The Province of Ontario and Bishop Damphousse have given permission for churches to open for some services at 30% occupancy. For us, this translates to 66 persons per mass.  We are planning to celebrate Mass the weekend of June 20/21, 2020 following the summer schedule of Saturday at 5:00 pm, Sunday at 10:00am. The following letter provides some background and the GUIDELINES which follow are a must read. 
As we will need to be able to do contact tracing in case of infection, we ask that you call the parish/or email with the time of the mass you will attend, the number attending and your name and phone number.
example :  My name is Hamish Currie, I will attend the 10:00 am mass, there will be just one person my phone number is 705-256-8474.
Please monitor the website and facebook page for any updates.

June 11, 2020
Sisters and brothers in Christ,
You may have heard that soon we will be able to re-open our churches once again. We are thankful as this time of closure has been painful and difficult. As we implement our re-opening plans, we must do so with prudence and caution, ensuring that we do everything possible to reduce the potential transmission of the virus. 
As you can expect, things will look a little different when we return to church. For that reason, I’m including a few documents to help us understand what things will look like. Yes, these are uncomfortable practices and they may seem overly restrictive - I understand that. However, to prevent us from having to close once again and to keep everyone as safe as possible, we must all do our part and make the best of this challenging situation.
One of the biggest challenges is that, to re-open, we must do so in phases where our capacity (# of people who can attend church) will be limited due to directives from the Province of Ontario’s medical experts. Please refer to the attached document on how our parish will do our best to tackle this issue. The document also includes our current schedule and office hours.
I am also attaching a “guidelines” document to give you a better sense of what you can expect and how you can help out before you arrive at church, when you arrive and at points in between. We’ll offer reminders/signs when you are here but it’s good to review these guidelines ahead of time.
One key point that I would like to highlight is that the diocese, after consulting with the Chief Medical Officer for the Province of Ontario, is asking that all those (over the age of 3) who come to church wear a mask/face covering to mitigate the potential spread of the virus.  Again, I recognize this is uncomfortable but it is out of care and love for our neighbour. Please follow this direction and bring a mask/face covering with you when you return to church.   
Finally, I invite you to consider how you might share your time and talents as a volunteer. The many tasks required for re-opening are significant and we need more volunteers than ever to help. If you’d like to volunteer, please contact the office  pbcathedral@on.aibn.com or 705-256-8474.
Our joy of re-opening churches is measured with the restrictions that will be required. However, returning to sacramental life and gathering as a community is sustenance essential for our faith community during these trying days. 
Summer Schedule:      Saturday 5:00 pm
                                        Sunday 10:00 am
 See you soon – be assured that you remain in my prayers each day.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Hamish Currie



Guidelines for Returning to Church – Resource for the Faithful

As we prepare to re-open churches, please be aware of the following guidelines. We recognize that they may be awkward/uncomfortable and contrary to our culture of hospitality and community. In working to foster a safe environment for all, we thank you in advance for your patience and co-operation.

Before coming to church:

• Have your mask
• Call/email parish to register/give your information
• Please check temperature of all family members before coming to church. If any family members have a fever, please remain home for the health and safety of all. Consult your family doctor.
• If you exhibit any of the following symptoms, please remain home at this time - cough, fatigue, loss of appetite,  shortness of breath, muscle aches, loss of taste or smell, headache, runny nose, sore throat, chills with shakes.

 
 
Arriving at church

• With Government Regulations of 30% occupancy.  We can accommodate 120 persons for each mass.
• Maintain physical distancing at all times – 2 metres (6 feet) from others – in the parking lot, church entrance and in church itself.
• Upon arrival, put on mask/face covering before entering church (for all those over the age of 3 
• Sanitize hands upon entry and regularly.
• Pews and aisles will be marked to note physical distancing requirements.  Families and households living at the same residence may sit together; the same 2 metre (6 ft.) distance should be maintained concerning others. Follow direction of ushers for seating.
• Pews will be emptied of prayer books, hymnals, etc.  Parish bulletins will not be published at this time.
• Holy Water fonts will be empty and not in use at this time.

 
Celebration of the Eucharist
 Please listen carefully to announcements before the start of Mass. Follow direction as advised.

• Altar servers, lectors will be kept to an absolute minimum during this period of time. Please do not enter the sacristy unless you have been asked to assist during Mass.
• Other than a cantor or choir appropriately physically distanced, there will be no singing at Mass until further notice. 
• There will be no offertory procession or collection. Please leave donation in the designated basket upon entry/departure as directed.
• We ask that people do not hold hands or shake hands during any portion of the celebration of the Eucharist. At the Sign of Peace, a nod or bow to others is appropriate. 
• Masks/face coverings should be removed prior to reception of Holy Communion and put back on after consumption.
• During this time of pandemic and under the guidance of local medical health officials, the faithful are asked to receive Holy Communion in the hand by placing one on top of the other, allowing the Eucharistic Minister to safely place the Body of Christ in one’s hand without contact. 
• Follow direction of ushers for communion flow ensuring physical distancing at all times
• Follow direction provided for dismissal and departure
• Following Mass, please depart the church so that cleaning may commence.
• While it is our nature to congregate/socialize in the foyer or parking lot, we ask you NOT to do so at this time. Please maintain physical distancing.

General

• If you suddenly feel ill, start coughing or sneezing, please leave the church for the health and safety of others gathered. 
• Children’s ministry, prayers groups and other ministries that gather in the church/church grounds are either suspended or operating virtually only at this time.
• Please use washrooms only if absolutely necessary. One person or family at a time should be in the washroom.  Ensure that all wash their hands with warm soapy water after using washroom facilities. Please respect physical distancing inside/outside the washroom.
• If, within 14 days of attending Mass, you learn that you or someone in your family who attended Mass with you has tested positive for COVID-19, you are asked to:  a) contact the Ontario Public Health Authority; and, b) contact the parish office.  Your identity will not be revealed to anyone other than the Public Health Authority, and only to ensure that any spread is contained
• If you would like to volunteer to help at the parish, please contact the parish office. Separate guidance will be provided to lectors ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, etc.