Effective Saturday, August 1, until further notice
  Face Coverings

• Governor Holcomb’s Executive Order 20-37 requires face coverings in public gatherings, but religious services are exempt if 6-foot distancing can be maintained (point #4.o.). Bishop Doherty’s most recent policy (June 26) is the same.
• Therefore, as an act of charity to neighbor, we highly recommend voluntarily wearing a cloth face covering to Mass, since many people are gathered together for an extended period of time.
• In any case, PLEASE bring a mask with you at all times to be prepared.  If we cannot maintain social distancing, we must all wear face coverings.
• Be aware that this could become the case after August 15 when the suspension from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass will be lifted.

• Whenever possible, we must still maintain a 6-foot distance between households at all Masses.  Chairs are set at 6-foot intervals to assist with this.  When this is not possible, face coverings must be worn. Households/families may sit together. 

• The Roman Missal for the United States specifies reception of Communion in the hand as the norm, and in this time of COVID-19, Communion in the hand is still HIGHLY recommended to help keep our clergy and ministers healthy.
• You are encouraged to disinfect your hands just before Communion. Please bring your own hand sanitizer.
• However, for those who insist on receiving on the tongue, the Bishop has instructed that you please wait until the very end of the line, and then we ask you to go to the Priest for Communion on the tongue, not to one of the other ministers. 

• Several factors increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission:
  • Breathing, coughing, or sneezing droplets from one person to another
    • Speaking and singing are also means of transmission of droplets, and even more so of aerosols. The consensus is to avoid group singing for the time being.
  • Surface to hand to face transmission of the virus.
    • Thus, all the hymnals and Missals have been removed from church. 
  • Concentration of a number of people in an enclosed space
    • Thus our 6-foot distancing whenever possible and use of only one singer
  • Length of time those people are together in that enclosed space.
    • Thus, even the cantor’s singing is limited to just the time needed to accompany the liturgical action (e.g. Entrance Antiphon).
    • You may purchase a missalette for your own use, or you may call the office and we will order one for you.

All these policies are in compliance with the Diocesan Guidelines issued by Bishop Doherty (latest update June 26) and with Governor Holcomb’s executive orders (see https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm)