With the state and city moving to the final phase of reopening from pandemic-related restrictions Friday, the Archdiocese of Chicago will be cutting back on most of its COVID-19 mitigation protocols.
These changes will affect restrictions such as mask requirements, physical distancing and capacity limits.
The new guidelines will also have an effect on school activities, mission trips and summer camps. A dispensation from the Catholic Church’s requirement that the faithful attend Mass every Sunday is still in effect, a spokeswoman said.
According to a news release, the changes going into effect Friday include:
Capacity limits
The capacity for Masses, liturgies, sacramental services, parish and school events, and all offices will return to 100%.
Physical distancing
Any vaccinated person will no longer be required to distance.
It is recommended that unvaccinated people continue to practice physical distancing by remaining 6 feet apart.
Masks and hand sanitizer
Masks are no longer a requirement for those who have been vaccinated.
Adults and children who are unvaccinated must continue to wear their masks.
Hand sanitizer will remain available in common spaces such as schools, churches and offices.
Masses and liturgies
Registration will no longer be required for Mass attendance.
Churchgoers will not be required to have proof of vaccination.
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There are a few pre-pandemic practices that will be in effect again. Worshippers can now dip their fingers in holy water. Ushers can help greet everyone into the parish community, and choirs, oral responses, collection of envelopes and sharing of bulletins will resume.
Priests and extraordinary ministers are encouraged to use extra hand sanitizer when distributing Holy Communion. Parishioners, however, are no longer required to take the extra precaution.
Receiving Holy Communion on the tongue will resume, but extraordinary ministers must sanitize their hands if they come in contact with saliva.
The sharing of the sacramental cup is still prohibited and will resume at a later date.
Other ceremonies and rites
A priests or deacon who is celebrating an infant baptism must continue to wear a mask, particularly when close to the infant’s nose or mouth. This mandate applies regardless of vaccination status.
Starting on July 1, the COVID-19 Anointing Team will end its services and parishes will return to providing anointers for Holy Confession and Holy Communion at hospitals.
Safety measures
Parishes are being asked to share a notice with a date and time on the parish website in the event a parishioner tests positive for COVID-19 if that person was in attendance at a Mass or liturgy within three days of diagnosis.
Schools, offices and agencies are also being asked to report positive cases.
The archdiocese’s COVID-19 task force will continue to abide by the local and state public health guidance and will continue to provide updates when necessary.