Guidelines for a Funeral Mass During COVID-19
Dear Parishioners & Guests:
Our Pastoral Staff warmly welcomes you, your family, and friends to celebrate this Funeral Mass at St. Thomas of Villanova. We are privileged to have you as our guests on this emotional occasion.
This outline of procedures is provided for everyone attending to have clear expectations, so your Mass is meaningful and consoling and at the same time makes everyone comfortable for their health and safety. Please share this information with all who plan to attend with you.
We appreciate your kind understanding and patience as you please follow these guidelines:
Arrangements
Arrival
During the Mass
Departure
Thank you for your attention and cooperation! Again, we are pleased to have all of you with us.
Blessings,
The STV Pastoral Staff and Parish Reopening Team
Our Pastoral Staff warmly welcomes you, your family, and friends to celebrate this Funeral Mass at St. Thomas of Villanova. We are privileged to have you as our guests on this emotional occasion.
This outline of procedures is provided for everyone attending to have clear expectations, so your Mass is meaningful and consoling and at the same time makes everyone comfortable for their health and safety. Please share this information with all who plan to attend with you.
We appreciate your kind understanding and patience as you please follow these guidelines:
Arrangements
- Maximum of 75 people may attend – not counting the Priest (and Deacon).
- You will coordinate plan with a Priest or Bereavement Minister, with a standard set of readings, songs, & petitions.
- Provide name and contact information for each attendee (form provided; required for contact tracing). Return completed list 48 hours in advance (to designated email).
- Only people on that list may attend; we are not able to allow walk-ins.
Arrival
- If any expected attendee is not feeling well, has a fever, or has been exposed to COVID-19 in the prior 14 days, we ask that they not attend.
- Each attendee please bring their own face mask (unless under age 2).
- Park in the main (south) parking lot, enter only through double doors (sign marked “Enter Only”). Doors open 20 minutes prior to start and close 5 minutes after the start.
- At all times, wear masks over mouth & nose and observe 6-foot social distancing marked on floors.
- Each person will be checked in by a Greeter and asked to sanitize hands.
- Greeter will escort each person/family to a particular seat/pew.
- If there is a Casket: it will be placed at the altar by funeral home staff. If an Urn for cremation ashes: family may place it and a photo of the deceased on table near altar. No flowers, other photos, or booklets.
During the Mass
- Each person must remain in assigned seat and keep mask on over mouth & nose throughout Mass.
- Priest/Deacon will do readings & petitions; also will sanitize his hands and wear face shield during Communion.
- For Holy Communion, attendees will be ushered pew-by-pew by a Greeter, with some instructions from the Priest/Deacon.
- We are not able to allow a eulogy at Mass (may be done at Visitation/Wake Service).
Departure
- Greeter will dismiss all attendees, one pew at a time, through the designated exit.
- Kindly refrain from gathering or visiting inside Church.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation! Again, we are pleased to have all of you with us.
Blessings,
The STV Pastoral Staff and Parish Reopening Team