Covid-19 Mitigation Reminders (Jan. 10, 2022)
Covid-19 cases and other seasonal-related illnesses are rising rapidly in our communities and in our state and placing hardships on our healthcare systems and schools.
In an effort to help curtail and contain the spread of these illnesses, please take the following action steps with your parish community:
- Encourage vaccination including boosters;
- Encourage the wearing of face coverings at mass;
- Encourage parishioners who are not feeling well to stay home
Health and Safety Considerations (Jan. 10, 2022)
- All worshippers, age 2 and older and regardless of vaccination status are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings and to practice social distancing to protect themselves and others in churches. Because a parish community – and our society – requires mutual trust and a commitment to the common good, each individual is asked to take responsibility and make the best decisions to protect themselves as well as for others in the community. Parishes do not have the responsibility to verify who is and who is not vaccinated.
- All priests, deacons, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) are asked to continue to or reinstate the wearing of face coverings during the distribution of Holy Communion.
- Please remember the distribution of the Precious Blood is still prohibited at this time.
- Make sure hand sanitizer remains available at each entrance in ALL places where parishioners gather.
- Continue or reinstate reducing the number of “touching-points” as people enter by propping open doors or having a parish staff member and/or Minister of Hospitality open doors.
- Continue or reinstate reducing the number of “touching-points” during communal prayer and offering the Sign of Peace.
- Because of the minimal contagion on the surfaces of furniture and other hard surfaces, disinfecting between celebrations of Mass may not be necessary; however, those who wish to do so may continue or reinstate this practice.
- Any social celebrations and/or activities that involve food and beverage (e.g. coffee and doughnuts, funeral luncheons, group meals, youth ministry events, etc.) should follow any and ALL local health department guidance and those in attendance are encouraged to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status and practice social distancing.
- As previously published, parishes are reminded to – given the changing seasons and Michigan weather conditions – ensure all heating systems are operating properly and efficiently.
- Contact your local county health department on all public health and safety matters.
Dispensation and Returning to Mass- Message from Bishop Gruss
(updated 10/2/2020)
Dear Friends in Christ,
May the peace of Christ be with you.
With fall officially here, we enter another season which reminds us how much our lives and ministries have been impacted and changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of our students have returned to school under strict guidelines. Parishes have welcomed back young people to faith formation classes, kicked off parish programs and are engaging in service and outreach projects and events, also under new guidelines. These initiatives look and will be experienced differently this year, just as our Masses are experienced differently in following our Liturgical Guidelines and Protocols for Resumption of Public Masses.
Bishop Gruss: We are not in this Alone (produced 2020)
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Helpful Links
Saginaw County Health Department Coronavirus Info
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Coronavirus Info
Pope asks Mary to Intercede Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Please know that Diocese of Saginaw has been, and will continue to, monitor news concerning the coronavirus. We are preparing for any potential impact on our parishes, schools and other ministries, and will follow any recommendations from local, state and federal officials.
We will continue to update this page with new information and resources as they become available.