Covid Info

July 2, 2020 Update from Fr. Mike:

Greetings, Sisters and Brothers!

We just emailed this update to all parishioners for whom we have an email address. If you wish to receive these updates, please send the office your email address. We will not be going back to printed bulletins until this time of caution is over. And so, if you wish to receive the bulletins once we restart doing them, it will have be electronic versions only. Please read the updates below for this one to make sense, especially the bishop's letter: Bishop's Letter on Limited 'In-Church' Masses

The Parish Office

Our parish office is now open again, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 1 PM. If you can take care of business by phone or email (office@saintdorothea.org), then please do so rather than coming in person. If you do need to come in person, please call first so we are expecting you, and you must wear a face covering when you arrive.

Sunday Masses Still on Hold

The June 3 Update on the website goes into great detail why we aren’t having Sunday Masses yet. And if you’ve been following the news regarding the virus, you know that while things in New Jersey are starting to get under control, that has not been the case for the majority of the nation.

States that did not have the initial big spike that our region did, had started to rush through a ‘re-opening.’ They initially laid out guidelines for each phase which included having two weeks of improving conditions before moving to each ‘phase’ of reopening. It is unfortunate that a good portion of those states did not follow their own guidelines and proceeded to go through their phases without that two-week period of improving conditions. Nor did many of these states put into place a mandate to continue to wear masks, nor did they implement a robust testing and contact tracing procedure.

In addition to the states rushing their opening phases, a good portion of the citizens in those states interpreted the various phases of reopening as permission to abandon all caution. I’m sure we’ve all seen the pictures on the news of crowded bars and parties with no one wearing masks.

And now those states are experiencing the large spike in cases that we had two months ago. These states are now either ‘putting on the brakes’ of moving to their next phase, or in some cases, re-closing what they had once reopened. A diocese in California, which had started to have Masses, has since reclosed their churches and suspended Masses again.

And this is why, we have to move slowly, carefully, and with an abundance of the virtue of patience. Rushing re-openings and growing lax in wearing face coverings and washing and sanitizing will only lead us back to reclosing what has reopened.

I know that people are looking forward to and want to have Sunday Masses back. I feel the same way. But keep in mind, if you read the bishop’s letter, that Sunday Masses at this time would not look like the Sundays Masses we’re used to:

There would be no singing since that increases the vocal aerosols.
The Mass would be abbreviated to about 25 minutes with parts cut out since length of time in an enclosed space is correlated with a higher risk of spreading the virus.
The seating capacity is so reduced, that you might not be allowed in. I go into greater detail about this in the previous update. The experience of some local parishes that have started to have Sunday Masses is that they do indeed have to turn people away. Some have people shunted to a hall to watch on a TV, others have the overflow sitting in their cars in the parking lot streaming the audio.

In the end, a Sunday Mass would be indistinguishable from a Daily Mass… if you could even get in to experience it.

Until New Jersey is ready to move to a next phase where we can have a higher capacity, we will continue to have Sunday Masses on hold. The bishop is aware of our plan of action. And this is why the bishop has extended the dispensation of Sunday Mass to September, and why his letter keeps mentioning the option of not having Sunday Mass, and why safety is a higher priority than celebrating the Eucharist.

Daily Masses

A few weeks ago, we have started to have Daily Masses as announced on our website and roadside sign. The priests that serve St. Dorothea and Precious Blood parishes are providing fifteen Masses a week. The Mass times are spread from 7:30 AM at Precious Blood to 7:00 PM at St. Dorothea which should be able to accommodate almost any work schedule.

The 12:15 PM Mass at St. Dorothea has become the most popular with about 25-40 in attendance. The 7:30 AM Mass at Precious Blood has been getting about 15-30 people. The 7:00 PM Mass at St. Dorothea has been getting about 6-10 people.

These Daily Masses are not crowded at all. The 7 PM at St. Dorothea especially is the perfect Mass for those looking to attend Mass and have the assurance that you can definitely maintain a safe distancing from others. Sundown is currently at 8:30 PM, so, the 7 PM at St. Dorothea is still in daylight.

This Friday, July 3, we will celebrate a votive Mass for our country in anticipation of Independence Day at all the daily Masses.

Safety Procedures at Mass

For the most part, everyone has been complying with the normal protocols for minimizing the risk of infection. Thank-you for your cooperation! I just want to remind everyone about certain protocols that sometimes fall by the wayside, especially since this is all so new:

1. Masks must be worn at all times in the churches, and they most cover the nose and mouth.

2. Don’t crowd the Communion line, or the exit after Mass. Stay back six feet from the person in front of you.

3. At St. Dorothea, if you’re going to Communion that’s in a far part of the church, please travel along the back of the church so that you’re not passing people in the front of the church who have just received Communion. In the same way, do not return to your seat by going back up the aisle being used for Communion… go around the section and return up the side aisle.

4. Receiving Communion on the tongue is no longer an option unless you are physically unable to receive in the hand (for example, a broken arm or severe arthritis prevents you from holding the Eucharist and bringing it to your mouth).

If you have a skin rash or disease on your hands, then wear a fresh pair of gloves before entering the church and receive in the hand.
Remember that the main way the virus is transmitted is through aerosolized droplets that come from not only coughing or sneezing, but also simply breathing or talking. Someone receiving on the tongue is not wearing a mask while receiving and is breathing directly onto the Eucharistic Minister’s hand and into their face.

In Conclusion

Let us continue to pray for healing and peace in our times and continue to work to help those in need and to bring justice for all the oppressed.

Peace in Christ, -Fr. Mike

Wednesday, June 3, 2020 Update:

From: Fr. Mike

Greetings, my sisters and brothers. You have been in my prayers hoping for your health and well-being. This letter is to inform you that we will start to be able to hold Masses at our churches. The suspension of Masses was originally announced by our bishop, David O’Connell at the beginning of April. The bishop has just recently issued a letter announcing the possibility of resuming daily and Sunday Masses, if a parish is able to do so, while minimizing the risk of spreading the infection of COVID-19 according to specific guidelines.

Before reading the rest of my letter, please read the bishop’s letter found here: (click here). Please pay careful attention to the restrictions placed upon the celebration of liturgies and how a parish should only proceed if they are able to follow the restrictions.

In short, we will indeed restart Daily Masses beginning Monday, June 8. A temporary schedule of 3 Masses a day between the two linked parishes of Precious Blood and St. Dorothea will be made available Monday through Friday.

7:30 AM at Precious Blood
12:15 PM and 7:00 PM at St. Dorothea

Sunday/Weekend Masses, however, will not be resuming at the time the bishop allows. I want to hold off on Sunday Masses for a few more weeks, first, to see how the Daily Masses work out; and secondly, because of the restrictions that the bishop requires which make Sunday Masses problematic in dealing with large numbers. The explanation for that follows:

The bishop’s guidelines follows the recommendations of our health officials. Those recommendations are based on the fact that COVID-19 is “asymptomatic,” that is, it can be contagious when someone has contracted it and is showing no, or very mild, symptoms. This means that people unaware that they are contagious can be passing the virus onto others without knowing it. And so, until the time there is enough testing and contact tracing – or there is a vaccine – we need to treat everyone, including ourselves, as a possibly contagious person.

From the presumption that anyone may be contagious, there are certain procedures to follow that minimize the possible spread of the virus. Reading the bishop’s letter, he takes those procedures seriously. So seriously, that he mentions emphatically that parishes that cannot follow the procedures in their churches either have to find another space in which to hold Masses so that they can follow those procedures, or, hold off on having Masses altogether. The guidelines and procedures are not optional. They are expected to be followed rigorously.

And, of course, we don’t want to be the cause of anyone catching the virus, which can be extremely harmful or even deadly. We have an obligation to protect one another. We want people who do come to Mass to feel they can do so without being put needlessly at risk. We don’t want our churches to be identified as ‘super spreaders’ which would then result in going back to the suspension of Masses.

With that in mind, there are important principles to follow:

The Sunday obligation has been dispensed for all by the bishop into September (and may be extended, if needed). Also, the obligation is always dispensed for those who are sick or who are isolating for their own safety, especially those in high-risk groups.
People with any symptoms of COVID-19 (or any symptoms of a cold or the flu, too) should stay home.
Face coverings or masks must be worn at all times by those attending Mass (except when lifting up the mask to consume Holy Communion).
- Face coverings are mostly to protect other people in case you are contagious. They stop almost all respiratory droplets that happen when we talk, sing, or even breathe. (Coughs and sneezes should always be covered with an extra tissue, handkerchief, or the inside of one’s elbow even when wearing a mask as well as not.)
- If a medical condition prevents one from wearing a mask, then they should not be at Mass and they should continue to isolate until masks are no longer required.
- The CDC guidelines are that masks are also for children age 2 and up. Children 2 and up who refuse to wear a mask should not be brought to church at this time.
- A church setting where there are many people from different households who remain indoors in the same space for a period of time is very different from a quick stop at a convenience store. That is why the state has been prohibiting such large indoor gatherings precisely because they increase the risk of transmission. And so, we need to be very strict with the requirement to wear a mask. Those without masks will be asked to leave.
Always maintain social distance of six feet.
- This restriction is going to be the most difficult to follow and the main reason why I want to wait a few more weeks before resuming Sunday Masses.
- Maintaining this ‘bubble’ of six feet is something that the bishop was strict about in his letter. For example, he mentions how when Mass is over and people leave the church, there is a tendency for a crowd to bunch up at the exit. That is why he mentioned that parishes might have to have guidelines for dismissing the assembly pew by pew or by sections to avoid that crowding.
- The guidelines mention that to have proper social distancing, the church should only be at 30% capacity. But the practicalities of making that happen means we’re going to be closer to 20% capacity. Which I will explain below.

Church Capacity

In order to maintain the 6 foot ‘bubble,’ then each ‘group’ (whether an individual or members of the same household) should not ever cross into any other group’s bubble.

So, when it comes to seating, we cannot have a group seated in the pew right behind another group. This means we need to section off every other pew. That immediately cuts seating by 50%.

This means that at Precious Blood church, there are only 16 usable pews. At St. Dorothea’s, 56 usable pews.

Then, within each pew that we are able to use, each group needs to maintain that 6 foot bubble from another group in that pew. At St. Dorothea, the pews’ sizes go from 7 feet in the front to 17 feet in the back. The front pews, therefore, can only handle two individuals – one on either side of the pew. The pews in the back can handle two large families, or, three individuals – one in the middle).

At Precious Blood, almost all the pews are 14 feet long. This would allow for three individuals to sit in a pew – one at each aisle and one in the middle. If a family with several members takes up one of those spots, then there is room for only one other group in that pew.

Additionally, if someone wants to take the middle position, and there is already a group at the aisle seat, then the group at the aisle would either have to move in and take the middle position themselves, or, that group would have to step out into the aisle six feet away to allow the new middle group take their seat. There is no ‘scooting pass’ anyone since that breaks the bubble.

Also, no one may stand or sit along the back walls or in the lobbies or near the doors. Their ‘bubble’ prevents others from passing by or coming in or out of the church.

So, now, the figures for Precious Blood…

Capacity: When we have packed churches, Precious Blood can fit 300 people.
Thirty percent recommendation: So, 30% would be 100 people.
Usual attendance at a Sunday Mass: Depending on the season and Mass time, attendance can be anywhere from 90 to 180 people.
Available spots with distancing: only 16 usable pews
Reduced capacity for individuals: with just three people in each pew, that’s only capacity for 48 people
Reduced capacity for family groups. If everyone who attended was part of a family of four, then with four at the end of each pew, that would be 128 people.
Conclusion: If we have the usual number of people show up for a Sunday Mass, we would have to regularly turn some away at the door.

So, now, the figures for St Dorothea…

Capacity: When we have packed churches, St. Dorothea can fit 800 people.
Thirty percent recommendation: So, 30% would be 240 people.
Usual attendance at a Sunday Mass: Depending on the season and Mass time, attendance can be anywhere from 150 - 280 people.
Available spots with distancing: only 56 usable pews
Reduced capacity for individuals: with just two people in the shorter pews and three people in longer pews, that’s only capacity for 140 people
Reduced capacity for family groups. If everyone who attended was part of a family of four, then that would be 300 people (one group for the front pews, two groups for the back pews).
Conclusion: The longer pews means that we could theoretically always be able to handle the Sunday attendance at St. Dorothea, but only if everyone shows up in groups of four. However, that’s not the usual makeup of the assembly – there are many individuals and couples. With social distancing in place we might have to occasionally turn people away at the door.

The idea of having to turn people away is not a good one. The bishop was serious about not going over the capacity at which a church can handle. That is why his letter said that everyone should enter through the same door. This way, when capacity was reached, we would then be able to start turning people away at the only entrance. For those turned away, that experience can be unnerving, disappointing, and frustrating. That might lead them to showing up earlier the next week to ensure they have a place in the church, which would then exclude others. And then it becomes a competition to see who can show up the earliest – until they’re showing up before the previous Mass has ended, which has its own problems.

And that is the main reason I want to hold off on Sunday Masses for a few weeks. I want to see what the response is to the return of daily Masses. I want to see how we handle making sure everyone is respecting the 6 foot bubble. I want to see how the reception of Communion goes for a smaller crowd before dealing with a larger crowd. I also want to see how many of our usual liturgical ministers are still around and available to be scheduled for Sunday Masses. Some of them are in the high-risk group and may not be available to help at the Sunday Mass.

In order to accommodate what may be a pent up demand for The Eucharist, I’m implementing a temporary schedule of three Masses a day, Monday through Friday between our two linked parishes. Daily Mass attendance at both churches is traditionally between 20 – 40 people. A crowd that size, or even larger should have no problem spreading out keeping the appropriate distance at both churches.

Now, with people choosing to continue their own isolation, especially for those in high-risk groups; we may not have to worry about exceeding our reduced capacity. If it turns out that attendance at these weekday Masses is low, then we’ll go back to the schedule of two daily Masses. That will probably mean we can also go back to having Sunday Masses if a significant portion of the congregation is still staying at home (which is a perfectly acceptable choice for many).

If it happens that contact tracing is working and the virus become more and more contained, or if the governor allows denser and larger gatherings indoors (for example, a 50% capacity), then the issue of space and capacity would no longer be a concern and we could easily resume Sunday Masses.

But until then, I’d appreciate your patience in waiting a while longer to see if Sunday Masses is a practical option at this time.

Things to Know for Attending Mass at This Time

Please do not come to daily Mass at this time if:

you are in a high risk group
you have any symptoms of a cold, flu, or COVID-19
you are not able to wear a mask
any child with you aged 2 or up refuses to wear a mask

If you are coming to daily Mass at this time, then please:

wear a mask or face covering
enter through only one designated entrance (the main doors at Precious Blood, the accessible doors at St. Dorothea’s facing the school)
sit in a pew that isn’t blocked off
stay at least 6 feet from another person in your pew who isn’t from your household
if in an aisle seat, move an extra foot in if people going up for Communion pass too close to you
cough or sneeze into an extra tissue, cloth, or the inner elbow of your arm, even if wearing a mask
be prepared to leave and not enter if there is an unusually high turn-out and there is no place to sit, – do not try to crowd in or stand in the back
come up for Communion in a single, merged line, pew by pew, allowing for a six foot distance between you and the person in front of you
receive in the hand if at all possible, then step to the side, pick up the Sacred Host with one hand, then lift up your face covering with your other hand and place the Host in your mouth, then return to your seat
only if you have a good reason, receive on the tongue (Eucharistic Ministers will then re-sanitize their hands before communicating the next person in line)
leave through any exit beginning with the pews at the back of the congregation leaving the six foot space between you and the person in front of you
be mindful of not blocking any aisle or door with your ‘six foot bubble’ – whereas before, people in the past may have been able to pass you, they may not now be able to because it would compromise your and their bubble

Other Things of Note:

The Eucharist will only be distributed as Eucharistic Bread. The Cup will not be available.
No missalettes or prayer books or flyers will be distributed.
When we do have Sunday Masses, no collection will be taken by ushers or ministers of hospitality. Donation baskets will be placed around the church.
Initially, no congregational singing will take place, including the Mass responses. There may be a cantor singing during the Communion Rite.
The churches need to be sanitized between each Mass. We’ll need volunteers to help with that. Also, this will undoubtedly leave the church smelling of disinfectants. People who are sensitive to that may considering holding off attending for a while.

Liturgical Ministers:

The presiding priest will not have any servers, whether youths or adults.
Ushers and Ministers of Hospitality are still needed for helping people find seating and helping those in need such as guests looking for a restroom, or those having a health issue and need 911, and making sure people observe the mask and social distancing rules.
Lectors will have their own podium, mic, and book to read from apart from what the priest uses to proclaim the Gospel. Only one Lector will be scheduled per Mass. This keeps mics/books/podiums from being shared with multiple lectors or with the priest.
Choirs are suspended for now. Cantors may sing from the choir loft at Precious Blood, or closer to the organ at St. Dorothea.
Eucharistic Ministers will not be needed at daily Mass, but they will be once we do start Sunday Masses

Funerals

Funerals with bodies can now take place in the church without going over the 30% capacity. However, the mourning family should only personally invite extended family and closest friends rather than advertise a funeral time that might bring in too many people.
All the restrictions of a Mass apply, such as face coverings required and social distancing.

Baptisms

Families can arrange baptisms, one family at a time, as long as their guests do not go over the 30% capacity; or, families can continue to wait until larger crowds in the church are allowed.
All the restrictions of a Mass apply, such as face coverings required and social distancing.
Group photos are not allowed.

Weddings

Weddings in the church with up to 30% capacity are allowed, though, it is likely for the majority of couples, this is still too restrictive and they will continue to wait until they can have a larger group of family and friends attend.
Since the first restrictions on the size of gatherings started, we’ve had 15 weddings being rescheduled (some moved several times).
All the restrictions of a Mass apply, such as face coverings required and social distancing.
Group photos are not allowed.

Confessions

Confessions at this time remain problematic. With the presumption that anyone may be infected without knowing it, then the use of any screen, which allows anonymity, means that we must sanitize that side of the screen and any chair or kneeler used by the penitent between each penitent’s confession. I need more time to consider what to do. We may have to only allow face-to-face Confession in the meantime.

First Communions and Confirmations

With the low capacity of the church, if we proceed with any First Communion or Confirmation celebrations, then the number of family members that can attend may be severely limited (such as to just the parents and sponsor). That may not be what some families want. Our Directors of Religious Education will be reaching out to these families in the next few weeks to get a feel of what they want. We may even be able to provide a celebration soon with the attendance limit in addition to a later celebration in which a large number can attend and let families choose between the two options. But again, no decision is made yet, we’ll be checking in with the families soon.
For any celebration sooner than later, all the current restrictions of the Mass will apply: face coverings for everyone, social distancing observed, and no group photos.

Our society has already been strained by the COVID-19 pandemic. With over one hundred thousand dead – in our country alone – and so many more suffering from the lack of proper health care and economic aid, we have seen that there are systemic problems in our country and the world which needs to be addressed, which needs to be changed. We reach out with our prayers to those suffering, those who have experienced loss, and those in great anxiety. Many in our parishes have helped out with direct aid. Many are health care workers and those who have been designated ‘essential workers.’ They have risked their health and life to keep things running, and to help those who were hurting. They have made great sacrifices and we are grateful.

And now, in the midst of a pandemic, we had another incident of a black man murdered by a police officer which has set off massive protests that have come from decades and even centuries of anger – anger that comes from not only people of color, but from of any sort of minority who gets demonized, used, abused, and forgotten. Those who have not experienced it, but are in positions of power, or who are in the majority, should also feel a justified anger for fellow human beings experiencing this type of constant and generational oppression.

Anyone who commits violence should be liable to justice. And again, we have a systemic problem in our society which either neglects or glorifies violence in the streets and in the home and across borders. And justice does not come. This must change. Let us pray and encourage one another to be agents of that change guided by our faith that all people are God’s children and all our brothers and sisters deserve to be helped when sick or oppressed.

Monday, June 1, 2020 Update: Please see the letter from Bishop O'Connell regarding the restarting of public Masses (click here). A fully detailed plan will be presented here by Wednesday, June 3.

In short, we will indeed restart Daily Masses beginning Monday, June 8. A temporary schedule of 3 Masses a day between the two linked parishes of Precious Blood and St. Dorothea will be made available Monday through Friday.

7:30 AM at Precious Blood
12:15 PM and 7:00 PM at St. Dorothea

However, we will wait a few weeks longer than allowed by the bishop to restart Sunday/Weekend Masses. These Masses will have issues with crowds and keeping social distancing that have to be worked out. Again, a fuller explanation will be provided by Wednesday, but a careful reading of the bishop's letter should make many of those concerns very apparent, such as dealing with a church that is at 30% capacity.

Meanwhile, our society is in turmoil over this pandemic and outrage at injustice toward people of color. It is all the more important that we all pray for and work for peace and justice and the health and well-being of all people.

To help those with financial needs, food donations may be made to the St. Dorothea Food Pantry by bringing donations to the lobbies of St. Dorothea Church. Donations to St. Vincent de Paul can be made directly to the 'Poor Box' in St. Dorothea.

April 1, 2020: As we enter a period in which the COVID-19 infection is peaking in New Jersey, our governor, bishop, and health officials have asked us to avoid all contact as much as possible unless it is essential for life and safety. Therefore...

Please pray for peace and healing. Especially for those who have lost loved ones to this virus, for those who are ill, and for the healthcare workers and those who are providing essential services.

Under the direction of the bishop, all churches had been closed and locked. Starting May 13, the church is open again, but just for private prayer. All Masses and services (except for the few exceptions listed below) are suspended at least until the end of April (and probably later). All are encouraged to watch live streaming liturgies or live telecasts of liturgies. Please see links on this page to the live-casts.

Palms will not be distributed. We will attempt to have blessed palms available once we are back to being able to have Masses.

Holy Communion will not be distributed to the sick and homebound. In cases of danger of death, a priest will still anoint they dying with the Sacrament of the Sick.

Confessions are suspended indefinitely until the ‘stay-at-home’ directive is lifted. Confessions, by Church Law, may not take place remotely (by phone, mail, email, live conferencing). As soon as one is sorry for their sins and expresses that to God, they should have the Blessed Assurance they are forgiven through the bounty of God’s mercy and have received sanctifying grace. To sacramentally celebrate that mercy, pray an Act of Contrition with the intent of getting to Confession once it becomes available again.

Baptisms are indefinitely postponed. In danger of death, a priest can baptize a child, or, in fact, any person can perform an emergency baptism by pouring water of the head of the unbaptized and saying: I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The local parish must be informed if an emergency baptism has taken place. A baptismal blessing ceremony may take place afterwards, once we are back to having Masses.

First Communion and Confirmation are indefinitely postponed, and will be rescheduled once we are able to again have regular Masses. Religious Education is canceled. The Rel. Ed. office is providing resources for home schooling.

Weddings may take place with just a few immediate family members present. Otherwise, they can be rescheduled.

Funeral rites may only be the graveside committal service with just a few immediate family members present. A Memorial Mass may be scheduled at a later date once regular Masses resume in which a larger number of people may be in attendance. If one’s dearly departed is cremated, the ashes may be brought into the church for a Funeral Mass once regular Masses resume.

The office is closed to all walk-in business. Urgent business can be arranged by calling the parish office and leaving a message or emailing: office@saintdorothea.org

If you are able to still support our parish and our diocese, your donations are gratefully welcome. Envelopes can be placed in the lockbox outside the parish office entrance. For online giving, please see the links on this page. If choosing online giving, please opt for monthly giving to avoid the weekly fees.