Pandemic-Related Information
June 8, 2021
Letter to Parishioners regarding Re-Opening of the Church:
Church Reopening Letter - June 8, 2021.pdfApril 19, 2021_Notice to Parishioners.pdfApril 8, 2021
State of Emergency for the Province of Ontario
On Wednesday the Premier of Ontario declared a State of Emergency for the Province of Ontario. As of April 8th all of Ontario is under a ‘Stay at Home’ order until at least May 6th. For churches, the 15% capacity limit put in place last week is unchanged for all Masses and liturgical celebrations.
Parishioners are reminded that Bishop Bergie’s dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, granted on March 16, 2020, is ongoing. All are encouraged to view online/livestream /televised Masses. A listing of diocesan parishes with live-streaming can be found at: www.saintcd.com
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As of Monday, March 1, 2021 Niagara moved into the Red Zone of Ontario’s five Public Health Measures Zones, which allows for an increase in the maximum attendance permitted inside the Church to 30%. We will, therefore, immediately return to our pre-lockdown Mass schedule.
Weekday Masses (doors open 15 minutes prior):
· Tuesday, Adoration at 5:45 pm, Mass at 7:00 pm
· Friday at 8:30 am
Weekend Masses (doors open 30 minutes prior):
· Saturday at 4:30 pm
· Sunday at 10:00 am
For the remainder of Lent, there will also be Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 7:00 pm. Only Father Cesar will walk the Stations – everyone else must remain in their pews. When exiting the church after the Stations, exit one pew at a time, starting with the rear pews and respecting social distancing. Both the main entrance and north exit doors may be used to exit. Please remember to use the North parking lot.
Reservations are NOT required while we are in the Red Zone. All Diocesan Pandemic Protocols remain in place including social distancing and contact tracing protocols. Face coverings are mandatory. Please refer to the COVID-19 Information page for protocol details and current information.
We remind all parishioners that Bishop Bergie’s dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obligation remains in place.
As the new Variants of Concern of COVID-19 are reported to spread more easily and quickly than the original, therefore, we ask:
· If you have difficulty keeping a mask on that fully covers your nose, mouth and chin for the full duration of the service, please do not come to the church.
· Please observe social distancing protocols with each other and with the ushers.
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February 23, 2021
Dear Parishioners,
Bishop Bergie invites everyone to read his February 22, 2021 Letter to Parishioners addressing the ethics of receiving the Covid-19 vaccines. The letter can also be found below.
Bishop Bergie has also asked that his Lenten Letter be shared with all parishioners. You will also find it on the Bulletins page.
Wishing you a blessed Lenten season.
Bishop Bergie's Letter to Parishioners, February 22, 2021, regarding the ethics of Covid-19 Vaccines:
Vaccines Letter 2021 .pdf* * *
February 15, 2021
Parishioners,
As you know, we have been having several extra Masses each weekend during the lockdown with attendance by reservation only.
The Niagara Region is now in Code Grey which means that the restriction to 10 people per Mass is still in effect and, therefore, the current Mass Schedule and reservation system remains in effect. The same applies to Code Red.
When the Niagara Region goes to Code Orange, we expect to return to our normal Mass schedule (Saturday at 4:30 and Sunday at 10:00) with a 30% capacity, and no reservations, as before Christmas. Anyone currently attending the other Masses will need to be ready to adjust their schedules accordingly.
God Bless and be well,
Carol Shevlin
Please read the new Covid-19 protocols below (including the protocols instituted for Christmas Masses and still currently in effect) if you plan to attend Mass during the lockdown. Call or email the office today to reserve seating for you and members of your family.
Covid-19 Lockdown Notice - December 26, 2020.pdfChristmas Protocol.pdfCOVID-19 Lockdown Protocol
(January 2021 - Until Further Notice)
The new province-wide COVID-19 rules still allow churches to stay open with a maximum capacity of 10 people per service including the priest and all staff.
St. George Church will, therefore, be staying open with the same changes to our usual schedules and procedures announced at the beginning of the lockdown.
We remind all parishioners that Bishop Bergie’s dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obligation remains in place.
We strongly encourage our parishioners to choose the option of remaining at home and viewing online or televised Masses during this lockdown period. A list of diocesan parishes with livestreaming can be found at www.saintcd.com.
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For parishioners still wishing to attend Mass during the lockdown period
Only eight parishioners may attend each Mass, Father Cesar and an usher/sanitizer being the other two attendees.
Our Mass schedule continues to be:
Saturday: 4:30 and 6:00 pm
Sunday: 8:30, 10:00 and 11:30 am
Tuesday: 7:00 pm (preceded by Adoration from 5:45 to 6:45 pm)
Friday: 8:30 am
Doors open 15 minutes before Mass.
Only the NORTH parking lot will be cleared of snow.
Bishop Bergie has also allowed that attending any weekday Mass also counts as fulfilling the usual Sunday obligation during this period. With seven weekly Masses, we can accommodate up to 56 people in total.
Until the end of the lockdown, Mass attendance will be by reservation only.
· Our office staff will often be working from home. The office phone messages and email will be checked Monday to Thursday each week.
· No one will be available to process reservations after 1:00 pm Thursdays.
· You will need to provide the following information:
o your name,
o the number in your party
o the Mass you wish to attend
o your phone number.
· You will get a return phone call or email to confirm your reservations.
· Preference will be given to parishioners who have been attending Mass for the past several months, with others accommodated as much as possible.
· With the numbers of parishioners allowed per Mass being so restricted, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to attend the Masses you request. Please be patient with us as we try to find acceptable alternatives for you.
· Please consider using the weekday option.
· To accommodate as many people as possible, if more than 56 people wish to attend on any given week, we will offer them spots on the week following. Thus, we cannot guarantee that you will have a spot each week, though we will note your requests for future weeks. We will contact you if your spot becomes unavailable.
Again, we encourage you to stay home and stay safe during this lockdown period, which we sincerely hope will be of short duration.
Please pray for the end of the epidemic and for the heath of all parishioners, our families and friends.
* NEW * Effective December 26, 2020
Please see the above .pdf documents for Covid-19 protocols if you plan to attend Christmas Mass and also take note of the new lockdown protocols effective December 26, 2020 for all Masses, including new Mass times and New Year's Day Mass.
November 1, 2020
New Covid-19 Procedures
With the rise in Covid cases, we have been asked to keep a record of people attending each Mass for contact tracing purposes. As you come into the church please check in with the usher. We will mark your name on our list, or add you if new. We hope to keep this process short and painless, and appreciate your assistance.
Please help our sanitizing volunteers and keep everyone safe
Please do not put your belonging on the closed off pew in front of you. Use the space next to you instead.
This will assist us in keeping the church sanitized since our volunteers will wipe the marked pews, but they have no way of knowing that the closed off pew was used and, as well, the closed off pews are difficult to access for cleaning.
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Posted September 3, 2020
Weekday Masses are being phased in starting on Tuesday September 8th 2020.
Phase 1: Tuesday evening Adoration and Mass, and Friday morning Mass. NO Wednesday and Thursday Masses until further notice.
General:
The church will be opened 15 minutes prior to the start time. All the safety protocols already in place for the weekend Masses apply to weekday Masses, including, but not restricted to,
- Social distancing of 6ft between persons (units)
- Wearing of masks
- Sanitizing of hands
- Remaining in your seat once seated
- No congregational singing
- Holy Communion after the Final Blessing
Seating will be restricted to the centre sections only.
Attendees are asked to park in the north (rectory/office side) parking lot, as exit from the church will be via the north side exit door only. Only the north parking lot, and access to the church from it, is cleared of snow on weekdays in winter.
Tuesday Evening Adoration and Mass:
The main entry door will be opened at 5:30pm.
The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for Adoration from 5:45pm to 6:45pm
Only Fr. Cesar will sing while preparing the Blessed Sacrament for adoration, and while reposing the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. There is to be no singing by the congregants.
Mass will start at 7pm.
No confessions will be heard during Adoration. Confession remains by appointment only.
Friday Morning Mass:
The main entry door will be open at 8:15am.
Mass will start at 8:30am
On First Fridays, Mass will be followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction.
July 30, 2020
Please observe the new protocols on the mandatory wearing of face masks indoors, effective July 31, 2020.
June 17
Please read the pdf document on the new protocols in place for returning to church for the celebration of the Eucharist. It is very important for parishioners to familiarize themselves with these new procedures before attending Mass.
