TO ALL PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS WORKING IN
THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LAGOS, AND THE LAY
FAITHFUL
Dear Msgri. /Frs., Brothers and Sisters in the
Lord,
GUIDELINES TOWARDS THE GRADUAL
RESTORATION OF PUBLIC MASSES AND
CELEBRATION OF OTHER SACRAMENTS
There is no doubt that the effects of the COVID-19
pandemic are still very much with us. Day by day,
we continue to receive news of increase in the
number of infected persons and deaths from
complications arising from infections with the
virus. However, as government and the people
continue in their efforts to curtail the spread of the
virus, it has become necessary to move on with
our lives while trying our best to remain safe and
healthy.
As Catholics, we maintain that celebration of the
Sacraments and other acts of worship are not just
important for our overall well-being as Catholic
Christians, they are also an integral part of our
lives that we cannot do without. The COVID-19
pandemic has affected everything, even our
liturgical worship. We have been forced to
participate in Masses via the television and on the
internet. However, visual worship cannot
substitute worship in physical presence.
We have been in dialogue with other Christians on
the one hand and with government on the other
hand. From these engagements, we have
indications that the restrictions imposed in the
wake of COVID-19 would be lifted soon. It has
therefore become necessary that we give the
following Guidelines as we implement a gradual
restoration of public Mass in our Archdiocese:
- Requirements of Churches and Places of
Worship.
a. Church premises and environment must be
clean at all times
b. Parishes should ensure well ventilated spaces
for worship at all times.
c. Hand washing facilities i.e. running water and
soap at the entry point and strategic places within
the church premises.
d. Hand Sanitizers must be provided at major
entrances to Church premises.
e. Proper refuse bins should be put in place within
church premises and the surrounding so that
people can properly dispose tissue paper/face
mask.
f. Parishes should have designated points for
entry and exit clearly designated.
g. Trained personnel are to check body
temperature at entry points.
h. Hygiene personnel to disinfect chairs, door
handles and surface arears in the church at
regular intervals.
i. Arrangement/demarcation of pews to
accommodate physical distancing of 2meters/6
feet in front, beside and behind worshippers.
j. We have advocated that the size of the Church
and the compliance with the 2meters distancing in
front, beside and behind each worshipper should
determine the number of worshippers to be
present at each Mass. However, we await
government announcement to determine the
number that would be gathered at any single
celebration. - Procedures and Protocols
a. Anyone coming into the church premises must
wear a face mask.
b. Anyone coming into the church premises must
submit to body temperature check.
c. After the temperature check at the gate,
parishioners should sanitize their hands before
entering the church premises
d. Attendance at Mass should be strictly under the
direction and supervision of the Parish Priest who
must ensure that there is a record of Parishioners
that attend each Mass. This he can ensure either
through the use of the Parish Database in
determining those who attend or through
decisions on who comes from the Small Christian
Communities. Or else, leaders of Associations of
Lay faithful may be directed to form their
members into groups to determine those that
would attend which of the Masses on different
Sundays. Parishes should use whichever
procedure suits their situations as long as they
ensure that they keep to the numbers and keep a
list of names and information on those at each
Mass.
e. Public Masses are to be celebrated on
SUNDAYS ONLY for now and between 7am and
3pm in order to ensure that people do not break
the curfew. Priests are strongly encouraged to
maximize this period to make more Masses
available for the faithful.
f. The following categories of persons who are
generally recognized as being more vulnerable to
infection are dispensed from their obligation to
attend Sunday Mass. They are therefore
STRONGLY ADVISED TO STAY AT HOME:
i. The elderly, above 70 years,
ii. Children below 10 years
iii. Nursing mothers
iv. Those who feel sick
v. Those who don’t feel safe or comfortable
enough to gather in a crowd even with the
precautions we have put in place. - Particular Liturgical Practices and Actions
a. Only Priests should celebrate Mass without
wearing masks. Other liturgical ministers on the
Sanctuary should wear face masks.
b. Where processions are to be made, the shortest
possible route is to be used and they should be
with the ministers in a single file with the required
physical distance maintained.
c. The number of Ministers on the sanctuary
should be reduced to the barest minimum. A lector
and two Mass servers at most is recommended.
d. There should be minimal contact between the
ministers on the sanctuary; their sitting positions
should be arranged bearing the required physical
distance in mind.
e. Proper hygiene should be observed in the use
of the microphone. Where possible, more
microphones should be used by each minister.
f. ALL offertory collections (1st, 2nd and
Thanksgiving) should be taken up only and ONLY
AFTER Holy Communion. This is to ensure that
the faithful whose hands have been sanitized
would have received Holy Communion on their
palms before touching money again with their
hands.
g. For offertory collections, offertory baskets or
collection bags with a long handle should be used,
with physical distance always maintained.
Alternatively, parishioners may go to the front of
the sanctuary to give their offerings while
maintaining physical distance.
h. There would be no offertory procession. The
gifts for the Eucharist should be left on the
Credence Table from where Altar Servers would
bring them to the Priest for preparation.
i. The Sign of Peace is to be omitted.
j. The Extra-ordinary ministers of the Holy
Communion should sanitize their hands before
consecration.
k. Whenever there is a Concelebration, provision
should be made for an additional chalice separate
from the one from which the Chief Celebrant
receives the sacred specie. Other priests would
receive communion by intinction such that only
the last of the concelebrants receive directly from
the chalice.
l. The Ciborium containing the small hosts for the
distribution of Holy Communion should remain
covered during consecration. The same thing
should be done when there is more than one
chalice for consecration.
m. Those to receive communion are to come
forward to the foot of the Sanctuary while
maintaining physical distance.
n. Holy Communion should be received directly on
the palm of the hand; no hand gloves.
o. Holy Communion should be given without the
words since face masks will not be worn.
p. Thanksgivings should be earlier arranged with
the Parish Priest, with due consideration for the
required physical distancing.
q. Liturgical ministers other than priests may not
use liturgical vestments. However, they should be
dressed in regular clothes proper and befitting of
liturgical worship.
r. The use of the Holy Water font remains
suspended
Live-streamed Liturgies: we encourage parishes
to continue the live streaming of Masses in order
to provide for those mentioned in 2f above.
Other Sacraments and Pastoral Activities - Penance/Reconciliation
As restrictions are further lifted, the Sacrament of
Penance should be scheduled, taking into account
the number of individuals permitted to gather.
Confessions are not to be heard in small spaces
(e.g., traditional confessionals, reconciliation
rooms, etc.). A big space which allows for
required physical distancing, privacy and above
all the maintenance of the dignity of the
Sacrament is to be adopted for use. Those
mentioned in 2f above may come to the church or
parish office outside the scheduled times for
confessions.
Priests are allowed to hear confessions under the
following conditions:
Priest and penitent wear face mask
Both maintain physical distance.
The sacredness of the sacrament is not to be
compromised. - Pastoral Care for the Sick and Dying
Priests are encouraged to continue to pastorally
care for the sick, the elderly and those who
cannot attend mass. Care for the Sick and Elderly
which includes Communion, Anointing of the Sick,
and Penance, may be celebrated for those in need
at the discretion of the priest. In such situations,
priests should ensure the following:
that both Priest and recipient wear face masks
they observe the required physical distancing
while administering the Sacrament of Anointing of
the sick.
Anointing will be done using a piece of cotton
wool.
Use of hand sanitizer before and after the
sacrament - Baptism
When restrictions have been relaxed further, the
Sacrament of Baptism may once again be
administered, taking into account the number of
individuals permitted to gather while observing the
required physical distance. Baptism may be
celebrated given the following conditions:
Those to be baptized do not exceed a
maximum number of 10 candidates, each
accompanied by both parents and one sponsor
only.
Anointing should be carried out using cotton
wool, a fresh cotton wool should be used to anoint
each candidate; the priests sanitizes his hands
immediately afterwards.
The Rite of Laying of Hands should be carried
out without physical contact.
The Rite of Ephatha may be carried out without
physical contact. - Marriage
On the condition of further easing of restrictions,
the Sacrament of Marriage may be administered
taking into account the number of individuals
permitted for gathering, while observing physical
distance except for the couple for whom physical
nearness is inevitable. - Funerals
Funerals may take place in compliance with the
number of individuals permitted to gather while
observing physical distance. In this case, the
following conditions should be observed:
Rite of Reception at the Entrance of the Church:
the number of family members should be limited
to a maximum of 5 members while maintaining
the expected physical distance.
At the graveside: the number of people at the
interment should not exceed, the maximum
number of persons required at social/religious
gathering. Physical distance and standard
hygiene practices should be strictly adhered to.
My dear brothers and sisters, these are indeed
unusual times for the whole world and the
presence of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced
us to adopt modifications in our way of worship.
These Guidelines have been provided in
accordance with recommended safety
precautions in order to keep us safe as we begin
the celebration of public Masses again. We
strongly encourage all Priests, Religious and the
Lay Faithful of our Archdiocese to carefully study
and implement these Guidelines. We must all
keep in mind our obligation to protect ourselves
and the faithful entrusted to our care as well as all
our loved ones. We shall monitor the situation of
things as they develop and review these
Guidelines according to the developments and as
needs arise. May God keep us safe and command
this virus to depart from our world.
Finally, we cannot over-emphasise the fact that
these modifications are temporary and their use
is strictly for this period alone. We must not get
so used to them that we begin to see them as
normal. Therefore, if there are so-called new
normal situations, they do not pertain to the core
of the teachings and rites of celebrating the liturgy
even if they have been modified for the moment.
Physical presence at Mass, reception of Holy
Communion as prescribed as well as other
practices remain the ordinary ways and the
present practices are extra-ordinary. May the
Lord strengthen our faith and keep our feet on the
path of life eternal.
(signed)
+Alfred Adewale MARTINS
Archbishop, Metropolitan See of Lagos
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