Archdiocesan Guidelines During the Pandemic

The Archdiocese of Boston has put together the following guidelines to ensure the safety of parishioners during Mass. 

N.B. everywhere that this document refers to the wearing of masks, it should be understood that the mask covers both the mouth and the nose.

Protocols for Indoor Masses:

• All people entering the church who are older than 5 years must be wearing a mask, and must continue wearing the mask until they leave unless they have a specific speaking/singing role at the Mass.
• Children under the age of 2 should not wear a mask.
• Children ages 2-5 should wear a mask only at the discretion of their parents.
• If a person has a medical condition that makes it impossible for them to wear a mask, they can be exempted, and they do not need to present any documentation of that condition.
• If a person refuses to wear a mask and it clearly is not a case outlined above,  the pastor can refuse them entry to the church.

When inside the church and while entering/exiting the church, all people who are not part of the same household must maintain a distance of six feet from one another. 

• Churches need to be clearly marked as to where people can sit, and volunteers need to be trained to help people sit in the right places. 
• That six-foot distance should be maintained as people approach to receive Holy Communion. 
• A system must be in place to track the number of people who have come to Mass, so that the church does not fill beyond safe capacity. A parish may choose to keep a list of people who have attended Mass.
• Temperatures of all volunteers must be taken before they volunteer at Mass. 
• A limited number of lay people can be trained to provide liturgical ministry safely. This includes readers, cantors, instrumentalists, and Extraordinary Ministers. When the minister is exercising their ministry, they can remove their mask, but no one should be closer than six feet to them during that time. When they have finished their speaking or singing role, they should put their mask back on.
• The communicant must wear a mask while receiving Communion. After the minister has moved on to the next person, or after the communicant has stepped aside, they should remove their mask, consume the Host, and put their mask back on before returning to their seats. 
• The norm must be that communion is given in the hands. In the case of a person insisting on receiving on the tongue, if the priest feels comfortable doing so, he can disinfect his hands, give the communicant Holy Communion on the tongue, disinfect his hands again, and continue distributing Communion. 
• All seats must be disinfected after each Mass