-
Mass reminders for Christmas 2020
-
As the faithful return to their parishes for Christmas Masses next weekend, the Diocese of Sioux City would like to print reminders of the latest COVID-19
protocols for the safety of all.
Additionally, Bishop Walker Nickless announced Dec. 10 the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation remains in effect into the year 2021 until further notice.
Please note that most parishes require an on-line sign-up and/or contacting the parish office prior to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses for both COVID-19 contact tracing and also due to limited seating. (See protocols below.) Some parishes are issuing tickets for Christmas Masses. Please check with your local parish offices or websites for guidelines prior to Dec. 24 and 25.
COVID-19 liturgical protocols:- At-Risk: The decision is left up to individual priests and parishioners, those who are 65 years and older (especially with underlying medical conditions) are recommended to exercise caution and be aware of the risks when partaking in liturgical functions.
- Masks: Facemasks are to be worn by parishioners and assisting clergy while present in the church. The celebrant is not required to wear a mask.
- Social Distancing: Ushers should be present throughout the church to assist parishioners to properly social distance for seating and the reception of Communion. Individuals living in the same household do not need to socially distance.
- Pews: Every other pew should be blocked off to provide adequate social distancing.
- Contact Tracing: Parishes should continue to utilize some form of sign-up or attendance tracking such as through a website.
- Congregating: Parishioners should not group together in the church before or after Mass.
- Bulletins: Bulletins may be provided at the exits on a table for taking after Mass, but they are to not be available before Mass. All other paper materials, including hymnals and worship aids, are prohibited.
- Servers: No Mass servers are to be used at all during this time.
- Processions: Aside from the Communion procession, no other processions (entrance, offertory, recessional, etc.) are to take place during Mass.
- Contactless: There will be no distribution of the Precious Blood, no sign of peace, no physical contact.
- Singing: Congregational singing is not allowed, including the Mass parts of the kyrie, gloria, sanctus, agnus dei, and so forth. If desired, instrumental music may be played or solo music may be sung by a cantor to cover liturgical action, such as Communion.
- Length: Mass is not to be unduly long and therefore requires, for instance, brief homilies and announcements.
- Communion. The distribution of holy Communion is to take place at the normal time during Mass, with ushers dismissing the pews to adequately socially distance.
- Dismissal: The ushers are to dismiss the congregation pew by pew, beginning with the back of the church and moving towards the front.
-
-
Mandates from the COVID-19 Task Force and Bishop Walker Nickless
-
Mass Attendance Obligation
December 2020
The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation remains in effect into the year 2021 until further notice.
This has been agreed upon by the bishops of the four Iowa dioceses, including our Metropolitan, Archbishop Jackels. The rationale behind this decision is based upon the decreased capacity of our churches due to the COVID-19 protocols.
The bishops are in agreement that an obligation that cannot be fulfilled (due to reduced church capacity) should not be imposed.Updated Mass Protocol -
La dispensación de la obligación de asistir a la Misa Dominical y a los Días Santos de Obligación sigue vigente en el año 2021 hasta nuevo aviso. Esto ha sido acordado por los obispos de las cuatro diócesis de Iowa, incluyendo nuestro el Arzobispo Metropolitano, Michael O. Jackels. El razonamiento de esta decisión se basa en la disminución de la capacidad de nuestras iglesias debido a los protocolos COVID-19. Los obispos están de acuerdo en que no se debe imponer una obligación que no pueda cumplirse (debido a la reducción de la capacidad de la iglesia).
-
Nov. 12, 2020
- The Bishop and COVID Task Force (T.F.) MANDATE, due to the risk of heighted spread of COVID-19, that effective on Friday 11-20-2020 all school program activity involving music/singing is to be done virtually with no live audience until further notice.
- As there is no clear line of authority to make a definitive decision as it applies to school sports the Bishop & T.F. highly RECOMMEND that all audiences for school sports events be virtual in nature until further notice.
There will be no change to the current attendance and scheduling protocols for the following:- Weekend/Weekday Masses
- Sacrament of Reconciliation
- Weddings
- Funerals
- Adoration
- All Sacraments
MANDATE: All in-person parish group meetings/events (regardless of size) must go virtual effective 11-20-2020 until further notice.
Includes:- Religious Education Programs
- Board & Leadership Meetings
- Meetings in General
- KC Meetings @ Parish Facilities
- Women’s Guild
- Bible Study
- Adult Education
- RCIA
- Marriage Prep
- Baptism Prep
- Youth Groups
- Parish Facilities are closed to outside group meetings… Scouts, etc.
-
With distancing and masks the following live events are approved- Private Meetings with one or two people
- Drive Through Fund Raisers – Dinners, Sold Products, etc.
- No Funeral Dinners
- No Receptions or Parties
- No Facility Rentals
- ETC.
- **Exception for when schools use parish facilities for lunches, education venues and more due to COVID Protocols
Mandate on Singing / Music during Liturgies: Effective 11-20-2020 until further notice- The use of cantors is prohibited with the exception of Liturgies on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
- No Singing of Mass Parts
- Recorded Music is not allowed during liturgies
- NO Congregational Singing
- Instrumental Music is allowed during Liturgies
- All parish and Central Catholic Office staff are to wear their masks when they leave their personal work area and are to constantly wear their masks when working in a common workspace with other co-workers.
Important reminder:
Liturgy duration should not exceed 30 minutes when at all possible.
Mandatos del Grupo de Trabajo COVID-19 y el obispo Walker Nickless-12 de noviembre del 2020
-