Welcome Back | General Dispensation Lifted June 5

 

Bishop Carl A. Kemme has issues guidelines for the celebration of public Mass upon the lifting of the general dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. These guidelines go into effect on June 5, 2021.

Guidelines for Resuming of Public Masses in the Diocese of Wichita
The celebration of Mass should be celebrated in a place accordance with Can. 932 §1. “The Eucharistic celebration is to be carried out in a sacred place unless in a particular case necessity requires otherwise; in such a case the celebration must be done in a decent place.” This allows for the celebration of Mass to take place in cemeteries on Memorial Day.
• Effective July 1, 2021 Sunday Vigil Masses cannot take place before 4pm.
• Pastors should determine the local need for social distancing in their parish.
• Persons are to follow the CDC Guidelines for wearing a mask.
• Priests are required to wear masks during the distribution of Holy Communion.
• All liturgical ministries are to be restored: Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Sacristans, Ushers, Organist, Cantor, Choir, etc.
• The Collection may be taken up by ushers.
• The Offertory Procession is to be restored.
• The Exchange of the Sign of Peace is omitted.
• Holy Communion is to only be distributed within Mass.  It is permissible to take Communion to the homebound.
– Holy Communion may be distributed on the tongue by the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and the Priest
– If hosts for the Communion of the faithful are to be consecrated, they could be placed on a second corporal towards the side of the altar. This allows the priest to pronounce the words of consecration directly over the host he will consume, with the other hosts on the altar, but not directly in front of the priest as he speaks the Eucharistic prayer.
– Receiving the Precious Blood by the faithful is prohibited
• As much as possible, and according to availability of supplies, hand sanitizer should be made available for persons to use in church, or persons should be encouraged to bring their own.
• Adequate ventilation and air circulation in inhabited spaces should be provided with the use of HVAC systems or, weather permitting, opened windows or doors.
• Choirs are permitted to sing at Mass following the CDC suggestions for the wearing masks
• Hymnals and Missalettes may be returned to the pew.
• Confessionals may be used.