Covid-19 Safety Procedures - Attending Mass

Your safety is our priority. The following procedures are mandated from Cardinal DiNardo and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. These procedures are carried out by our Pandemic Team Members to ensure that you are able to celebrate Mass safely. We thank all of our volunteers who give their time to make this possible—please treat them with kindness. Thank you for your patience and your presence!

Church Cleaning Procedures
• We will continue to implement cleanliness and sanitizing practices, including disinfecting pews between every Mass, disinfecting bathrooms, door handles, and other frequently touched surfaces.
• Everyone is required to wear a face mask, wash hands, and submit to a COVID-19 symptom screening.

Before Arrival: Wash Your Hands, Wear a Mask
• Wash or sanitize your hands before arrival.
• Masks should be worn as soon as you exit your vehicle and for duration of Mass.

Entrance: Please Arrive on Time — No Admittance once Mass Begins
• The Narthex glass doors open 30 minutes before Mass and are locked once Mass begins.
• You must submit to no-contact temperature check by staff or team member.

Seating Process: From Front to Back of Church, Up Center Aisle Only
• Please wait for a Pandemic Team Member to seat you.
• Seating begins from front to back of the church, up the center aisle only. This is to ensure that every seat is utilized and is also important for the sanitization procedure after Mass.
• Every pew will be marked for seating with “X” in blue tape and in between the pews for social distancing (6ft). You may share a pew with your household, but social distancing is required between households (6ft).

Celebrating Mass
• No physical contact during the sign of peace or the Lord's Prayer.
• The collection will be taken up using baskets with handles by the usher. Online giving is encouraged.

Communion
• Wear your mask to Communion—stay 6ft apart from those outside of your household. There will be a single Communion line down the center aisle.
• Holy Communion will not be offered on the tongue during this time, and there is no Precious Blood offered.
• Once you receive Communion from the priest, step aside and remove your mask, consume the Eucharist, then replace your mask and return to your pew.

Departure Process: From Back to Front of Church
• Please do not leave Mass early or after the final blessing. Remain in your pew and wait for a Pandemic Team Member to dismiss your row, starting at the rear of the church.
• Please exit immediately through the Narthex.

Update: 11.22.20
As of Sunday, November 22, there will be a live video stream in Tiger Gym for 9:00 am Mass, in addition to 11:00 am Mass. This is to allow for any overflow due to increased attendance.

Update: 10.4.20
Beginning Sunday, October 4th, 1:00 pm Mass will be added back to our Sunday Mass schedule. Also, we will have a live video stream offered in the Tiger Gymnasium at 11:00 am. When the church has filled to 25% capacity, we will begin seating in the gym where you can watch Mass. As Holy Communion is being distributed in the church, one of our deacons will be ushered to the gym with the Blessed Sacrament. Those who wish to receive the Eucharist may do so.

All protocols that pertain to the Archdiocesan guidelines regarding social distancing and masks will be followed in both spaces. We hope this will keep us from having to turn people away. 

We will start with the 11:00 am Sunday Mass, and if there is a need to add additional overflows, we will do so. While this may not be a perfect solution, it is our best attempt to welcome all who wish to attend Sunday Mass at St. Michael Parish.

 

Update 9.21.20
In order for St. Michael Catholic School children to have an opportunity to attend Mass, as of Monday, September 21st, one grade level will attend the 8:15 am Mass each day with their teachers, Monday through Friday.  To maintain their safe social distancing only the school children will be seated in the main body of the church.  Adults attending the 8:15 am Mass will be seated in the chapel pews marked for social distancing.

The chapel doors will not be available for entry or to exit.  All must enter through the main narthex glass doors and procedures for wearing a mask, temperature taking, and hand sanitizing remain in effect.  The main doors will be locked when Mass begins and unlocked at the end of Mass.

Our parish deacons will be present for 8:15 am Mass to assist the priest to distribute Holy Communion to both areas so that the daily Mass will not be any longer than usual.  

Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we continue to make every effort to safely gather in prayer.  May God bless you.