Guidelines for Public Liturgy

Think Like Jesus | Talk Like Jesus | Act Like Jesus

We are overjoyed to be together again. However, we also must exercise prudence. The guidelines below will help lead us through the coming season as we resume public liturgies.

All who choose to return to public Mass are expected to abide by them.

The following guidelines have been carefully planned and written to help us keep the solemnity of Mass, ensure safety in the pursuit of the common good, and to achieve these goals as hospitably as possible.

These are subject to change, and any changes will be publicized and communicated as efficiently as possible.

(Last updated July 9, 2020)

Archdiocesan Guidelines

    • The Catholic faithful who reside in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati continue to be dispensed from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass.
    • Those who wish to participate in Mass and receive Holy Communion can do so by attending any Mass any day of the week.
    • Those who are at risk or fearful that they or their family might become sick are encouraged to stay home and join the Church by viewing live-streamed Masses.
    • In all circumstances, appropriate social distancing and the regulations put forth by public health authorities must be observed.

Mass Schedule

Starting Tuesday, May 26, 2020

  • Daily Mass (Monday-Friday) at 9:00 am
  • No Saturday Morning Daily Mass
  • Saturday Evening Mass at 4:30 pm [For Sunday]
  • Sunday Masses at 11:00 am and 6:00 pm

Live Streaming

    • Daily Mass and the 11:00 am Sunday Mass will be live streamed.
    • The 10:00 am Live Streamed Sunday Mass is being replaced by the 11:00 am Sunday Mass.
    • While we trust you to discern the best times to come to Mass, please participate in our live stream if you:
      • Are feeling unwell
      • Are exhibiting symptoms
      • Are anxious about returning to Mass
      • Feel that abiding by these measures would negatively impact your ability to participate in Mass
    • https://www.youtube.com/user/imedayton/live
      • Starting May 26, the Live Chat will be disabled. Lyrics will be integrated into the Youtube Live Stream.

Arriving at Mass

    • We have determined that the Church’s social distance capacity is 120 people.
      • Please be considerate of our limited capacity by not participating in every Mass
      • Take advantage of the dispensation from the Sunday obligation to participate in a daily Mass if you have weekday availability allowing those who are unavailable to come on the weekends.
    • Enter through the south(ramp) side of the Main vestibule (https://www.icparishdayton.org/covid-19-response/returning-to-mass-guidelines/door-access)
      • The Main Vestibule’s South door will be open 30 minutes before Mass.
      • Please arrive early as we will all be entering in the same door and following social distancing
      • Form a line outside following the social distancing markers
      • The door will be closed when the Church is full or after Mass starts (whichever happens first).
      • Please don’t let others in at other doors
      • Reserving seats for others will not be possible.
    • Masks
      • As Montgomery County is at a Level 3 on the Public Health Advisory Alert System, masks are required.
      • They are not required but recommended for children under 10 who can take them on and off without help.
      • Masks should not be worn by children under two or anyone incapable of removing them without help.
    • The holy water has been removed from the fonts by the doors.
    • All hymnals, missalettes, and other items have been removed from the pews
      • Missalettes are available to keep. Please speak with a member of the hospitality team or call the parish office for details.
      • We will use the screens at all Masses.
    • Readmittance
      • If for whatever reason you need to exit the church building and then be let back in, please locate a member of our hospitality team to assist you
      • They will be seated in a designated location
    • Collection
      • Ushers will not collect your offering during Mass.
      • Rather, there will be a receptacle in which to place your contribution in the front of the church, just on the edge of Sanctuary

Seating at Mass

There will be people to assist you

    • You will be directed where to sit based how many from your household are with you at Mass and which Mass you are attending
    • Please anticipate sitting in a different area than you normally would.
    • Individuals from the same households do not need to maintain social distancing between each other, therefore:
      • Individuals and couples will have seating in the North and Main section of the church
        • Please sit in the designated spots
      • Families (3 or more people) - Please sit in the South section (to the Right when looking at the altar)
        • Start with 1 family per pew.
        • If more seating is required 2 families could share a pew if social distancing is still respected.
    • The pews available for each Mass will be color coded to accommodate social distancing
      • Daily Masses will use the Yellow Pews
      • Weekend Masses will use the following plan for pews
        • 4:30 pm - Yellow Pews
        • 11:00 am - Orange Pews
        • 6:00 pm - Blue Pews
      • Abiding by this color coding is instrumental in assisting our cleaning schedule and with the distribution of Communion
      • Funeral Masses please use the Orange Pews
      • Wedding Masses & Ceremonies please use the Blue Pews

Our Father, Sign of Peace, and Communion

    • Please refrain from physical contact during the Our Father and Sign of Peace.
    • Please know that all distributors of communion will use hand sanitizer
      • Including Father before the Liturgy of the Eucharist
    • The bread to be consecrated will be covered during the Liturgy of the Eucharist to diminish the risk of infection from Father
    • We will only be distributing the Precious Body
    • You should receive in your hand
    • Remain in your pew for communion and the minister of communion will come to you and distribute communion to you as you kneel

Dismissal

    • As Mass ends our hospitality team will dismiss your pew
      • Weekday Masses - Please exit through the same door you entered.
      • Weekend Masses - Exit through any door.
    • Bulletins will be available in the back of Church after Mass

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Starting Thursday, May 28, 2020

    • It will be available on a weekly basis from 5-6 pm on Thursdays.
    • Father will be in the Chapel.
    • Please enter through the North Doors and sit in the Red Pews as you wait in line.
    • A noise maker will be active if someone is in the chapel making a confession. Please wait until the noise maker is off before entering the chapel.

Other Precautions

    • Cry Rooms will be unavailable.
    • Our Public restrooms are those in the lower level and the accessible restroom in the main vestibule.
    • Please accompany children if they have to leave the pew to help guide them in respecting social distancing.

As our schedules shift back to a more normal state, you may find that Daily Mass is not longer able to be a part of your day. Our Live Streams will continue to be available at https://www.youtube.com/user/imedayton and Daily Reflections are available at https://www.itemissaest.org/resources/daily-reflections (sign up to receive reflection by email: https://www.itemissaest.org/email).