Parishes throughout the Archdiocese Of Los Angeles to fully reopen the weekend of June 19-20
June 12, 2021  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

PARISHES THROUGHOUT THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES TO FULLY REOPEN THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 19-20

 

–In a letter to the faithful, Archbishop Gomez announces dispensation to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation due to pandemic to be lifted effective June 19; new guidelines for liturgical celebrations are sent to pastors—

 

In a letter to Catholic faithful, Archbishop José H. Gomez announced that effective June 19, 2021, the dispensation to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation due to Covid-19 pandemic will be lifted in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, except for those who are ill or have underlying health conditions or have significant concerns of becoming ill. He encouraged the faithful to attend in-person Sunday Mass as of the weekend of June 19-20, especially those who are in good health. Together with the Archbishop’s letter, new “Guidelines on Liturgical Celebrations and Religious Services” were sent to all pastors to help a smooth transition to the reopening. Among others, masks will not be required indoors or outdoors for those fully vaccinated, but will be always required to employees and volunteers. Masks are required for unvaccinated individuals outdoors when social distancing is not possible, and at all times indoors.

 

“Thankfully, we continue to make significant progress in our fight against the pandemic in the three counties of the Archdiocese. We can look forward to better days in which we can actively live our faith as the Body of Christ in our parish communities,” said Archbishop Gomez. “And so, on June 19 and 20, I encourage the Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to return to in-person Sunday Mass and the celebration of the Sacraments, especially for those who are in good health.”

 

In his letter, Archbishop Gomez called the pastors to “encourage the (homebound) faithful to keep the Lord’s Day holy by reading the Gospels, praying with their families, or joining themselves to the sacrifice of the Mass by making an Act of Spiritual Communion.”

 

The new liturgical guidelines, effective June 15, 2021, will replace all the previous guidelines established by the Archdiocese. Nonetheless, officials request all parishes and pastors to be mindful of the need to care and protect our brothers and sisters, and to implement the guidelines with prudence and using sensible public health precautions.

 

FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF THE NEW GUIDELINES FOR LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS AND RELIGIOUS SERVICES PUBLISHED TODAY (Full guidelines available online and attached):

 

GENERAL

  • All liturgical celebrations (e.g., Weekday Masses, Sunday Masses, First Communions, Confirmation, Weddings, Baptisms, Funerals, Quinceañeras) and other religious services (e.g., Private Prayer, Adoration, Devotions, Prayer Services) are allowed to take place indoors without capacity limitations, social distancing, and/or prearranged “reservation” systems.
  • Parishes can open for prayer group meetings, ministerial gatherings, and social gatherings provided that sensible public health precautions are observed.
  • Mass and all other liturgical celebrations are to be celebrated according to what is described in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and to rubrics appropriate to each Rite, without exceptions or restrictions unless otherwise noted in this document.
  • Masks are not required for fully vaccinated individuals outdoors or indoors for religious services.

Masks are required for unvaccinated individuals outdoors when social distancing is not possible, and at all times indoors. Parishes must provide information and/or post a sign at entrances indicating that parishioners must wear a facemask if they are unvaccinated. Parishes are not to verify who is and who is not vaccinated.

  • For now, masks and social distancing are required for employees and volunteers if they are working in the church during Mass. Pastors must ensure that employees and volunteers adhere to the guidelines provided by the CDC, State of California, County Departments of Health (Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara), Cal OSHA and/or City Offices regarding healthy hygiene practices and employee and volunteer training.
  • Liturgical singing can take place.
  • For now, Holy Communion will be offered in the form of bread. Communion on the hand is strongly encouraged. The Ministers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are encouraged to sanitize their hands before distributing Communion and after Communion has concluded.
  • Water in the baptismal font and holy water fonts should be refreshed frequently.

Confessions

 

  • Parishes are to have scheduled Confession times and Priests may hear individual confession upon request.

 

Baptisms/Confirmations

 

  • Immersion fonts will not be used to confer Baptism. The water used for the Rite of Baptism is not to be reused. Blessed water is to be disposed appropriately after the Baptism is finished.
  • The minister, being sensible with handwashing and public health precautions, may administer the Holy Oils appropriate to each Rite in the usual manner.

 

For more information, please visit https://lacatholics.org/emergency/.

 

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The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the largest Catholic Archdiocese in the United States with approximately five million Catholics, serving the three counties of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara. For the latest news, events and to subscribe for media alerts visit media.la-archdiocese.org. Follow us on social media using @LACatholics on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Video footage and photographs  (credit: Angelus News) of Masses celebrated by Archbishop José H. Gomez are also available.