Newman Hall-Holy Spirit Parish
Reopening Plan
With restrictions and limitations, under the guidance of Bishop Michael Barber and Alameda County Health, Newman Hall-Holy Spirit Parish had reopened for public worship on Monday, June 29. But the latest news from the governor and Alameda County, we closed again on July 14 because of the surge of cases. We are however allowed to have outdoor Masses, so we have started outdoor Masses on our patio, July 30th.
Prior to Opening
● All liturgical aids and brochures, bulletins, etc. have been removed from the pews and vestibules, including missalettes and Mass cards
● Baskets will be placed near the sanctuary for offerings to the parish
● Hand sanitizer will be found throughout the entrance of the chapel
● Pews will be marked to maintain social distancing
● Floor marking will be used to guide the flow for entrance, exit, and Communion
● Reception crew – check temperatures and confirm reservations and seat folks if space is available
● Cleaning Crew – to disinfect all public spaces after Mass and do some cursory disinfecting 45 minutes before Mass.
● Narrow staircases to the balcony will be roped off and folks will be asked to use the larger lobby staircase to get to the balcony. In case of emergency, the ropes can easily be pulled aside so folks can be quickly evacuate the chapel.
● A section on the lower floor will be allocated for seniors so they do not have to go to the balcony.
● A section of the balcony will be allocated for folks without reservations.
Before Mass
Reservation
To ensure that we do not exceed the 100-person capacity in the church, and that no one is turned away at the door, each person attending Mass will need to make a reservation ahead of time using EventBrite that will found on our Newman website.
If more parishioners seek to attend on Sunday than we can handle, we will have overflow in our multiversity room and patio, projecting our live streaming of the Mass. If consistently have more, we will add more Masses on Sunday.
Gather Worship Aids
If you like to follow along with the prayers at Mass, bring your own worship aids such as Magnificat. There will not be missalettes or hymnals available in the church
Arriving at Church
Arrive Early
Please arrive at the doors 15 minutes prior to Mass to check in
Keep Moving
Please move promptly to and from the church, as we must not gather in the foyer, courtyard, side streets or parking lots. Entrance and exits will be as usual, through the main doors.
Temperature Check
Before entering the church, all must stop for a temperature check. If above 100.4, you will be directed to stay at home for your safety and others.
Arriving without a Reservation
If you arrive without a reservation, you will be asked to wait outside the church in case there are no shows. If space is available, we will find you a space up to the 100-person capacity limit. We will have a limited-space overflow in the multiversity room and patio where you can watch Mass live-streamed.
Inside the Church
Holy Water
Our holy water fonts will be empty for safety. The faithful may request holy water in advance to bring to Mass
Chapel Seating
To ensure proper social distancing, Please sit toward the end of a pew. Avoid the ends of the pews marked off with rope.
Face Masks
Guided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), those over age 3 must wear a face covering that covers the nose and mouth throughout the liturgy, except when consuming the Eucharist.
If possible, bring your own hand sanitizer, so you can disinfect your hands before Communion and after touching anything public. We will provide some hand sanitizer, but may run out if everyone relies on the church’s supply.
6-Foot Distance
While seated, standing and walking, people who are not in the same household must remain 6 feet apart from each other.
Procedures During Mass
Presentation of the Gifts
To reduce contact, the presentation of the gifts has been removed.
Offertory
Collection baskets will not be passed. Parishioners are invited to deposit their contribution/donation with the basket near the sanctuary and entrance of the chapel.
Our Father and Sign of Peace
There is to be no contact when greeting others during the Lord’s Prayer or Sign of Peace. A bow or wave can be given for the sign of peace.
Music
Though music is an important part of the Mass, we will only have a pianist or guitar during this time. Until there is evidence that a cantor singing will not infect others, we will not have sung music. The hymns will no longer be projected on the screen to discourage congregational singing.
Communion
Communion will take place AFTER Mass to allow those who are watching livestream Mass to come and receive.
The Precious Blood (Cup) will not be available.
The presider will move from aisle to aisle. So wait until the presider is down your aisle before lining up for Communion. Balcony people are asked to wait until everyone below has received and then you may proceed down the main staircase, into the chapel, and down the main aisle.
The faithful are strongly encouraged to receive Communion in the hand.
Approach the sanctuary wearing a face covering. Place one hand under the other while keeping fingers together and receive the host. After receiving the host, step aside to a marked place, lower/lift face covering and consume
If you must receive on the tongue, please wait to receive last. The priest must sanitize his hands after each person who receives on the tongue.
After receiving, move to the X on the floor in front of the sanctuary and consume the host there before proceeding back to your pew or out of the church.
Each Minister of Communion will have the necessary items for sanitation in accordance with Diocesan Protocol. If a communicant is touched, the minister will place the bowl on the table and sanitize their hands before resuming.
After Mass
Recessional
There is no formal recessional. After Communion, parishioners should exit the church without gathering in the courtyard or parking lot for fellowship. But do share your experience and week with parishioners on Facebook, YouTube, and/or ZOOM.
Your prompt exit will allow our clean up crew to sanitize the chapel and public areas for the next Mass. If you would like to help with the clean up, that would be greatly appreciated. We will have gloves and sanitation wipes.
Far right doors will be propped open before Mass and all doors will be propped open after Mass for touchless entrance and exits. The priests will not be greeting the people as they leave for everyone’s safety.
Cleaning
The high touch areas of the church will be cleaned after every Mass. All backs of pews, lobby area, doors bars, and bathroom.
If you can help with the chapel cleaning, please let us know.
Confession
Confession will occur after Mass in the Gallery. Please wait by the sign in the hallway.
Please keep your mask on and either sit or kneel in designated areas to maintain social distancing.
Those at Risk
Those who are sick, elderly, immune-compromised or otherwise at risk for COVID 19 should not attend Mass in person. Masses will continue to be livestreamed.
Until further notice, Bishop Barber continues to dispense the faithful from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days.
For Holy Communion to the Sick and those at Risk or Holy Anointing, please call the office number at 510-848-7812 or email us at info@calnewman.org for an appointment.
Bathroom Instructions
Given our limited bathroom facilities, we recommend you use your bathroom at home before coming to Mass.
Please make sure to wash your hands before and after using the bathroom.
Please line up for the bathroom along the hallway by the water fountain. There will be only one line given the limited width of the hallway. Only one person per bathroom, so use any bathroom that is free.
After someone uses the bathroom, consider waiting 2 minutes to allow the air to clear and settle.
The water fountain will be turned off for everyone’s safety. Please bring your own water bottle if you anticipate needing to drink water.
Clergy Instructions
Before Mass, clergy and all ministers will sanitize their hands.
In place of kissing the altar, the priest makes a profound bow before the altar. In place of kissing the gospel book, the priest pauses or reverently touches the book.
After receiving Holy Communion, the priest leaves the ciborium on the altar, covered and on top of a corporal.
After reverencing the altar with a profound bow at the end of Mass, Priest or Deacon goes to the sacristy to wash their hands with soap and water prior to distributing Communion. The chasuble is removed to minimize infection. Wearing alb and stole, the priest returns to the altar, holds up a single host and says, ““Behold the Lamb of God. Behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” He then leads the people in saying: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.” The priest (and any other ministers distributing Holy Communion) dons a surgical mask or cloth face covering, takes the ciborium, and goes to the Communion station at the bottom of the sanctuary.
The priest and deacon must wear a face covering for the distribution of Communion. Priest does not wear a mask or face covering when presiding at Mass since he is far away from the people.
Only the priest(s) and deacon are to distribute Communion during the Mass.
If the priest’s or deacon’s hand comes into contact with the faithful’s hand, hand sanitizer will be available for the priest or deacon to sanitize his fingers.
Music Minister Instructions
Only a pianist or guitar. No cantor or choir.
Lector Minister Instructions
Sanitize hands before Mass begins.
Take off masks when approaching the sanctuary and put on mask when returning to the pew.
Mass Schedule
Daily Mass: Mon-Sat at 12:10pm
Summer Sunday Mass: 10am and 5pm (more Masses will be added as demand arises)
Livestream Mass
Mass will continue to be livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook for those who are unable to attend Mass in person. Sunday at 10am and Daily Mass at 12:10pm.