Assumption Parish

May 25, 2020

Dear Parishioners,

As you are aware, Governor Baker issued new statewide directives on Monday, May 18th, which allow for the reopening of Houses of Worship. The Diocese of Springfield proceeded to announce that parishes within the diocese can open if they are able to meet all necessary state, municipal, and diocesan guidelines. In response, the Parishes of St. John Paul II and St. Mary of the Assumption created a Reopening Committee to guide our parish communities through this process of reopening. Joining me on the committee are: Laura Scholz, Tom Francesconi, Ed St. John, Kathy Luczynski, Dick Wisniowski, Steve and Lynn Berti, Deb Wooley, Larry Clairmont, and Stephanie and Neil Myers.

The Reopening Committee has created a phased plan to reopen our parishes. The phased approach allows us to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our parishioners. 

Our Phase One will begin the weekend of May 30th and 31st. There will be one Mass per location per weekend. No weekday Masses will be held at this time. Masses will be held at the following times and locations:

• Saturdays - 4:00 p.m. - Indoor Mass - Notre Dame Church

• Sundays - 8:00 a.m. - Indoor Mass - St. Stanislaus Kostka Mission Church

• Sundays - 9:30 a.m. - Outdoor Mass - St. Mary of the Assumption Church

There are some important details we would like to make sure you are aware of prior to attending Mass. It is important to note that in order to comply with the requirements that have been issued to us, there will be numerous changes to various aspects of attending Mass. Guidance will be provided to everyone at each church in order to make the process as efficient as possible. Please be mindful that the process is new to all of us. However, if we work together, we will be able to navigate through the changes and share in an uplifting worship experience.

SHOULD YOU GO TO MASS?: The Dispensation from Sunday Mass Obligation will continue for the foreseeable future and we strongly encourage people in vulnerable populations, especially the elderly and those with complicated physical conditions, to continue to watch Mass from their homes. Parishioners who are exhibiting any signs of illness, such as a fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills, headache, etc., must not attend Mass until at least 14 days after symptoms completely disappear. If you have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, has had symptoms similar to COVID-19, you must not attend Mass for at least 14 days after having contact with that person.

PREPARATION: All who attend Mass must wear a mask and that masks are put on prior to exiting your vehicle. We recommend that attendees bring their own hand sanitizer or wipes.

INDOOR MASS GUIDELINES - Notre Dame Church & St. Stanislaus Kostka Mission Church

ENTRANCE: You will be guided toward specific entrances in order to enter each church. Entrance will only be permitted through certain doors in order for us to guide the flow of churchgoers. Doors will be unlocked 30 minutes prior to the start of Mass.

ATTENDANCE: Each person who enters the building will have to be counted by the volunteers at the doors in order for us to maintain an accurate count of the number of people in the building. We are restricted by occupancy and social distancing guidelines as to how many attendees will be permitted. Once our capacity is full, no further people will be permitted to enter the building.

ACCOUNTABILITY: We are required to have the names of each person who attends Mass on file. You will be asked for your name upon being escorted to your seat. We will be keeping a record of the people who attend Mass and the location of their seat. Having this data will be necessary if we are asked to provide contact tracing data to the state.

SEATING: We are required to ensure proper social distancing at all times. In order to accomplish this, each person, couple, or family will be guided to a pew by a volunteer. The seating process must happen in an orderly fashion in order to comply with guidelines and therefore parishioners will not be allowed to choose their own seat. Each church will vary slightly in how seating will proceed once you enter the space, but volunteers will guide you each step of the way. Once you are seated, you will be required to stay seated and may not violate social distancing guidelines to speak with others. You may not kneel or stand at any time during the Mass and must remain seated throughout the Mass.

COMMUNION: Communion will be distributed at the end of Mass. Volunteers will be present to guide parishioners to receive Communion. You may stand when directed by volunteers and process to the Communion line. When in line to receive, attendees will be required to socially distance themselves. There will be no Precious Blood. Communion may only be received in the hand. Parishioners will step away from the priest before removing their face mask in order to consume Communion.

EXIT: After receiving Communion, you will exit the church. No one will be permitted to stay in the building following Mass.

CLEANING: Each church will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each Mass.

OUTDOOR MASS GUIDELINES - St. Mary of the Assumption Church

ENTRANCE & PARKING: To enter the parking lot, please use the Cheshire Elementary School driveway. The church driveway will be used exclusively as an exit. Parking will be restricted to the rear section of the lot, closest to the school building. 

SEATING: The altar will be set up in or around the courtyard area of the church. A section of the parking lot will be roped off to allow for people to sit in chairs. To participate in Mass, you will have two options:

• Sit in your vehicle

• Bring your own lawn chair, wear a mask, and sit in the roped off area near the building

Social Distancing guidelines will need to be adhered to at all times. If you choose to sit in a lawn chair, you will be responsible for staying at least 6 feet away from anyone who does not reside in your household. Ample space will be provided for seating to allow for proper social distancing.

COMMUNION: All guidelines listed above will apply for the outdoor Mass as well. Additionally, those who remain in their cars during Mass will have the opportunity to receive Communion in their car. A priest will be posted at the exit driveway to distribute Communion to parishioners in their vehicles.

Please know that we are doing everything in our power to provide you with an environment that is as safe as possible under the circumstances. Our Reopening Committee is taking the task seriously and has endeavored to take precautions above and beyond what is required in an effort to make the process easy to understand and mitigate any additional risk.

God bless!

Love your friend,

Fr. Steve XO