There shall be no physical contact, and everyone shall wear a face mask at all times. DSPNSDA to observe proper protocols. Photo: E. Pagtama / MPIM
The government now allows Catholic churches to hold its public masses up to 10% seating capacity of its building starting tomorrow, July 10, 2020.
Catholic leaders and organizations assured that it will follow strict health protocols to avoid the spread of infection to its congregation.
Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu will allow a maximum of 70 parishioners to enter the parish upon the implementation of strict precautionary measures following the IATF’s guidelines:
- Parishioners who wish to attend the mass must bring their ID or any proof showing that they are between 21 to 59 years old. Persons below 21 years old and over 59 years old, as well as pregnant women and those who are at risk must stay at home instead.
- Physical distancing inside and outside the church must be observed. Stickers are placed on the floor and on the pews to guide parishioners where to stand and to sit.
- Everyone who will attend the liturgical mass must wear a mask properly, covering the nose and the mouth.
- Everyone must undergo mandatory thermal scanning. Persons with a temperature of 37.8 C and above even after cooling down will be referred to the local government unit and will be sent home.
- All should undergo mandatory foot and hand sanitation.
- For the purpose of contact tracing, attendees must register before entering the Parish. Parishioners must bring their own ballpens.
- Parishioners will be given a seat number where they should be seated. Exchanging seats will not be allowed while already seated. Roaming around while inside the Parish is also discouraged. Parishioners are expected to stay seated upon entering until the mass starts.
- The Parish will designate one entrance and exit points.
- Traditional touching and kissing of images and relics and pagmamano po should be avoided.
- Everyone must sanitize their hands before receiving the holy communion. Communion must be received by hand.
- Holding hands while singing “Ama Namin” will be prohibited. Attendee may simply outstretched their arms or do tha praying position.
- For those who are conducting their personal time for prayer are encouraged to do it before the mass. Mass goers must leave the church right after the mass to give time to the sanitation ministry to disinfect the area.
- Lighting of candles must be done after the mass. Designated area will be provided to avoid overcrowding.
- Adoration chapel is closed during Saturday afternoon until the entire Sunday to avoid crowding the area.
- For in-kind donations, the Parish will have a designated area in the canopy where parishioners may leave their donations before entering the parish.
- For prayer intentions, an assigned usher will collect the envelopes from the seated parishioners and will also be the one to hand it to the commentator for reading.
- Attendees who will need the use of restrooms must call the attention of the assigned usher to guide them to the restroom to avoid crowding of the area. After using the restroom, the parishioners must again sanitize through the main entrance and must present their seat number.
Parishioners are expected to read and understand these protocols and follow them by heart to avoid the further spread of infection and to keep our Parish virus-free.
