COVID19: Prayer and Worship at Home

From Monday 19th July at Blessed Sacrament Parish Church

Advice to parishes in the Archdiocese of Liverpool from Monday July 19th 2021 

Due to the fact that the pandemic is far from over it is not the intention to restore an obligation to the attendance at Sunday Mass at this point. People should be reminded of the importance of keeping Sunday holy and if possible attending Mass weekly.

In preparation for the legal changes to Covid regulations that will come in to force on Monday July 19th this is what is being offered as the way forward for each parish in the Archdiocese:

  • Face coverings will remain mandatory for all those coming to a church service. (Exemptions for medical reasons excluded.)
  • Social distancing will not be mandatory in our churches.
  • A section of the Church for those who would feel safer and less vulnerable by maintaining socially distanced benches and sitting. St George’s Chapel  will be reserved at Blessed Sac.
  • Hand sanitising will remain necessary as people arrive. (There will be no need to sanitise benches or people at the end.) A steward will be available to remind people to do this as they come in.
  • The capacity of each church will depend on point 2 above.
  • Weddings, Funerals and Baptisms The numbers are limited by the capacity of each building.
  • Holy Communion (in the hand) should be restored to its traditional place and with a procession (trying to accommodate those who wish to retain social distancing.) A steward will invite people to the Communion procession row by row. There will be a Special trained Eucharistic Minister at St George’s Chapel for those who want to keep social distance, and another more with the P.Priest in the main church at Blessed Sacrament.
  • Communion on the tongue is permissible but it must take place at the end of Communion and the priests must use sanitiser after each communicant has presented themselves.
  • Holy Communion under both kinds will not be re-introduced at this time.
  • Mass will end in the traditional way.
  • Singing can be restored.
  • Hymn books and service books can be used but only once a day.
  • The collection basket/plate should still not be passed around.
  • The Procession of Gifts may be restored (encouraging the use of sanitiser.)
  • The sign of peace can be restored but without any touching, ie by a gesture.
  • Home visits can resume with appropriate caution.