SJN Reopening Plan

St. John Neumann Parish

We are now in Phase two, and may allow additional people into the church.  Sign-ups are no longer required.  Masses may fill to capacity, so we advise you to arrive 15 minutes early.

 
Dispensation from Sunday Mass and Recorded Mass

• The dispensation from Sunday will still be in effect.
• No one is required to attend Mass, or receive communion.
• If someone is not well, please do not venture out.
• If someone is in a vulnerable population, you may want to consider staying home.
• We will continue to record or live stream Masses

 
The Importance of Safety and Health

• The Archdiocese has set up strict guidelines for Mass and the reception of communion which we will follow here at SJN.  These guidelines can be found on the website.   A few important items to note.
• Please wear a mask when coming to Mass or when one is in the receiving line for communion.
• Please wash your hands before coming to Mass and use disinfectant before entering the Church and before receiving (when possible).
• The faithful are strongly encouraged to receive in the hand during this time of pandemic though there is no strict prohibition to receiving on the tongue.
• The Clergy/Minister will disinfect their hands before giving out communion and afterwards.  If there is any contact with hands or saliva, the clergy/minister will pause and disinfect his hands each time.
• Social distancing will be in effect.  The church has completely been set up to ensure social distancing and there are guidelines in effect for the communion rite as well.

 
Holy Mass
To attend mass in person, please arrive a few minutes early so we have time to get everyone in and seated.  Masses may fill to capactiy.  If we run out of room, you are invited to listen to the Mass near our outdoor Adoration Chapel.  Communion will be distributed after mass to those outside.

The 9:00am daily Mass, as well as the 9:30am (English) and the 1:30pm (Español) Sunday Masses, are live-streamed on our parish  YouTube Channel.
   
If you are attending Mass, please arrive 15 minutes early and park in the upper parking lot (near the Marian Shrine).  You will enter via the side entrance where one normally accesses the indoor adoration chapel. Once the door opens you will be given instructions on where to go and where to sit.
 
The bathrooms should be used only in situations of absolute necessity. Please prepare beforehand. Only one person at a time will be allowed to use the facilities.
 
Masses will be brief, and many options either cut out or reduced to limit the time spent in the space.  You are asked to leave very soon after Mass (feel free to make a brief act of thanksgiving) in order to clean and prepare for the next Mass.
 
Communion:
Communion will be distributed outside after all masses.
 
The priest will make his way to the front of the adoration chapel after Mass with the hosts. The rite takes only a few minutes.  Please keep social distancing and be patient. You may leave any time after receiving communion.

Special Needs
If there are any special needs before attending the Mass, such as the need for a low gluten host or any handicap needs, please contact one of the priests a few days before.

For your information, below are the guidlines from the Archdiocese of Washington, the State of Maryland, and Montgomery County that we must take into consideration.

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Archdiocese of Washington

The Archdiocese of Washington includes the District of Columbia and surrounding Maryland counties, including Montgomery County.  An Archdiocesan plan for celebrating public Masses, following updated state and district guidelines, was issued on May 14.   Public Masses may resume  within the Archdiocese of Washington .  Attendance at mass is currently limited to 10 people.

 

When the current restrictions are eased and the faithful are able to gather for Mass again, some changes will be essential to ensure the health and safety of those who attend.

The Dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, issued on March 12, 2020, is still in effect until further notice. Anyone may remain at home, particularly those most vulnerable due to age or pre-existing health conditions. 
 

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State of Maryland and Montgomery County

Governor Hogan announced Phase 2 of the  Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery.  Additional Safe and Phased Reopenings Begins on Friday, June 12; Reopenings on Friday, June 19 to Include Gyms, Casinos, Malls‘,’ .

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich signed an Executive Order continuing the County’s Stay at Home order until COVID-19 data shows it is safe to move towards reopening. The order, in effect since May 15, keeps in place the current restrictions and permitted activities that were in place during the State’s stay at home order.

The order will stay in effect until five key metrics, detailed below, are met. 

• A sustained decrease during a 14-day period of new cases in an environment of increased testing
• A sustained decrease in the COVID-19 related hospitalization rate
• A sustained decrease in the percentage of COVID-19 related ICU beds in use
• A sustained decrease in the number of COVID-19 related daily deaths
• A sustained decrease in the number of COVID-19 related patients going to County emergency rooms.