Our Response to the COVID-19 Virus Threat

September 30, 2020

Revised COVID-19 Prevention Mass and Sacramental Procedures for St. Joseph Parish

Introduction

Since the Parish resumed providing Sacramentals after the March, 2020, shut down, we have relied heavily on the use of open air environments and social distancing to not only prevent the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), but to also ease the anxiety of catching the disease from and by those participating. To date we are incident free, due in no small part to the near 100% compliance by our worshipers. However, with weather trending toward inclement, we feel it is time to modify some of our practices while reminding everyone of the safety procedures which we are to follow to meet our goal of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Hand Sanitizer

The best information available about the transmission of the COVID-19 is that it primarily takes place when mucus droplets containing the virus are dispersed by an infected person, either directly onto someone’s eyes, nose, or mouth, or onto a surface which someone touches before touching their own eyes, nose, or mouth. It is for this reason that the three preventative measures everyone should follow are wearing a mask, avoiding touching their face, and cleaning their hands thoroughly and often. 

To aid in the final task, hand sanitizer dispensers are positioned at all of the exits from the Church, as well as the entrances to Father Miller Hall, Father Blake Hall, and the Church School Building. Our recommendation is that before entering our buildings, individuals put on masks, then apply hand sanitizer immediately after entering the building. When departing we recommend the reverse procedure of applying hand sanitizer, then removing face masks after leaving the building.     

Masks

By State and Diocese order, those entering our Church and other buildings belonging to the Parish need to wear a face covering mask. We’ve recently had several questions about what constitutes a mask, and for the purpose of our safety plan, we rely on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definition.

To summarize, a mask must have at least two layers of fabric, be fastened across the top of the nose and underneath the chin, and worn so as to cover the primary sources of nasal mucus droplets, which are the nose and mouth. To emphasize, if we can see your lips or nostrils, you are not wearing your mask properly! By this definition, a bandanna style cloth tied behind the head does not meet the definition of a mask. Currently the CDC is evaluating gator-style cloth coverings for their effectiveness but does not yet consider them appropriate for use as a mask to prevent the spread of the Novel Coronavirus.   

Confessional

There is very little guidance from the Diocese, and even less from the State, regarding guidelines for where to hear Confessions. Best practice to prevent the spread of disease is to have a location with adequate ventilation. Currently the Vestibule of the Church is being used. This location was chosen because of its size and ample ventilation provided when all the doors are propped open. Along with the cloth privacy divider in use, and both the Priest and Penitent wearing masks, there exist several layers of protection. With the change in the weather, leaving the vestibule doors open will no longer be practical and confessions will once again be heard inside of the existing Church confessional.. 

The existing confessional is now updated with several features meant to similarly provide layers of protection needed for the close contact of the confessional. First, an exhaust fan is installed in the confessional ceiling which will produce negative pressure and constantly draw fresh air into the confessional. Second, an acrylic screen is installed over the existing wood screen positioned between the Priest and the Penitent. This will divert not only droplets but deflect air flow between the sides of the confessional. Because the acrylic shield also reduces sound transmission, the third improvement is a two way intercom installed to help both parties to be able to hear each other without raising their voices. The fourth and final improvement is the addition of acoustic foam panels on the walls of the confessional. This is not an improvement for safety, but for privacy and will reduce the transmission of sound into the Church. As an aside, the cushion on the kneeler is also freshly laundered. A hand sanitizer is placed outside of the confessional and the Penitent are asked to apply sanitizer before entering and after leaving the confessional.  

Entering and Exiting the Church

Our volunteers have taken wonderful care of the Church, spraying down the pews, door, and restrooms with the CDC specified 1000ppm diluted bleach solution after each Mass. Doing this makes sure that before the next service takes place, any bacteria or viruses left behind are addressed. This practice will continue as long as the threat from COVID-19 continues, and to make sure it can be done in a timely and effective manner, we need to vacate the Church in a timely manner. This is accomplished by having worshipers enter from the West doors (those closest to the parking lot) and exiting through the East doors (those closest to Main Street/Route 12). Those wanting private prayer time in the Church should utilize the time before Mass. We discourage worshipers from lingering inside of the Church to catch up with each other. That can be done outside while disinfection takes place. 

Currently at the conclusion of Mass, the Priest and Deacon distribute the Eucharist to those celebrating the Mass in the parking lot who come to the West Church doors, and to those with accessibility issues who park in the courtyard on the North side of the Church. There is no plan to terminate the radio simulcast of the Mass broadcast to our parking lot. In consideration of the weather turning colder, we want to reduce the distance those participating in their cars need to walk while providing the Priest and Deacons a warm, enclosed place to distribute the Eucharist. 

Starting on October 17, 2020, the Priest will no longer be distributing the Eucharist after Mass. Instead, he will process to the back of the Church after Mass to make sure the exit process takes place smoothly while the Deacon distributes the Eucharist to the parking lot participants from the entrance vestibule to the Church School, which is located closer to the Parking Lot. The vestibule is large enough for recipients to enter through one door, then exit through the other. Those with accessibility issues in their cars on the North side of the Church will be the last to receive the Sacrament. They will be able to stay warm in their cars while the Priest or Deacon have a chance to dress warmly for the walk outside.

Overflow Seating

By Diocese instruction, our Church capacity is limited to a maximum 30% of rated capacity to allow for proper social distancing. The layout and dimension of our seating further reduces our available seating capacity to just 54 individual seats, which are marked by blue crosses. Members from the same household may sit closer to each other which increases our capacity to just over 70. We anticipate that the cold weather may compel more worshipers to come into the Church. There is also a possibility that the Bishop will rescind the dispensation from attending Mass for the Diocese, and the upcoming Christmas Season may also push our seating capacity to its limits. To meet the need for additional seating, modifications will soon be made to Father Blake Hall, the room below the Church. 

Currently the audio from the Church sound system is available to Father Blake Hall. There used to be a video camera in the choir loft which provided a signal to the TV in Father Blake Hall. Old timers remember that when that camera was installed, it had a tendency to break down if left powered up. A recent test of that camera revealed that it was not working. Even when it was working, it’s position provided very little detail of what was happening on the altar. 

A new camera will soon be installed at a location much closer to the altar, which will be paired with a larger TV which was just donated by a parishioner. Using the existing sound system and new camera and display, Father Blake hall will be set up for overflow Mass seating, which, with appropriate social distancing, should more than double our seating capacity. 

Religious Education

In coordination with Lisa Sachs, the St. Joseph Director of Religious Education, a separate safety plan for the Religious Education Program was developed, allowing for a hybrid teaching model with primary focus on in person learning. The first provision of the safety plan is changing the times of classes to make them shorter, thereby limiting contact time between students. The beginning of classes are also pushed back to 9:15am which will allow for after Mass communion distribution at the school entrance along Liberty Street to conclude before students utilize the same entrance to come to class. 

There will be someone at the school entrance taking temperatures of those entering the building. The CDC lists fever as one criterion for screening for COVID-19 and considers a person to have a fever if their temperature registers 100.4 or higher. Any student or teacher registering a fever at or above this benchmark will be denied entry. 

Teachers and students will also be required to wear masks for the entire time they are inside of the building. Each teaching area will be equipped with hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Class will terminate at 10:15 am. Exit from the school will be through the North entrance to avoid close contact between the students and those arriving for the 10:30 am Mass. Parents should meet their children along Commercial Street.

Conclusion

These new and restated measures outlined above represent the best management practices, developed with Federal, State, Local, and Diocesan guidance, and adapted based on Parish specific infrastructure and observed needs. Implementation of new or revised measures will take place beginning in October and should be fully implemented by Saturday, October 17, 2020. Staff and volunteers will observe effectiveness of all measures and alert the Compliance Officer of suggested modifications or observed conflicts.     

Prepared by: Edward Varga PE

St. Joseph Parish Coronavirus Prevention Compliance Officer

Approved by: Rev. Monsignor Martin Heinz

St. Joseph Parish Pastor

 
 
June 9, 2020
The Inaugural Parking Lot Masses, the return to public Mass at St. Joseph, took place over two weekends allowing those in attendance to communicate their willingness to once again return to church for Mass. June 8, 2020, marked the resumption of Daily Mass for worshipers in the church.
 
We want to thank everyone we've seen at daily Mass for how tolerant they've been with the new rules in place about signing in, wearing masks, and sitting in specific places. In the days to come we're sure to see more people coming to Mass, especially on the weekend. More people means more seating challenges, which is why we've come up with some illustrations showing how different groups of people can sit in the pews and what is expected during Mass.

We ask that when you arrive, enter the church through the western door along Liberty Street, or the western door by the handicapped parking along the north side of the church. The western doors are those closest to the Altar.

Hand sanitizer is available throughout the church if you need to disinfect your hands. Please make sure to keep your mask secured over your mouth and nose, and avoid touching your face.

After you arrive, check in with the Usher who will verify that you are registered for the Mass. Only those with advanced registration will be allowed inside of the Church for the purpose of Contact Tracing. If you have a collection envelope, please drop it into the collection stands at the front of the church or the basket in the rear of the church. After you are checked in, please find a seat.

The most important guideline in seating is to make sure you put distance between yourself and other people who don't live in the same household. Those sitting alone should sit at a place marked with a blue cross. Those sitting in groups should sit closer to an aisle beginning in a place marked with a blue cross. If your group extends from the aisle seat to a space beyond the center blue cross in the pew, no one else from a different group may sit in that pew.

To avoid prolonged exposure to each other during communion, the entire pew will need to stand and move together into the aisle to prevent close contact between persons. Ushers will not be standing in the aisle for the same reason. If you are not receiving communion we ask that you still come forward with arms crossed over your chest indicating to the priest or deacon that you will receive a contact-less blessing instead. In this way everyone will be able to return to the pew in the same order and sit in the same place as before.

Since some people will be listening to Mass in their cars and will come to the western doors on the north and south sides of the Church, after Mass concludes we ask that you exit through the eastern doors near Main Street when you depart.

If you are sick, or have been around someone who is sick, stay home.


May 29, 2020 
With the planned resumption of Masses at St. Joseph Catholic Church, and based upon guidance from the IDPH and Rockford Diocese, we have implemented the use of a low-power FM transmitter so Congregants may remain in their cars while Mass is being Celebrated inside of the Church and listen to the Mass as it is being said. So that congregants may follow along, our Music Director developed a Mini-Hymnal which can be passed out and disposed of after Mass. That Mini-Hymnal can be downloaded here. 

May 16, 2020 
The Diocese of Rockford in conjunction with the Catholic Bishops of Illinois have released guidelines for the resumption of Public Mass. In the coming days our parish will be developing a plan to respond to those requirements and will inform Parishioners with information as appropriate. For now we will continue with programs already in place.

May 12, 2020 
At this point there are no new instructions or guidelines from the Rockford Diocese with regard to Sacramental Mass resuming. There are, however, compliments for all of the Parishes which have implemented unique and innovative methods to reach out to the faithful. We are always looking to receive feedback from our faith community as to more ways that we can stay connected to the Lord spiritually during this time of isolation. Feel free to reach out via email or Facebook.
 
Currently Monsignor Heinz reminds you to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet twice daily along with praying the Rosary. Additional recommendations can be found on the Home Page of our website. We also offer Confession by Car on Saturday afternoons from 3:30p-4:30p in our parking lot. The Sunday 9:00a Mass is Live-Streamed via Facebook. The Blessed Sacrament is on display 24 hours-a-day in our Park & Pray area along Commercial Street. At 3:00p on Sunday afternoons, Deacon Norm leads us in the Divine Mercy Chaplet at the Park & Pray area. And the Church is open for Private Prayer from 10a-noon on Sundays.
 
Our Disinfection Protocols remain in place within the Church Building. Before and after the Church is opened for Private Prayer, the seating areas and door handles are sprayed with a CDC recommended virus killing solution. Hand sanitizer is available at each exit from the building. We also ask that visitors wear face covering and observe social distancing as appropriate. 
 
Our plans for the future look to a day when restrictions will be eased by our State Governor and our Bishop. Our first step in returning to Sacramental Mass will be Drive-in services in our parking lot. Staff and volunteers are working hard to construct a temporary platform and upgrade our audio system with an FM transmitter so Mass can be heard in people's cars.  Vehicles will also be spaced out so the Eucharist can be administered to each vehicle with appropriate social distancing. 
 
April 13, 2020
This is an update regarding our status as a Parish and a Diocese as we move forward after Easter Sunday.
 
St. Joseph Catholic Church realizes the important role we play in the Faith Lives of our community, and to that end will continue to provide whatever services it can during the COVID-19 Isolation, especially in light of our inability to meet in person with the sacraments.
 
Of primary importance is conveying a message from the Bishop regarding dispensation from Sunday Mass obligation. Such dispensation was granted in a letter dated April 9, 2020 and continues until, "circumstances allow for the lifting of the suspension of public Masses in the Diocese of Rockford." On the home page of our website you can find the recommended alternatives to weekly mass and confession which can be practiced during this time.
 
To allow for a closer connection with the Eucharist, we are offering Park & Pray. The Blessed Sacrament is on display 24 hours a day in a window of our School Building visible from our west parking lot. The window is marked by white bunting. We encourage you to take time in front of the sacrament while remaining in your car and praying for your intentions. Monsignor Heinz asks for two Divine Mercy Chaplets a day offered for a cure to the Coronavirus epidemic. Park & Pray provides for an excellent opportunity to do just that. 
 
The Church will be open from 9:00am-3:00pm every Sunday for Private Prayer. We ask that no more than 9 people utilize the Church in this way at any given time, and that appropriate social distancing be maintained at all times. 
 
For those desiring a complete act of Reconciliation, Monsignor Heinz will offer Confession By Car on Saturday afternoons from 3:30-4:30pm. He will remain in his car and those wishing to confess will pull along side. 
 
Should there be a need for an emergency anointing of the sick, please call (815)678-7421 and leave a message for Monsignor Heinz. As the Parish Office is closed for the duration of this crisis, only messages for anointing will be returned. In the mean time, prayer requests, mass intentions and such can be emailed to saintjosephchurch@gmail.com. 
 

April 7, 2020

Easter Prayer Procedures during the COVID-19 Isolation

In determining the best way to allow parishioners to utilize St. Joseph Catholic Church for times of private prayer, St. Joseph Catholic Church Staff developed the following plan utilizing provisions outlined in the “Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines for Faith-Based Facilities & Houses of Worship.” A portion of those guidelines most important to our plan follows:

Preventative Actions to eliminate the spread of COVID-19

  • The Governor has ordered that all public and private gatherings of 10 people or more are prohibited for the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation. This includes faith-based events.
  • Switch to and use disinfectant products that have been pre-approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use against emerging viral pathogens.
  • Disinfectants should be applied during routine cleaning all facility spaces.
  • Public spaces need to be cleaned frequently. If possible, provide disposable disinfectant wipes to disinfect surfaces. High touch areas should also be cleaned with disinfectant.

First and foremost, our advice to any visitor who does not want to become ill by visiting St. Joseph Catholic Church is for them to stay home. However, for those wishing to pray at this very important time in our Liturgical year, we offer the following options.

Park and Pray

A religious display with the Holy Eucharist which overlooks our east parking lot is visible in the west windows of our school building. We encourage all to park and remain in their cars as they pray and worship privately. This option will be made available throughout the required Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation isolation period, except for the period beginning midnight on Thursday, April9, 2020 until 8:00am on Sunday, April 12, 2020.

Private Prayer in Church

For those who wish to be inside of the Church for their prayer time, the option is made available for limited times with the following provisions.

  • At no time will more than 9 people be allowed inside of the worship space.
  • Volunteers will be on hand to assure that proper social distancing will be practiced.
  • At regular intervals all door handles, interior and exterior, will be wiped down with an EPA approved disinfecting solution. If, because of high demand no such solution is available, a CDC recommended bleach-water solution of 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water will be utilized.
  • Hand Sanitizer will be made available for those praying to utilize.
  • Signs will be posted on all doors indicating the need for social distancing and maximum number of occupants allowed inside.

During the hours the Church is open for private prayer, a member of the church staff who is an Illinois Licensed Professional Engineer and former McHenry County Board of Health President will be on hand to make sure these practices are followed and to address any situations which arise.

 


April 2, 2020
The prevention of the spread of the Novel Corona Virus remains paramount as we approach Holy Week. Revised instructions from the Governor of the State of Illinois have extended the stay-in-place order to at least May 1, 2020. We expect that the Bishop of our Diocese will likewise follow suit. Although we are disappointed to not be able to celebrate Easter publicly, know that we remain a parish family, albeit at a distance. Currently the Blessed Sacrament is on display in one of the Religious Education classrooms and will remain so 24 hours a day until midnight on Holy Thursday. We are pleased so see so many people taking this opportunity to venerate our Lord while maintaining social distance. The Blessing of the Palms will take place on Sunday but the Bishop has instructed the Clergy not to distribute them at this time. St. Joseph Church will be open from 10:00a to 12:00p for prayer. This is the first time the Church will be opened to the public so please maintain distance and if you are feeling at all unwell, please do not enter. We continue to send mailers out to parishioners with more information. Links to our Facebook page can be found on this website homepage, as well as links to our parish registration form. 
 

URGENT UPDATE: March 20, 2020, 4:45p
 
With the new shelter in place rules instituted by the Governor of the State of Illinois, the Church is compelled to obey this mandate. Therefore, no public celebration of Daily or Sunday mass will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Church through, and including, Holy Week and Easter Sunday, minimally. Any further celebrations of the sacraments such as confessions and all other devotions are abrogated. This includes the events planned for March 21 and 22, 2020.
 
The parish office will be closed at this time. Should an emergency need for anointing of the sick be required, call 815-678-7421 and leave a message.
 
We advise parishioners to check the Facebook page, Parish Website, and Flocknotes for additional updates.
 
In lieu of confessions, each person is asked to make an act of contrition after examining their conscience and saying five Hail Mary’s as a penance. Be sure to pray your divine mercy chaplet using your rosary and read the scriptures together Sunday in lieu of Mass.
 
Yours in Christ,
 
Monsignor Martin Heinz