Covid-19: Green Phase: July 31, 2021 -
Update
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus.
The province will go Green at midnight on July 30, 2021. This
allows us to remove some restrictions in our churches. I want
to thank the priests, employees and the many volunteers who have
religiously enforced the sanitary measures. Through your
dedication, you have stopped the spread of the COVID-19 virus and
ensured the protection of the faithful. Thank you for your
excellent work and commitment. However, we will have to
continue to be careful because COVID-19 is always with us. In the
words of Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health: "
We will be living with COVID-19, so we encourage New Brunswickers
to continue to practise protective health measures such as
handwashing, coughing in your elbow, staying home when sick and
wearing a mask if you so choose. This virus is still with us, and
we should all expect to see cases as normal travel returns. If you
have symptoms, get tested. Caution remains the order of the
day for all.
The following recommendations apply for the celebration of Sunday
and weekday Masses, funerals, and weddings. For baptisms and the
sacrament of the sick we can proceed with the anointing of the holy
chrism or the oil for the sick as before the
pandemic.
Here are the items where there are no longer
restrictions:
1. Entry. Worshippers will be able to enter the
church without prior registration and without providing health or
travel information. In addition, sanitizer bottles may be
maintained at various locations at the entrances or elsewhere,
allowing people to sanitize their hands if they
wish.
2. Processions and servers. We can go forward
with processions and have servers for the mass.
3. Physical distancing. No distancing is
required. Thus, the church can be filled.
4. Disinfection. Disinfection of pews and shared
equipment is no longer required.
5. Masks. Masks are no longer required, but
respect and acceptance must be shown to those who choose to wear
them for health or safety reasons.
6. Liturgical materials. “Living with Christ”,
songbooks, or other materials may be used.
7. Singing. Singing may be resumed as before
COVID-19 without restriction.
8. Parish gatherings and catechetical groups.
Gatherings may now be held without restriction as to number and
distance
9. Holy water. Holy water can be placed in
the holy water fonts at the entrances to the
church.
10. Masses streamlined on the internet. With the
return of the faithful to churches, the number of people viewing
these Masses should decrease. This has been an excellent service to
our faithful. The parishes involved will decide if they
continue to do this to reach parishioners unable to attend
church.
The following restrictions are to be
maintained
1. Holy Communion: For the time being, as a
matter of prudence, parishes are asked to refrain from giving
communion in the cup and distributing communion on the
tongue.
2. The sign of peace. As a precaution, people
are to avoid shaking hands or another physical contact. Instead,
they may exchange peace by bowing or making other gesture without
contact.
May the Lord bless us and continue to watch over
us.
Mgr. Valery Vienneau - Archbishop of
Moncton
St. Bernard’s Roman
Catholic Church, with Acadian and Irish roots, is located in
downtown Moncton, New Brunswick.
Most recently, our
church has become a reflection of a multicultural congregation as
new families to Canada have made St. Bernard’s their church of
choice.
St. Bernard's
parishioners come together as a Catholic spiritual community for
worship, faith formation, fellowship and outreach.
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