Phase III (opening for Sunday Mass) will begin on Saturday, June 20, 2020 (for the 5:30 pm Mass) 

 
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS FOR MASS ATTENDANCE:

1. All instructions for attending Mass at Guardian Angel will be distributed on the parish website, www.guardianangelchurch.org and by the constant contact e-blast.  If you have not signed up for the constant contact e-blast, and would like to, please go to the parish website, and click on the parish e-blast signup button that appears underneath the red box on the homepage.
2. The reason why it is important that you go to these guidelines either through the website or from the constant contact Daily Updates that I send is because attendance at Mass will require a ticket – EVERYONE WHO ATTENDS SUNDAY MASS WILL HAVE TO HAVE A TICKET.  The ticketing procedure will be provided in later correspondence.
3. Mass attendance at Guardian Angel will be limited to no more than 50 people, but will likely be even less than that because of social distancing.
4. The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is still dispensed with, meaning there is still no obligation to attend Mass.  I will still be uploading a Mass to the internet on Sundays and Holy Days.
5. In accord with national, state and local health directives, those who show symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been exposed to another infected person are not permitted to enter the church for 14 days. It is recommended that Mass everyone should check their temperature at home before   coming to church.
6. Those who are at risk because of an underlying health issue or who are 60 or older are strongly encouraged to avoid the risks posed by attendance at public celebrations of the Mass.  

WHAT WILL CHURCH ATTENDANCE AT GUARDIAN ANGEL BE LIKE?

1. Everyone will be obliged to follow the directions of myself and the volunteer ushers.
2. All congregants will be obliged to properly wear a face mask the entire time they are inside the Church, with the exception of the brief moment where they receive Holy Communion.  The Priest celebrant will wear a mask for the distribution of Holy Communion.
3. Pews have been roped off such that social distance will be maintained between households.  Only one household will be allowed in any pew.  If your household is more than five people, then you will need to reserve two separate pews.
4. Within your assigned pew, your household must sit in the center of the pew – the edges of the pews where you are NOT allowed to sit will be marked with blue painter’s tape.  This is to provide social distancing for anyone walking in the aisles by the pews.
5. All household members will need to remain in their pews for the entire Mass, with the exception of legitimate medical emergency.  The bathrooms at the Church will remain closed, so please be aware of that.
6. For Daily Masses, tickets will initially not be needed, but I may have to change that directive depending on numbers.
7. For Sunday Masses, again you will need to have tickets, and your household will be ushered by a volunteer, one household at a time, to your assigned pew.  Your household must come at least 15 minutes before Mass (Allendale time is not allowed) and line up down the handicapped ramp and around the sidewalk of the Church, maintaining social distancing and wearing masks the entire time.  No admittance will be allowed once Mass has begun for any reason.
8. HOLY COMMUNION: 
   1. Holy Communion will be distributed only in the form of the host.
   2. I will personally administer Holy Communion at each Mass, regardless of the Priest-Celebrant
   3. The flow of Communion will be different.
      • Holy Communion will be distributed at the side aisles, one household at a time
      • Individual household members desiring to receive Holy Communion will exit their pew at the side aisle, come forward, put their hands out as far as possible to receive the Host.  They will then take six steps to the side, stop, lift their mask to receive, and then replace their mask, returning to their seat by the center aisle.
      • Only one household can be in the side aisle at a time.  Once the previous household has received, then the next household can come into the side aisle, and forward to receive.
      • I will distribute to the ambo side of the Church first and once that is done I will distribute to the piano side of the Church.
      • All congregants MUST return to their pew after Holy Communion.  Nobody is permitted to leave Mass immediately after Communion.
9. After the final blessing, exiting the Church will begin starting with the rear most pew and will be directed by ushers.  Everyone must leave when directed to do so because we will need to clean and sanitize the Church for the next Mass.  Private prayers, Rosary, etc. will have to be done at a different time, or elsewhere.