GENERAL PROTOCOLS ON THE RE-OPENING OF CHURCHES FOR PUBLIC WORSHIPS AND OMNIBUS GUIDELINES ON THE PUBLIC CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS AND SACRAMENTALS UNDER THE “NEW NORMAL”

 

ADMINISTRATIVE DECREE 2020-04

 

DATE: 8 MAY 2020

TO: ALL THE CLERGY, RELIGIOUS AND LAY FAITHFUL

RE: GENERAL PROTOCOLS ON THE RE-OPENING OF CHURCHES FOR PUBLIC WORSHIPS AND OMNIBUS GUIDELINES ON THE PUBLIC CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS AND SACRAMENTALS UNDER THE “NEW NORMAL”

In view of the possibility that civil authorities will allow mass religious gatherings, especially the public celebration of the Holy Eucharist, we have to accept the fact that we are in the gradual transition to the so-called “new normal”.  

 

When the post-quarantine “new normal” commence, we have to affirm our adherence to the instructions of the civil authorities especially the current restrictions that are imposed on us by our national and local executives.  We have to approach the situation still in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the optic of pastoral charity to safeguard and save our lives and the lives of others.

 

As we live in the changing situation due to “new normal”, we have to do transitory preparation and make adjustment in the conduct of our liturgical celebrations of the Sacraments and Sacramentals in a “modified way” without prejudice however to the applicable and pertinent laws of the Church.  

 

I, by virtue of the power vested in me as Apostolic Administrator, hereby decree the following GENERAL PROTOCOLS ON RE-OPENING OF CHURCHES FOR PUBLIC WORSHIPS AND OMNIBUS GUIDELINES ON THE PUBLIC CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS AND SACRAMENTALS UNDER THE “NEW NORMAL” for the entire ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan.

 

 

I. GENERAL PROTOCOLS ON THE RE-OPENING OF CHURCHES FOR PUBLIC WORSHIPS

 

1. Even if the national IATF-MEID allows the conduct of religious gatherings in the civil province of Oriental Mindoro, in the possibility that GCQ may actually be lifted after May 15 should no deterioration in the risk level occur, close coordination with the local executives concerned is mandatory for purposes of information, attaching this Decree thereto, and preferably approbation thereof.

 

2. The local Ordinary (i.e. Apostolic Administrator), after taking into consideration all the national and local issuances, directives and guidelines, is vested with sole competence to declare the exact day of re-opening of cathedral and parish churches for public worships and liturgical services in the entire local Church.

 

3. The parish priests are not to decide unilaterally and immediately in matter of re-opening their respective churches without the concurrence of the local Ordinaryand preferably the local executives concerned. 

 

4. The parish priest should first manifest to the local Ordinary faithful adherence and dutiful compliance to the Omnibus Guidelines enumerated herein that must be observed toavoid complacency about COVID-19 as the risk of coronavirus “second and/or third wave” could be even worse than the first.

 

5. The parish priest has to ensure that the entire place of worship has been sanitized prior to the re-opening of cathedral and parish churches; the help of the city or municipal governments’ health department may be requested and, if this is not possible, the parish must do the sanitizing itself while using the DOH-prescribed chemical solution disinfectant.  

 

6. The parish priest is duty-bound to satisfy the right to information of Christ’s faithful relative to the local Church guidelines indicated herein preceding the actual implementation of the re-opening of cathedral and parish churches to avoid unwarranted confusion and commotion.

 

7. The local Ordinary, if he has determined the non-readiness to observe at least the minimum requirements stipulated in the Omnibus Guidelines, is competent to defer the re-opening of a particular parish church to a later date.

 

 

II. OMNIBUS GUIDELINES ON THE PUBLIC CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS AND SACRAMENTALS 

 

1. The guidance of the Holy See (CDWDS) and the Episcopal Conference (CBCP) serves as the framework for many liturgical guidelines in time of COVID-19 but they are to be treated as only general recommendations as the final decision rests with the local Ordinary of each diocese.

 

2. The CDWDS and CBCP have clearly indicated that local Ordinary is mandated to make his own particular set of guidelines for his diocese, for the purpose of common unified action, in accordance with law and according to his prudent judgment what is most opportune and necessary in his local Church.

 

3. The canonical legality of the above stated competence of local Ordinary is to be viewed in the exercise of executive and legislative powers in accordance with the law to foster the discipline which is common to the whole local Church, and so press for the observance of all ecclesiastical laws, and that abuses do not creep into ecclesiastical discipline, especially concerning the celebration of the sacraments and sacramentals (cf. cc. 391-392 CIC).

 

4. The Omnibus Guidelines enumerated herein serve as a guide to the clergy, religious and lay faithful that must be specifically observed during the entirety of pandemic crisis while under the so-called post-COVID-19 quarantine’s “new normal” without prejudice to the “basic hygiene protocols” (i.e. use of face mask, practice of physical distancing, proper hand sanitizing, regular routine disinfection among others) as prescribed by the government and health authorities.

 

 

4.1​HOLY EUCHARIST 

 

4.1.1 Public Masses on Sundays and Weekdays shall be celebrated only in cathedral, spacious parish churches and other suitably large chapels.

 

4.1.2 Fiesta Masses and regular monthly Masses in barrio chapels or “tuklongs”, as well as Masses in malls, offices, schools and streets, shall remain suspended.  

4.1.3 Considering time and space, the number of public Masses on Sunday, as well as Saturdayanticipated Masses and even Weekdays, shall be increased to accommodate the large number of faithful with due regard to the prescribed basic hygiene protocols.

 

4.1.4 The so-called anticipated or vigil Mass shall be reckoned beginning any time after 12 noon on Saturday; a faithful who attends any Mass after midday shall be in fulfilment of Sunday obligation.

 

4.1.5 The “Sunday obligation” shall be dispensed with to senior citizens and people with high-risk health issues; they are encouraged to stay home and join the virtual Mass online.

 

4.1.6 The church shall designate doors for the faithful toenter through and other doors to leave through. 

 

4.1.7 Each faithful shall undergo body temperature screening from a bit of a distance using a thermal scanner which should not exceed 37.5 degrees Celsius to allow entry.

 

4.1.8 Hand-washing or sanitizing stations at the entrance door shall be made available and the faithful is required to wash their hands or sanitize before entering.

 

4.1.9 All the faithful shall wear face masks or face shields or cloth coverings; the “no-mask, no-entry” policy shall be strictly enforced.

 

4.1.10 An over-all limit on the total number of faithful shall be regulated depending on the size of the church without prejudice to the prescribed physical distancing.

 

4.1.11 Seating shall be demarcated so that all the faithful are seated in an orderly manner and remain spaced apart from each other.

 

4.1.12 The faithful shall be seated with physical separation at a distance of at least one meter but preferably two meters.

 

4.1.13 Space for standing after all seats are filled shall be strictly prohibited.

 

4.1.14 Missalette for Mass shall not be distributed to the faithful; they can bring their own if possible.

 

4.1.15 Prayer petition envelopes shall sit on a table alongside the drop box for Mass intentions and love offerings. 

 

4.1.16 Alcohol or hand sanitizer shall sit on a table next to the priest-celebrant and ministrants. 

 

4.1.17 Ministrants shall be limited to two altar servers, two lectors, one cantor and one accompanist; they shall be stationed at a distance of at least one meter, preferably two meters. 

 

4.1.18 Priest-celebrant shall not offer Mass while wearing gloves and face mask but he should be spaced far enough apart from ministers and congregation.

4.1.19 Aisles shall be made one way and marked as such in order to prevent people from bumping into each other.

 

4.1.20 Holy Water fonts and containers shall be kept empty.

 

4.1.21 Masses shall not feature singing together by the congregation or by choir; Mass songs shall be limited to those which are greatly important in liturgy, namely: Gospel Acclamation, Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation, Great Amen.

 

4.1.22 Priest or deacon shall keep homilies short, i.e. no more than ten minutes, without compromising the profundity of the Good News. 

 

4.1.23 Collection baskets shall be placed at the church entrance and not handed round in the pews; offertory procession shall be omitted.

 

4.1.24 Priest and deacon shall disinfect their hands before the Preparation of the Gifts. 

 

4.1.25 The gifts of bread and wine shall be placed already on the altar or close to it before Mass begins and must only be touched by priests or deacons and not by altar servers. 

 

4.1.26 The faithful shall refrain from the practice of holding hands during the singing or praying of the “Our Father”.

 

4.1.27 The shaking of hands during the Sign of Peace shall be omitted.

 

4.1.28 Communicants shall observe organized queuing on coloured floor markings while approachingthe altar, spaced at least one meter, preferable two meters, apart.

 

4.1.29 Sacred host shall be distributed only in the hand, not on the tongue, but direct hand contact is to be avoided.

 

4.1.30 Neither the priest nor the communicant shall speak when sacred host is distributed; the words “Body of Christ” and the “Amen” shall be omitted.

 

4.1.31 Priest or deacon or extraordinary ministers shall wear disposable gloves in the distribution of sacred host.

 

4.1.32 After the end of the Mass, the faithful shall be dismissed row by row so as not to result in a crowd leaving the church all at once.

 

4.1.33 The faithful shall refrain from walking up to a priest after Mass to ask for blessing by imposition of hands; the final blessing in the concluding rites of the Mass is sufficient.  

 

4.1.34 The sexton, wearing a mask, shall wear disposable gloves when filling the ciboria with hosts, carefully clean the sacred vessels and dry them with paper towels, and separately wash the used linens.

 

4.1.35 Public areas in the church shall undertake regular routine cleaning and all surfaces shall be wiped down on a regular routine throughout the day with a chemical disinfectant.

4.1.36 Security service personnel, preferably lay leaders and employees, shall be engaged to ensure strict compliance regarding the existing guidelines, infra.

 

 

4.2    OTHER SACRAMENTS AND SACRAMENTALS

 

4.2.1 Communal Baptism and Individual Baptism in the cathedral and parish churches shall be allowed but the total number of guests present is limited to a maximum of ten inclusive of the child, parents of the child and two sponsors without prejudice to the strict observance of the “basic hygiene protocols”.

 

4.2.2 Nuptial Mass in the cathedral and parish churches shall be allowed but the total number of guests present is limited to a maximum of ten inclusive of the bridal couple, parents of the child and two witnesses without prejudice to the strict observance of the “basic hygiene protocols”.

 

4.2.3 Funeral Mass in the cathedral and parish churches shall be allowed as long as the number of people attending is in accordance with the size of the church while observing the “basic hygiene protocols”

 

4.2.4 Funeral Blessing shall be administered during the wake at home or funeral home but only for the bereaved family, on the time when people are small in numbers, without prejudice to the strict observance of the “basic hygiene protocols.”

 

4.2.5 Individual Confession shall be administered outside the confessional, preferably in a sufficiently large and well-ventilated room at a distance of at least one meter between confessor and penitent; it may be done in confessional box with a protective cloth or acetate film installed at the grill; face-to-face confession is strictly prohibited.

 

4.2.6 Anointing of the Sick and Communion for the Sick shall be administered while strictly observing the “basic hygiene protocols”; the use of cotton remains a must; the wearing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suit is mandatory in anointing patients with respiratory-related illnesses and diseases.

 

4.2.7 Communion for the Sick, administered by the EMHC, shall remain suspended; it may be allowed to the healthy but home-quarantined faithful who follow online Masses while observing the prescribed liturgical rites.

 

4.2.8 Communal First Communion and Confirmation, inclusive of Ordination to the Sacred Orders, in the cathedral and parish churches shall remain suspended.   

 

4.2.9 Blessings of persons and objects shall be allowed using the prescribed liturgical rites without the use of holy water.

 

 

4.3 OTHER RELATED MATTERS

 

4.3.1 Cathedral and parish churches and chapels shall be kept open all day so that people may come and find solace in silent prayer while strictly observing the “basic hygiene protocols”.

 

4.3.2 Adoration Chapel shall be re-opened provided that doors and windows need to be open to expel the warm air and give an air change while observing “basic hygiene protocols”.  

 

4.3.3 Recollections, pilgrimages, conferences, meetings and any similar conduct that will involve mass gatherings shall remain cancelled or postponed to a later date.  

 

4.3.4 The kissing, wiping or touching of the crucifix, statues and pictures on the altar and throughout the church shall remain strictly prohibited.

 

4.3.5 The virtual Mass, by way of social media online platforms, shall continue for the benefit of those restricted and quarantined faithful being deprived of physical communion in the church. 

 

4.3.6 Pastors shall put premium on “domestic Church” while keeping and strengthening celebration of the life of faith at home through praying, Bible reading, virtual Mass and other such and similar conduct.   

 

4.3.7 The Oratio Imperata during the Mass, after the Post-Communion Prayer, and also every 8:00 P.M. daily together with the sounding of bells, shall continue.

 

 

This Administrative Decree shall enter into force for the entire ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan effective 15 May 2020, Feast of St. Isidore.  All previous issuances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.  If, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of this Decree shall be held to be unlawful or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

 

Obstantibus contrariis.

 

(Sgd.) VERY REV. FR. NESTOR J. ADALIA

Apostolic Administrator of Calapan