Greetings of peace! It is with great joy that we welcome the news of the
reopening of our church doors. However, let us also remember that we must approach it with care as we take one step at a time. The fight against COVID-19 is still far from over and therefore we must take all necessary precautions to ensure that your health and safety are prioritised. We must be mindful not to rush into matters and contribute in any way to the creation of a new cluster.
With the restriction imposed on us by the authorities we are only permitted to have one public mass per week for now with 1/3 capacity. Therefore, the mass attendance is restricted to 350 only.
Aim: To enable parishioners to attend mass and receive the Eucharist at least once in the month of July 2020.
WHEN?
Our public celebration of mass in the Church will be on Sundays at 9.00 a.m.
To prepare for this, we will be having a “closed-door mass” on 28 June 2020 with Zone Leaders and Volunteers ONLY to enable us to train volunteers, test the system and be familiar with the new processes before we open our doors to parishioners from July 2020 onward.
HOW MANY?
We can only accommodate 350 parishioners for each mass.
Parishioners – 300 ( subject to the above schedule )
Volunteers – 50 ( each mass )
As we are only able to accommodate approximately 350 people at one (1) Mass, this will be done on rotation based on the above schedule. Parishioners residing within the parish boundary, please get in touch with your ZONE/BEC Leaders or appointed representatives to indicate your intention to attend mass.
Pre-Registration and Confirmation
Each parishioner should only pre-register to attend one (1) mass in the month of July 2020 based on the above schedule. Let us be charitable and wait for our turn to attend Mass.
Please note that you will be informed via text message or email to confirm your registration. If you are unable to attend or if you are feeling unwell, do inform Zone/BEC Leaders or the appointed representatives early so another person can be accorded your slot.
WHO CAN ATTEND?
ü Eligible age group 13 – 69 (according to calendar year 2020)
ü Good health condition
ü NOT under home quarantine or investigation for COVID-19 (parishioner or any of his/her household)
WHO CANNOT ATTEND?
Children below 12 years of age, those above 70 years of age as well as those exhibiting symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, respiratory issues, flu or cold are not permitted to attend Mass at Church. Those who have diabetes, cancer and other issues that may put you in the “high-risk groups”, are not encouraged to attend Mass at Church.
ARRIVING FOR MASS AT CHURCH
(1) You must wear a face-mask at all times.
(2) Arriving at Church during this period is not going to be the same as before. You will have to arrive at least 45 minutes before Mass as you would have to undergo a process of registration (please note that once Mass has started, we will not be allowing anyone into the Church).
(3) Upon arrival, you will be required to have your temperature checked while you are in your vehicle or just as you enter the gate. Anyone found having a temperature above 37.5 C will NOT be allowed in the premises including those in the same vehicle. For those whose temperature has been verified can then proceed to the registration counter.
(4) As you reach the registration counter, you will need to check in using the MySejahtera / PG CARE App (please download this App before coming to Church as this is required by the government) and have your temperature taken and identification verified. If you do not have a smart phone, please manually record your details in the logbook provided.
Having done so, kindly provide the temperature taken earlier to the registration counters so a sticker with your seat allotted number in the church could be issued. Please do not change seats as this is important for contact tracing.
(5) You may enter the Church via the back entrance only (near the Chapel) . You will see a seating plan indicating the seat numbers as you enter the Church.
(-) Singing pose a greater risk of infection as it increases the dispersion of
droplets. Congregational singing is discouraged. Kindly observe silent
contemplation during these moments in place of singing.
(-) Offertory procession will be omitted.
(-) There will be collection boxes at the exit doors. Online offerings are
encouraged (Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Public Bank Account no. 3093049812).
(-) Holy communion may be received only by hands. You must wear your face mask when you queue for communion.
(6) At the end of Mass, you will be required to leave in an orderly manner while maintaining social distancing and without congregating within the Church compound.
Some of the above may be subject to further changes and modifications from time to time.
HYGIENE & HEALTH CONCERNS
(1) The Church will be sanitised before every mass by our own staff, volunteers and/or professionals from time to time. It is the responsibility of all those who attend Mass at Church to keep high level of personal hygiene.
(2) The toilets are not accessible unless in the case of an extreme emergency.
Please note, that repeated use of the same toilets without being disinfected after each use, may contribute to the transmission of COVID-19.
VIRTUES NEEDED TO RETURN TO CHURCH
(1) Patience: These procedures implemented are new to all of us and there will be challenges and hiccups along the way as we navigate worship in the new normal. Your patience and understanding is required to make our participation in church meaningful with minimal disruption. Remain calm even when things are not progressing smoothly or as quickly as you expect it to be. You can always submit your suggestions on how we can improve in an appropriate manner
(email: admin@holyspiritcathedral.com).
(2) Charity : Not everyone can attend Mass every Sunday in this current situation. Let us also be charitable and wait for your turn to attend Mass.
(3) Gratitude : Not all parishes are the same and so please do not compare one parish with another. There are many variables in different parishes. What works in one may not work in another and vice versa. Stay focused on Jesus and be grateful for the opportunity to attend Mass at Church, that is what matters the most.
(4) Hope : This pandemic will not last forever and therefore, let us look forward to the day when we can return to daily / weekly masses. Till then, let us pray earnestly to God for an end to this situation. Hope is the virtue that can help us cross all hurdles and challenges that come our way – don’t lose it.
Let us continue to invoke the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, that as we gradually recover from this pandemic, our love for Jesus continues to expand and our zeal for the mission of Christ not waver.
God Bless
Fr Joachim Robert & Fr Michael Raymond O.F.M