New MASS Details

Parishioners who have underlying health conditions or who are over 60 years old are STRONGLY encouraged to avoid attending Mass. Those who are symptomatic or who have been exposed to another with the virus within 14 days are not permitted to enter the church. All are asked to check their temperature at home before coming to church.

Those who are fully vaccinated and have a known exposure to COVID-19 are permitted to enter the church as long as they are asymptomatic. Please refer to the  “Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People” on the CDC website.

Archbishop Rozanski is lifting the dispensation on July 1, 2021. As these continue to be uncertain times, and we want everyone to feel safe returning to Mass, parishioners who are sick, homebound, immunocompromised and gravely concerned for their health retain the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass, which has always been the case in normal times.

Our live stream Masses will continue for the foreseeable future, both Sunday Mass & Daily Mass

St. Joseph Parish has acquired a New Disinfectant spray for our Church and Parish Hall. This new disinfectant only requires application every 90 days. Daily sanitization is no longer required. The bathrooms, sacristy, St. Joseph Room and other parts of church will still be cleaned daily as normal.

Holy Communion can be received on the hand or the tongue. Those who wish to receive Communion on the tongue must receive it from the Mass celebrant only. Keep a distance of 6 feet from the person in front of you. Aisles will be marked where to stand. Leave your mask on to protect the communion minister and the other hosts they are holding. Bow and respond “Amen” as normal. Extend your hands to receive the host. After stepping away from the minister, remove your mask and consume the host, then replace your mask. The distribution of the chalice of the Precious Blood during Holy Communion remains prohibited until further notice from the USCCB.  If you need a low-gluten host, special arrangements are to be made with the pastor.

Collection baskets will be placed in the aisles of church & the parish hall. Please place your envelope in the basket prior to entering a pew in church or a row of chairs in the hall. You can always give online through Faith Direct.

Sunday Nursery, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd will be suspended until further notice.

Everyone should exit church in an organized manner observing 6 feet distance between each household. After the recessional hymn, please leave the church building and parish hall immediately into the parking lot. Please do not linger in the gathering area.

The Missals will be removed from the pews. A printed worship aid with the music for Sunday Mass is available on our parish website. You are encouraged to print copies at home and bring them with you to church; limited copies will be available in church. We ask that you take your sheet home and recycle it.

Holy Water will be available at the doors of the church beginning June 11, 2021.

Meetings and events on parish grounds are still suspended until further notice. We encourage our organizations to continue online meetings through ZOOM.

The Adoration Chapel is still open 24/7. Hours of Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament will be Monday 8:30 AM – Tuesday 6:15 AM, Wednesday 8:30 AM – Thursday 6:15 AM, and Friday 8:30 AM – Saturday 7:45 AM. No more than 6 people in the Chapel.

Unfortunately, once the Church and Parish Hall are both full, we will not be able to accommodate additional people. We will be monitoring Mass attendance very closely and consider how best to meet the needs of our parish.

The Ushers will determine when the church has reached capacity based on social distancing guidelines. Once the church is full, a red flag will be placed outside the church, and overflow will be directed to the Parish Hall.