COVID-19 Pandemic in the Diocese

May 18, 2022
 
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
 
The great feast of Pentecost celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into the life of the  Church through the Apostles, the disciples, and with Mary, the mother of our Lord, who were gathered in the upper room “constantly devoting themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:12-14). This gathering for worship is necessary for our identity as disciples of Christ.
 
In March of 2020, the Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories issued in their respective dioceses a dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation to provide the faithful the freedom to choose and not be obligated to participate in large liturgical gatherings and thus to reduce the spread of COVID-19 during the time of the global pandemic.
 
Now, at this stage where the necessity for health and safety restrictions has been relaxed, a return to in-person gatherings on Sundays as a worshipping community is necessary for our continued spiritual nourishment and growth. Therefore, the Bishops of Alberta and Northwest Territories in their respective dioceses will be lifting the dispensation on Pentecost Sunday, June 5, 2022.
 
While acknowledging the continuing presence of COVID-19 in our midst, the decree restoring the Sunday obligation will continue to provide the exemption for those who are ill, vulnerable and those providing direct care for them, and those who cannot attend Mass because of frailty or old age.
 
Our sacred duty to worship God on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation orients our personal freedom to the worship and service of God. May the feast of Pentecost inspire us to constantly devote ourselves to prayer especially in the highest form of our worship of God in the celebration of the Sunday Eucharist.
 
Sincerely yours in Christ,

✠ William T. McGrattan
Bishop of Calgary

During this time of transition in the Province’s easing of health and safety restrictions, we are all asked to exercise respect, charity, and kindness with one another and to be conscious of the varying comfort levels of people especially in the following areas.

• The wearing of masks is no longer required by the Province but people are free to continue the use of facemasks if they choose to. This applies to everyone including the clergy and to anyone serving in a liturgical capacity.
  • Note: It is possible that some municipalities may have a municipal face covering bylaw or any other health and safety measure that is not in alignment with the approach of the province. Please check with your municipality when in doubt.
• There has been no mention of physical distancing in Step 2, in order to respect people’s personal space and comfort level, however, it would be a prudent practise to allow for some distance between people of different households.
  • At this time, for the sign of peace, we are asked to exchange peace with those outside of our household with a bow or a nod and not by a handshake.
  • In social settings, it would be charitable not to presume that others are comfortable to shake hands or to hug.
• People who have symptoms not related to a pre-existing condition should avoid going to the church or being in public as a courtesy to others.
• We are all encouraged to observe proper hand hygiene by sanitizing our hands at any of the sanitizer stations in the church or by washing our hands regularly with soap and water.
• We are encouraged to observe respiratory etiquette, such as coughing or sneezing into a bent elbow and the prompt disposal of any used tissues in trash cans.
• Access the complete details on the Step 2 implementation of the Government of Alberta. 

In Step 2, we are grateful that congregational singing may now resume in the Diocese.
 
We take this opportunity to thank all of you for your cooperation in observing the health and safety restrictions for almost two years now. At this time, we pace our walk together toward the easing of these restrictions with a lot of care and concern for the good of everyone.

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Step 2 - Liturgical Guidelines

Liturgical Music Ministry

• Congregational singing is allowed.
  • The use of hymnbooks may resume.
• Choirs may resume their ministry
  • The use of a cantor/cantors without a choir remains a valid option.
  • Parishes are able to decide the size of the choir for their church.

Sunday Collection

• Parishes have the ability to decide whether to continue with the current practice of having the collection baskets/boxes near the entrance of the nave or to resume the passing of the collection baskets.
• Parishes that have collection baskets with the long handles are also permitted to have ushers use them in the collection.
• Any of the approved second collection will be collected in the same manner as the Sunday collection.
  
  

Presentation of the Gifts

• Parishes have the ability to decide whether to continue with the current practise of having the hosts and wine placed on a credence table in the sanctuary prior to Mass or to resume the offertory procession for the presentation of the gifts of the hosts, wine, and the Sunday collection.
  
  

Sign of Peace

• At this time, the congregation is asked to exchange peace with people outside of their household with a bow and not by a handshake.
  
  

Holy Communion

• Hand sanitizer should be made available at the credence table and near communion lines.
• Priests who are celebrating and concelebrating must receive both the Body and Blood at every Mass.
• Deacons, servers, lay ministers, and the faithful receive only under one species – the consecrated host.
• Children celebrating First Communion will also only receive under one species – the consecrated host.

Concelebration

• Concelebrants are allowed to receive Holy Communion by self-intinction from the celebrant’s chalice. At this time, only the celebrant partakes of the Precious Blood from the chalice.

Funeral Receptions, Parish Social Gatherings, and Private Functions

• Funeral receptions, parish social gatherings, and private functions may now resume in parish halls.
  • It is recommended for Step 2 that food and beverages be served at food/beverage stations at funeral receptions and parish social gatherings to avoid commonly touched items and surfaces. 
  • It is also recommended for Step 2 that servers serving at funeral receptions and parish social gatherings wear face masks when serving food

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• ​Download Decree - Restoration of the Sunday Mass Obligation - Effective June 5, 2022
• ​Download Decree - Dispensation from Sunday Obligation
• Pastoral Letter from Bishop McGrattan on exemption from COVID-19 vaccination (Sep. 22)
• Letters from the AB & NWT Bishops about Covid-19 Vaccine ​English | French
  • CCCB Statement on ethical concerns related to currently approved COVID-19 vaccines (March 9, 2021) 
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Q&A from Calgary Catholic Medical Association (March 17, 2021)
  • ​Statement from Pro-Life Catholic Scholars on the Moral Acceptability of Receiving COVID-19 Vaccines (March 5, 2021)
• ​They Still Bring Forth Fruit in Old Age: A Lesson on Caring in the Midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic. A Message by the Executive Committee of the CCCB ​​

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COVID-19 Updates

• COVID-19 Info for Albertans - Current Situation 
• Updates from the Chief Medical Officer
• ​Alberta Biz Connect 
• Call 211 for community and social services help line (for basic needs, financial support, food, housing information, etc.)
• Call 811 for Health Link 
• Centres for Disease Control and Prevention​​

For your 
​Mental Health

• Calgary Counselling Centre: 403-691-5991 + online counselling
• Catholic Family Service: 403-205-5295.  Rapid Access Counselling: 403-233-2360 or email intake@cfs-ab.org
• Distress Centre: 403-266-4357  - available 24/7. 
• Eastside Family Centre: 403-299-9696 - telephone and e-therapy. 
• Kid’s Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
• Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642  
• Access Mental Health: 403-943-1500​