
Welcome back to St. James Parish!
During this “Yellow”, intermediate phase of bringing back the celebration of Mass, the Archdiocese asks us to follow the procedures below.
GENERAL POINTS
The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation continues to be lifted during the Yellow Phase. You are not required to attend Mass at this time.
Please stay home if you are sick.
Please stay home if you are at higher risk of severe illness with COVID19. If you are uncertain about your risk status, please consult your doctor and also the CDC Guidelines at this link.
Mass will continue to be available via live-stream at the Cathedral on the Saint James Facebook page, other parishes, and other television networks like EWTN. Catholicphilly.com keeps an ever-growing list at this website.
MASS SCHEDULE
The Mass schedule remains the same here at St. James: Saturday Vigil, 5:00pm; Sunday morning 8:30am and 10:30am. Weekdays Masses will be Monday through Friday at 8:00am. Seating at the daily Mass will be restricted to the front pews of the church.
BEFORE COMING TO MASS
Please wash your hands for 20 seconds using soap and water.
Before entering the Church, please put on a face mask or cloth covering. Exceptions to this are “children younger than 2 years old, anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, and anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance” (CDC Guidelines). The mask is otherwise mandatory.
Please do NOT come to Mass if you are sick or are at higher risk for severe illness with COVID19 (see above). Remember the obligation for Mass attendance is still suspended.
ENTERING THE CHURCH
Missalettes or song books will not be in the pews during this period. You are welcome to bring your own missal/readings with you. Please remember to take them with you afterwards.
Hand sanitizers will be available at the Church entrances. Please use the hand sanitizer upon entering and exiting the Church. The holy water fonts will be empty.
Bulletins will be available as usual.
SEATING
Please be seated upon entering the church.
When taking your seat, please sit in pews NOT blocked by tape. Every other pew will be open to ensure proper social distancing.
Members of the same household may sit together as normal. Please place 6 feet between your household and members of a different household.
DURING MASS
While we may have a cantor at Mass, songbooks will not be available. Singing will be simple and attentive to the main Mass parts. There will be no choir until the “GREEN” phase.
A collection will be taken up during the Offertory as usual using long-handled baskets. There will be no offertory procession, though the collection will be placed in front of the altar by one of the ushers.
The Sign of Peace will be only a smile or a nod to your neighbor.
The Precious Blood will not be distributed during Mass during the Yellow Phase.
RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION
Please maintain social distancing in the Communion line. Please keep several pews between yourself and the person in front of you while in line and when returning to your pew.
During the Yellow Phase, the faithful are asked to receive Holy Communion in the hand.
When offered the host, respond “Amen” and remove or let down one side of the mask. Receive in your hand and place the host in your mouth. Restore the mask and return to your pew, allowing for social distancing.
EXITING THE CHURCH
At the conclusion of Mass, please exit the Church and proceed directly to your car. Please do not congregate for any reason and remember social distancing in the aisles on the way out.
Please leave your mask on until you exit the Church.
We will need a few volunteers after the weekend Masses for an abbreviated cleaning (loose papers/books removed, door handles and pew railings sanitized, etc.). Volunteers, please meet Fr. Lange near the confessionals after Mass. The church will be more fully sanitized during the week.
The “Green” phase will follow at some point down the road. We will adjust accordingly when that time comes. I think we all pray that it will be sooner than later!
Fr. Lange