Ministry During Covid-19

A Summary of Health & Safety Protocols in Pandemic at St. Martha & St. Mary Parishes

• Less than 1/4 our usual capacity, with hand sanitizing and physical distancing for everyone in the church

• Face coverings for the congregation, and for ministers when approaching the congregation

• No-Touch Temperatures taken: for all when the town in “red” status; always for our volunteers & staff

• No congregational singing to minimize aerosols in the air; limited singing by ministers only when distant from others

• Open to fresh air whenever occupied; substantial fresh air exchange between services

• Sanitizing of pews and all frequently-touched surfaces after each and every service

Due to the constant changes in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, this page has been redesigned to provide the most recent information. 

 

 Instructions for How to Sign-up for Limited Seating
and Prepare for Special Protocols

1)    You must sign-up ahead of time on PWC Sign-Up Genius website to give your name, contact info, and number of people coming from the same household. Each household needs to complete a separate registration so we can maintain social distancing between households. Those without access to the internet can call the parish office and leave a message with your name, phone, and number from your household attending. PLEASE sign-up for Mass ASAP so we have a place for you – we do not want to have to turn people away at the door because they forgot to sign-up!

2)    Face coverings or masks are essential to protect one another, especially since this virus does not always have symptoms. Please wear this from the time you exit your vehicle until you get back into it after Mass (Communion explained below). If you cannot wear a face covering, we ask you to wait to return to church until a later phase when we will have less strict protocols.

3)    Please bring hand sanitizer with you if you can, having it ready as you enter the church. Otherwise church volunteers will spray your hands with sanitizer (lemon) as you enter the church.

4)    Please arrive about 10 minutes before Mass, bringing your patience and flexibility, especially these first few weeks. We have several volunteers to guide you and help things to go smoothly, but this is new for all of us!

We need more parishioners as volunteers (guiding people and sanitizing at the end of Mass) – if you are not in a vulnerable population, please volunteer by emailing (or calling) your parish office with your contact info.

THANK YOU for Continuing to Support Your Parishes:

We are very heartened by the number of people who have signed up for Online Giving or continued their regular parish donations in some other way - each parish received at least 50% of the regular Offertory over the past two weeks.

Not everyone will be able to continue to do this, but many of us can. If you are not facing your own financial hardship, please continue your regular parish contributions in one of these ways:

This situation will financially devastate parishes, but if more of you are able to continue to make your contributions, that will help us tremendously. Unless your own income situation has changed, please continue your regular parish contributions in one of these ways:

• Click for our Online Giving service, which offers either recurring or one-time donations

• Use your bank’s bill payment service by going to their website or calling the bank

• Submit your contributions by check through the mail

• Drop off your contributions: under St. Martha sacristy door or in St. Mary office mail slot