.

The Mayor’s Office does allow for exceptions to this policy, and the following are exempt from wearing masks:

—People who have disabilities that prevent them from comfortably wearing or taking off face coverings, or which prevent them from communicating while wearing face coverings.

—People who have respiratory conditions or breathing trouble.

—People who have been told by a medical, legal, or behavioral health professional not to wear face coverings.

A thought for your consideration: while the diocesan guidelines for mask wearing permit mask-free participation, public health remains a key objective. The purpose of the mask is less to protect you from infection than it is to keep you from inadvertently infecting others.

Moment / Movement	Mask Status
Parking Lot to Church Doorway	Mask Required
Moving to your Pew	Mask Required
From Opening Song to completion of Closing Song	Mask Recommended and Strongly Encouraged
Communion Process	Mask Required
Consuming the Eucharist	Mask Off
Dismissal/Leaving the Building	Mask Required
In your car / on the public sidewalk	Mask Off

As you see in the guidelines described above, during the opening song through completion of closing song, you may remove your mask if necessary. Wearing a mask, while a sacrifice, also can be seen as an act of love. You can show your love for the other members of the assembly by keeping your mask on for the duration of the Liturgy.

Receiving Eucharist - When we resumed Liturgy in the main church, to maintain careful social distance, Fr. Greg has been taking the Eucharist to each participant in your pew. As we support the in-person participation of more members of our parish family, this approach becomes less feasible for Father Greg to accomplish alone.

An extraordinary minister of Holy Communion will now assist Father Greg in distributing communion. The Eucharist will continue to be served to you without your moving out of your pew. With this, movement through church, touching surfaces and moving across pews is kept at a minimum.

Please note: to minimize the need for Fr. Greg and the extraordinary minister to sanitize their hands during our reception of the Eucharist, and to honor responsible mask practice, it is strongly advised that you (only) receive Eucharist in your hand.

Continuation of other restrictions:

All enter church after check-in thru west doors
You must remain in the pew in which you are seated
Everyone must use the center 75th St. doors to exit
Maintain at least 6’ social distance, even in masks
The narthex is closed
The restrooms in church and Seton Hall are not available, before, during or after Mass