COVID-19 Guidelines

- Choirs be suppressed for the immediate future;
- Congregational singing is to be limited to: - the Gospel Acclamation - the Sanctus - the Memorial Acclamation - the Great Amen - the Agnus Dei - the refrain to the Responsorial Psalm 
-Opening, Closing and Communion procession music should be instrumental or sung only by a cantor.
- All other parts of the Mass should be recited.
- Reusable Hymnals and Missalettes should not be distributed. Personal participation aids and Missals which are taken home by individuals may be distributed

1. Only one accompanied singer or solo instrumentalist is permitted at any one time. A different singer or instrumentalist may be used at different times during the Mass, especially at multi-lingual liturgical celebrations. Similarly, the organ may be used for accompaniment at one point during the Mass, while a guitar or keyboard may be used at another.

2. All instrumentalists and singers should ordinarily be masked and maintain a six foot social distance. If an instrumentalist finds it too difficult to wear a mask and can maintain more than a six foot distance from everyone else, they may remove the mask when playing.

3. Wind instruments (not including the Organ) are not to be used during the course of the pandemic.

4. Whenever feasible, the choir loft should be preferred to a space more proximate to the Congregation during the course of the pandemic.

5. Because congregational participation in Processional Hymns is to be avoided in all circumstances, Congregations should be asked before each Mass begins not to join in any hymns to mitigate the possible mass aeresolization of the virus. The use of processional music other than popular carols is encouraged, especially the entrance and communion antiphon from either the Roman Missal or the Roman 5 Gradual.