By
The SUN
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| Public masses resume under strict guidelines |
The Catholic Church in Hong Kong, led by Cardinal John
Tong, has come out with guidelines on the resumption of public masses and other
related services starting tomorrow, at the start of the observance of the Holy
Week.
But online masses will continue, along with online
observance of such Holy Week traditions like Station of the Cross, Veneration
of the Cross, Mass Vigil and Easter Mass.
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Fr Jay Flandez, chaplain for Filipinos in Hong Kong,
has come up with his own online schedule for services from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday.
According to the Church guidelines issued Wednesday through
the Chancery, the following shall be observed:
1. All parish churches
are allowed to resume public masses on weekdays and Sundays starting tomorrow,
Holy Thursday. During mass, the public may receive Holy Communion.
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2. Churches should be
well ventilated and seats disinfected regularly.
3. No more than 30% of
the church’s capacity should be filled.
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4. Before entering the
church compound, everyone must scan the “LeaveHomeSafe” venue QR code or to
record their names, contact numbers, and the date and time of their visits on
registration forms. The information collected will be kept for 31 days and will
be used solely for contact tracing purposes in case of an infection being
reported.
5. Everyone who enters
the church compound should put on a face mask, take body temperature and
cleanse their hands with sanitizer to be provided at the entrance. The use of
holy water at the church entrance should be suspended.
6. Ushers should see to
it that those inside the church maintain social-distancing.
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7. No liturgical booklets
or hymnals should be provided, and projectors may be used instead.
8. Sunday collections
should be taken up after mass, with one or several donation boxes provided.
9. The sign of peace
should be expressed by bowing heads, instead of shaking hands.
10. For the time being, the
host should be received only in cupped hands, which should be sanitized before receiving
Communion.
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11. No socializing will
be allowed after the mass, and all seats should be cleansed and disinfected
immediately.
12. If feasible, those
who are not able to join the mass inside the church may be allowed to take part
in an open, spacious area nearby through online, and receive Holy Communion.
13. Each parish may
arrange to give out Holy Communion to those who have attended Sunday Masses
online
14. Children, the elderly
or disabled and those who accompany them to mass may sit together.
15. Sunday mass remains
an obligation of every Catholic, but given the restrictions imposed amid the
pandemic, parishioners may (i) attend mass online and receive spiritual
Communion, or perform some acts of devotion such as reading the Bible or (ii) go
to weekday masses instead.
16. Sunday schools,
catechism classes, gatherings of lay associations and small-group meetings may
be resumed, provided all anti-pandemic precautionary measures are observed.
17. Having regard to
current gathering restrictions, parishes may make special arrangements for the
Holy Week Liturgy, in line with guidelines set by the Diocesan Liturgy
Commission.
The faithful can also watch online the Holy Week
Liturgy (by visiting diocesan website: www.catholic.org.hk and the facebook
link of Sunday Examiner https://www.facebook.com/Sunday-Examiner-609821205700415/
)
The following will also be observed from tomorrow:
On Holy Thursday, Cardinal Tong will officiate at the
Chism Mass, to be participated only by members of the Diocesan Curia and the
Deans who will distribute the newly consecrated holy oil to the affiliated
parishes.
On Good Friday, Catholics aged 14 years old and above
should abstain from meat. Those who are aged 18 to 59 years old are also
obliged to fast.
On Holy Saturday, all priests may administer
confirmation to adults or children who received baptism some time ago, provided
they have been properly instructed.
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