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CHANCERY NOTICE


POST-PANDEMIC PASTORAL GUIDELINES

Collaborating with the public in combating the Covid-19 pandemic, our Diocese, like other Local Churches affected by the same pandemic, has taken some provisional precautionary measures over the past three years, even to the point of suspending the celebration of public Masses for some long periods.

Now the pandemic in Hong Kong is on the whole being contained and local social life is returning to normal. It is therefore necessary and urgent for Church life to return to normal, with the celebration of the liturgy, especially the Eucharist, as “the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time it is the font from which all her power flows” (Vatican II Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy,10).

From now on, the faithful are to observe again the Sunday obligation. They are to take part in the Sunday Mass and may not just attend an online Mass or personally attend a weekday Mass as an alternative, with the exception of the elderly, the sick and the disabled who are unable to go to church for Sunday Mass. (Note)

The following are the post-pandemic pastoral guidelines announced by Bishop Stephen CHOW, S.J., with immediate effect:

1. Churches should be well ventilated and seats cleansed and disinfected regularly, with sanitisers available at the church entrances, to be freely used by the faithful and other visitors.

2. Those who enter the compound of a church or Mass centre should put on a face mask. The use of holy water at the church entrance should not be resumed yet.

3. The presiding celebrant, concelebrants and readers may at their discretion put off their masks while proclaiming the Word of God or preaching. Altar servers, commentators and choir members should put on a mask during Mass.

4. The use of liturgical booklets and hymnals should not be resumed yet. They may be substituted by projectors or leaflets to be used once only.

5. Sunday collections may be taken up as usual at the Offertory, while bread and wine may again be presented by the faithful.

6. The sign of peace should be expressed by bowing heads, instead of shaking hands.

7. Holy Communion should be received “in the hand” only until further notice. One’s hands should be sanitised before and after giving or receiving Communion.

8. In giving Holy Communion, the minister is to say softly, “The Body of Christ”, while the communicant should respond softly, “Amen”.

9. The blessing of children may be resumed, but the minister should avoid physical contact with them.

10. After Mass, the seats in the church, the microphones, the altar and sacred objects, etc., should be cleansed and disinfected. Likewise, parish premises for holding meetings/gatherings or frequently visited by the faithful should be disinfected regularly. Food and drinks may be allowed during gatherings, provided the venues are well ventilated and are not overcrowded.

Given at the Chancery Office,

9 February 2023.

Rev. Lawrence Lee

Chancellor

(Note) See Annex to the Chancery Office: Some Reflections on the Active Participation of the Faithful in the Sunday Eucharist.

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  • By: davc
  • By: davc