Latest Parish Bulletin
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November 22, 2020
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Updates
Guidelines for Visiting St. Agnes Parish during COVID-19
St. Agnes Parish Guidelines comply with legislation and regulations provided by:
Category: Entering and Exiting
Category: Seating
Category: Liturgy
Category: Collections/Offerings
Other General Information
Category: Cleaning, Disinfecting and Sanitizing Procedures
- The Province of Ontario
- The Thunder Bay District Health Unit Medical Officer of Health
- The City of Thunder Bay
- The Diocese of Thunder Bay
Category: Entering and Exiting
- The centre door of the church is cordoned off so that just the two side doors are available for entry and exiting
- The side entry doors will be propped open to avoid contact with handles
- Any person who enters or remains in the church is required to wear a mask or face covering. Exceptions are children under 2 years of age, anyone who requires accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, anyone who cannot remove the mask without assistance and anyone who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons. This provision is effective July 24, 2020
- Greeters and Ushers will wear a mask
- Greeters will be stationed at 2 separate tables in the foyer – one table will be by the Mary Room and the other near the opposite wall by the church hall entrance
- Greeters will direct people to use hand sanitizer, provide instructions and answer questions as well as keep count of the parishioners entering to avoid over-capacity
- Tape has been applied on the floors at the church entrance, in the foyer and in the aisles of the church, to designate spacing of 2 metre (6 foot) increments and also indicate the direction of movement
- The sidewalk outside the church has been marked to indicate physical distancing requirements as well
- Two ushers will be present at each Mass
- Parishioners will be escorted to appropriate seating by the Ushers
- Fr. James will make an announcement prior to the end of each mass asking parishioners to remain in their seats until escorted out by the Ushers to ensure an orderly exit
Category: Seating
- Pews have been measured and rows have been roped off and will be kept empty to allow sufficient distancing between parishioners
- Parishioners will also be seated at least 2 metres (6 feet) apart; people living in the same household can sit together
- Ushers will escort parishioners to the appropriate pew and will seat people further into the pew to keep the centre aisles clear
- Ushers will seat people beginning at the front of the church (unless specifically requested otherwise)
- Families will be seated at the outside of the pews
- An area at the front left side of the church has been designated for those who attend with a personal mobility device
- The centre section of the second last row will be designated for those who wish Fr. James to bring the Eucharist to them
- The outside section of the back row will be designated for those who do not wish to receive Communion
- Walkers will be stowed at the back of the church along the back wall
- The church allows for the seating of 36 individuals; capacity increases if parishioners come as couples or families
- The church hall will be available for overflow; tape has been installed on the floor to designate spacing of 2 metre (6 foot) increments and to indicate the direction of movement
- Parishioners in the church hall will be seated at least 2 metres (6 feet) apart
- Pews have been measured and rows have been roped off and will be kept empty to allow sufficient distancing between rows
- Parishioners will also be seated at least 2 metres (6 feet) apart; (People living in the same household can sit together)
- Ushers will escort parishioners to appropriate pew and will seat people further into the pew to keep the centre aisles clear
- Ushers will seat people beginning at the front of the church (unless specifically requested otherwise)
- Families will be seated at the outside of the pews
- An area at the front left side of the church has been designated for those who attend with a personal mobility device
- The centre section of the second last row will be designated for those who wish Fr. James to bring the Eucharist to them
- The outside section of the back row will be designated for those who do not wish to receive Communion
- Walkers will be stowed at the back of the church along the back wall
- The church allows for seating for 36 individuals; capacity increases if parishioners come as couples or families
- The church hall will be available for overflow; tape has been installed on the floor to designate spacing of 2 metre (6 foot) increments and to indicate the direction of movement
- Parishioners in the church hall will be seated at least 2 metres (6 feet) apart
Category: Liturgy
- The Entrance Procession will take place directly from the sacristy
- There will only be one Lector present at each Mass
- The Lector will be seated at the front on the left side close to the ambo
- Announcements and Scripture Readings will all be done from the ambo
- The Lectionary will remain on the ambo so it will not be necessary for the Lector to enter the sacristy
- The Greeting of Peace is maintained; a simple bow of the head towards one’s neighbour is offered as a sign of peace (no hand shaking is permitted)
- After the priest has received Holy Communion, he will hold up the host for the congregation to see and will say “The Body of Christ”; the congregation will respond with “Amen”; during the distribution of Holy Communion, nothing is said
- Ushers will assist people in approaching for Holy Communion ensuring physical distancing is maintained
- There will only be one Eucharistic Minister present at each Mass in addition to the Priest
- Eucharistic Ministers will wear a mask when distributing Holy Communion
- Fr. James will distribute Holy Communion to parishioners in the centre aisle
- The Eucharistic Minister will distribute Holy Communion to parishioners in the two outside sections (first one side and then the other)
- Communion is received only in the hand at this time
- The Priest or Eucharistic Minister will carefully place the Sacred Host in the recipient’s hand without touching the person; nothing is said
- There will only be one Cantor and a pianist/organist at each Mass
- The Cantor will be behind plexiglass to ensure physical distancing and the safety of others during singing
- There will be no congregational singing
- The projector screen at the front of the church will be used to provide information and reminders to parishioners
Category: Collections/Offerings
- Secured containers for parishioner’s offerings for Mass will be available behind the last pews in each of the centre aisles
- Collection containers will be monitored by the Ushers to ensure security
- Collection containers will be on wheels so they can be easily moved into the sacristy for safe depositing.
Other General Information
- Holy water fonts have been removed
- Entrance to the sacristy will be limited to those who are required to prepare for the liturgy and limited to only one person at a time
- Hymn books and other paper items have been removed from pews and from the foyer
- Pyxes and directions will be stored in the sacristy and are also available at the altar; pyxes will be available on request and at the discretion of Fr. James
- Live streaming will continue at the 11 am Mass
Category: Cleaning, Disinfecting and Sanitizing Procedures
- All staff engaged in cleaning will wear a mask and disposable gloves
- Masks are to be disposed of when dirty or not later than the end of the day
- Gloves will be changed at the end of a task or after cleaning a washroom and hands are washed (or rinsed with hand sanitizer) after removal of gloves
- Pew fronts and tops and sides of pew benches that are used will be wiped with a disinfectant cleaner after each weekday mass and between each weekend mass
- The surface of the ambo will be wiped after each mass as well as microphones and the keyboard/mouse used by the music ministry
- All surfaces (floors, seating, kneelers) will be cleaned with a disinfectant cleaner at least once a week
- Washrooms will be restricted to use when absolutely necessary only
- Only one stall in each washroom will be available for use and will be cleaned between masses and more often as required
- Handwashing signs are posted in the washroom
- Signage indicating occupancy limit is posted outside washroom
- A wall-mounted hand sanitizing unit is available in the hallway outside the washrooms
- Two wall-mounted hand sanitizing units are installed in the entrance of the church (these units are checked prior to each mass to ensure they are filled and operating properly)
- Two tables with bottles of hand sanitizers are set up in the foyer; a Greeter will be at each table to provide direction and answer questions
- A bottle of hand sanitizer as well as disinfectant wipes will be available in the back pews of the church
- Hand sanitizer is also available in the Sacristy and at the Altar
- A waste basket is located near the entrance/exit of church
