WE ARE NOW OPEN FOR PUBLIC MASSES!
With permission from the state, county, city, and diocese, we are now allowed to have public Masses, following civic and diocesan guidelines to promote everyone’s safety in these pandemic times. The dispensation from the bishop, for attending Sunday Mass, still holds. So if you are at high risk or care for others at high risk, or you have concerns, definitely be at ease to stay home and participate through the internet. If you would like to join us, we have daily Mass at 12:10pm and Sunday Masses at 8am, 10am and 5pm.
In order to promote the safety of everyone, we have protocols that we need everyone to follow. Forgive us for their awkwardness, but these are dangerous times and we want to provide for your spiritual nourishment while minimizing your health risk.
At Newman, please wear a mask at all times and maintain social distancing of 6 feet or more.
The pews are roped off, so folks are asked to sit one group to a pew. The sitting will alternate one pew on the left and the next pew on the right and the next on the left and so on. Some of the longer pews can accommodate two group. Sit where the green tape is to your back.
Sadly for now, we have minimized the singing in order to minimize breath aerosols in our chapel. We do have our fans running and the doors open to maximize ventilation. Please forgive the extra noise.
We encourage folks to bring their own water bottle if they are often thirsty during Mass and to use their bathroom at home. We will be turning off the water fountain to prevent possible sharing of germs.
After Mass, we know Newmanites love to socialize. It’s in our loving nature. But in these pandemic times, we must be vigilant because the virus is able to hide and spread through folks without symptoms. To ensure folks who come are safe and do not bring anything unwanted back to there loved ones, we insist that when you socialize, you go outside and maintain some distancing.
Click Here for our reopening plan. For a PDF copy, click here.
We will explain things when you come to Newman so we can maximize our safety in these trying times. You may want to try a daily Mass and/or sit in the balcony if you are concerned about too many people or want to make sure our protocols are sufficient to ease your concerns. Thanks for your patience with us. We will no doubt be tweaking things are we find out what works and could better. Please let us know of ways to improve our safety while maintaining a reverence for our Eucharistic Worship.