Masks

• Masks are NOT required for vaccinated persons.
• Masks are recommended by public health authorities for unvaccinated indoors, particularly in crowded venues.

Hand Sanitizing

• Hand sanitizer will remain available.

Masses and Liturgies

• All forms of sacramental and liturgical ministry may resume normal practice with a few minor exceptions noted below.
• Registration is no longer required.
• Proof of vaccination is not required for attendance at any liturgies or services.
• Choirs, congregational signing, oral responses, use of worship aids, envelopes and bulletins may be fully resumed.
• The Sign of Peace may be restored. Please make the Sign of Peace in whatever way you are most comfortable with.
• Reception of Holy Communion:
• Receiving Holy Communion in the hand no longer requires extra hand sanitizing on the part of the Communicant. However, the priest and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should continue to sanitize their hands prior to distributing Communion.
• Receiving Holy Communion on the tongue may resume; however, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must have hand sanitizer nearby and use it immediately in the event of contact with saliva (which is good practice in all circumstances).
• Distributing/receiving Holy Communion from the cup remains suspended at this time. The archdiocese will communicate once sharing of the cup may resume.

Social gatherings

• All social gatherings (potlucks, office luncheons, parish picnics, carnivals, etc.) may resume while incorporating the guidance on masks and physical distancing noted here.

Reporting COVID-related Illnesses

Please let the parish know if you become COVID-positive and you attended a Mass or liturgy within three days of diagnosis.

A notice with date and time of Mass/liturgy will be posted on the Holy Child Jesus Parish websites alerting parishioners who were also in attendance that they should monitor themselves, especially if unvaccinated.

In the event that anything changes per the State of Illinois, City of Chicago or public health departments, we will communicate immediately.

We thank everyone for your patience and commitment to serving the people of God, our communities, and one another amidst year-long protocols and guidelines. In many ways, the Archdiocese of Chicago and Holy Child Jesus Parish have been role models during the pandemic because of each of you.

Let us continue to pray for an end to the pandemic globally and the grace to move forward in solidarity and charity with our sisters and brothers around the world, down the street and next door in a renewed way.

Peace,

COVID-19 Task Force and the Holy Child Jesus Parish Reopening Team