SPRINGFIELD - The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois announced May 28 that Bishop Thomas John Paprocki has granted permission for public Masses to be celebrated in the diocese beginning as soon as the weekend of June 6-7, with attendance limited to 25% of the capacity of the worship space, while also maintaining appropriate safe distancing.
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Diocesan staff had already been preparing a training and certification process to prepare parishes to open public Masses with proper precautions, including detailed cleaning protocols and communication plans to parishioners, and limited attendance. Today’s revised guidance from the government is consistent with the approach that was already being planned. Parishes will be required to have a Parish Response Team, who will need to attend a mandatory training webinar and submit a readiness checklist for certification prior to being able to celebrate public Masses.
"As Christian citizens, Catholics of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois have made a profound and consequential sacrifice for the sake of the greater good by foregoing the most sacred sacrament of our faith - the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass,” said Bishop Thomas John Paprocki. "We have done so with particular concern to do our part in preventing a surge in hospitalizations that may have overwhelmed health system capacity and out of concern for the most vulnerable among us. We have all done our best to unite in prayer and acts of spiritual communion during this time, offering this sacrifice for the good of our neighbor. It is now time for the Church to return to the proper practice of the faith and celebration of Mass, which we will do responsibly and safely, with proper preparation, precautions, and safe distancing.”
Please see the letter from Bishop Paprocki to the Catholic faithful here that was issued May 28 that includes more details.
/articles/pdf/5292032319-Bishop-Paprocki-Letter-Announcing-Public-Masses-5282020.pdf
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