DIOCESE— Bishop David Malloy issued a letter June 1 to diocesan pastors authorizing them to move to the second phase of reopening for public Mass celebrations beginning with Masses on June 6-7.

 

The second phase allows for more people at Masses. 

 

However, parishes can only welcome more parishioners if they have completed all the necessary requirements issued in “Back in His Presence” and complete at least one week of Masses with groups of 10. Health and safety guidelines for the gradual reopening listed in “Back in His Presence” were issued in early May so parishes could begin offering Mass to groups of 10 on May 25.

 

“Effective with the Masses for the weekend of June 6-7, parishes that have already been certified and that have celebrated for at least one week Masses in the presence of the 10 faithful, may seek authorization to increase the number of faithful present to a number not to exceed 30% of the seating capacity of the parish church. The actual number of the faithful who can be accommodated in each church will vary from parish to parish from that maximum number in order to faithfully implement the necessary spacing for social distancing,” Bishop Malloy’s letter stated.

 

The second phase of the reopening also allows for parishes to hold services for the distribution of Holy Communion outside of Mass. This provision is offered to parishes so they may especially accommodate vulnerable individuals who do not come to Mass or others who could not get a place at Mass through the various reservation systems.

 

Bishop Malloy indicated however, that these services “can only be done in church and in strict conformity to the relevant guidelines of ‘Back in His Presence.’ ” 

 

These incremental steps to bring larger groups back to Mass have been taken by the Rockford Diocese and all the dioceses in Illinois, on the advice of medical professionals who warn that the coronavirus is more easily spread in large groups in confined spaces.