To my dear parishioners:

I am thrilled to announce that our parish is re-opening on Saturday, June 13 – the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord.

The Parish re-opening committee and I are committed to making our return to public Masses as safe, healthy, and spiritually nourishing to everyone. Hence, critical guidelines are in place for this purpose.

1. The dispensation for the faithful from the obligation to participate in Mass on Sundays and Holy Days remains effective throughout Phase I of re-opening. In other words, you are NOT REQUIRED to attend Mass at this time, and please stay home if you are sick or if you are at a higher risk of severe illness with COVID-19. Also, the elderly and families with young children (who may find it challenging to observe social distancing from others) are encouraged to stay home.
2. For phase 1, we are only allowed to have a limited number of people inside the church building, parishioners need to make the reservation.
   

   Step 1 is to go to the parish website at www.stsimonstock.net.

   Step 2 is to select your Mass time you plan to attend. The Masses are at 4:00 PM (Saturday), 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 6:30 PM (Sunday).

   Step 3 is to indicate the number of people (if any) who are coming with you to Mass. Then, you will receive an email confirming your reservation.

3. I remind the faithful that on any given day when they have a cough or feel sick, that they are not to participate in Mass or visit the Church for any ceremony.
4. Our parish will provide hand sanitizer at the entrance(s) of the Church. Please used doors clearly marked as ENTRANCE ONLY and EXIT ONLY.
5. Our church will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before the re-opening of the church. The church will be closed on Friday and Saturday morning to have professional cleaners to do their job.
6. Our maintenance and team of volunteers will regularly clean and disinfect commonly-touched surfaces in the Church in between Masses.
7. Under current public health recommendations, the faithful should wear cloth face coverings when in public, including when they come to Church. Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
8. For the safety of everyone, we will maintain strict physical distancing.
   

   8.1. The faithful are to observe social distance from each other at all times.

   8.2. Members of a single household do not need to practice physical distancing with each other. They may sit together in the same row.

   8.3. Competent volunteers (wearing masks and gloves) are stationed at the entrances of the church to help “direct traffic,” to ensure that the faithful keep the social distanced required from each other while entering and exiting the building.

   8.4. Doors are to be propped open as people enter and leave the church so that people do not need to touch the door handles.

9. When we reach the maximum number of parishioners allowed at Mass (due to social distancing), we will welcome and direct our parishioners to the Parish Life Center to be seated together (all social distancing requirements considered and posted) to participate in Mass via livestream. Bishop Sullivan has given permission for the use of livestreaming to another site on a parish campus. Holy Communion may be distributed in that location AFTER the celebration of Mass has concluded.
10. All Catholics in the Diocese of Camden are likewise dispensed from the requirement to make their Easter Duty this year.
11. I encourage the faithful to maintain physical distancing everywhere on the church property (on the church steps, in the parking lot, etc.).
12. I remind our parishioners to use the restroom BEFORE they come to church. Restrooms are closed during and between Masses in the weekend.

For the celebration of Mass

13. The priest celebrant and other ministers are not to wear masks or gloves during the celebration of Mass. Instead, we will maintain more than 6 feet from the congregation during the entirety of the Mass. In such circumstances, there is no substantial risk of infection.
14. To the extent possible, the other ministers (a deacon, lectors and musicians) should maintain a 6-foot distance from the priest and from each other. All ministers must maintain a proper distance in the sacristy and during the entrance and recessional processions.
15. Holding hands during the Our Father is not permitted except among family members. The invitation to the faithful to exchange a sign of peace is to be omitted.

The Distribution of Holy Communion

16. Holy Communion is to be distributed AFTER the celebration of the Mass. [This respects the symbolic and liturgical integrity of the Mass which should be celebrated without mask or gloves]. The faithful are invited to come forward but has the freedom to determine whether or not they will receive Holy Communion (some may be nervous about doing so).
17. The Precious Blood is not be distributed to the faithful, nor should the faithful receive the Eucharist by intinction.
18. After the concluding blessing and the dismissal, the priest (and deacon, if present) remain in the sanctuary. At the chair, the priest removes his chasuble and the deacon removes his dalmatic.
19. The priest (and any other ministers distributing Holy Communion) should use hand sanitizer immediately before approaching the tabernacle. The priest and each extraordinary minister should don a surgical mask or cloth face covering.
20. The priest says: “Behold the Lamb of God. Behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” He then leads the people in saying: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.”
21. The priest (and other ministers if present) proceeds to the place prepared for distribution of Communion. Each stands next to a table with corporal and hand sanitizer in order to distribute Communion.
22. When receiving Holy Communion, the faithful removes any face coverings and gloves off.The faithful are encouraged to not receive Holy Communion on the tongue.
23. At the conclusion of the distribution of Holy Communion, the priest (and any other ministers) return the remaining hosts to the tabernacle.
24. For phase 1, the faithful may depart after receiving Holy Communion using only the EXIT doors and maintaining physical distancing.

Finally, as we prepare to re-open, the parish still needs volunteers to make our coming to Mass as safe, healthy and nurturing to our spiritual growth as possible. Thus, we need healthy volunteers to do important responsibilities. These include but not limited to:

a. Volunteers, healthy adult men, and women, to serve as ushers per Mass.
b. Volunteers with knowledge and expertise of live-streaming.
c. Volunteers (healthy adult men and women) to clean and disinfect between Masses.

If you can volunteer please email as point of contact (for ushers), (for technical expertise), and (for over-all planning).

These guidelines may seem extreme to some and too little for others. Please be considerate of how others feel. Please be kind and respectful always.

I hope and pray you are keeping yourself and your family safe and healthy. I miss you. I can’t wait to see you, many of you, back to our church.

God bless you and your family!
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, pray for us!
St. Edward, pray for us!
St. Simon Stock, pray for us!

Peace and grace,
Father Michael