The Joliet Diocese has revised COVID-19 protocols for all parishes in the diocese:
Effective February 28, 2022, face masks are recommended, but no longer required in church and on the parish campus.
The dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation will be lifted on April 10, 2022. However, if you do not feel well, please do not attend services or gatherings.
No Chalice at Communion
Holy Communion will only be distributed in the hand at our parish.
The Diocese of Joliet’s COVID-19 Protocols are available for review on the Diocese of Joliet’s website: Diocese of Joliet COVID-19 Protocols
COVID-19 Protocols Specific to Education
Specifically, with respect to Education, they read:
The safety and wellbeing of students, families, and education employees remain our top priorities.
The progress of the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois remains unpredictable. We continue to consult with public health, education and civil authorities and modify requirements during the year as conditions,mandates, and guidance change. We are committed to providing an integrated and balanced perspective.
Faithful citizenship is key. We expect our families to take personal responsibility for the common good and their own safety. Taking every precaution to reduce the spread of the virus is an act of charity toward our sisters and brothers in Christ, particularly those too young to receive vaccine protection.
Masking
Given the new evidence on the COVID-19 Delta variant and the rising infection and hospitalization rates, the state of Illinois has mandated the wearing of masks indoors for all education personnel and Pre-K through grade 12 students regardless of vaccination status. This guidance is consistent with that of the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics3. Both have updated their guidance to recommend universal indoor masking in all buildings for people over the age of 2 regardless of vaccination status. While we recognize that the preference of some of our staff and families is for masks to be optional for vaccinated individuals, we will follow mandates and guidance in force.
In keeping with state of Illinois mandates and with the recommendations of public health authorities, we will start the school year requiring masks for all individuals while inside education buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
As conditions improve across our regions and the mandates and guidance of civil authorities and public health agencies allow, we will regularly evaluate whether to continue to require masks for all individuals in our schools and programs.
It is also important to note that masking at the start of the school year while removing other mitigations is an important safeguard for high-risk students, faculty, and staff – further protecting those who performed so heroically this past school year.
Please note the following guidance on masking requirements for educational programs:
Exposed students and staff who are masked and three feet from a confirmed case indoors are not considered close contacts in the new CDC guidance. Therefore, consistent and correct mask use will drastically reduce the number of students and staff needing to quarantine.
No masks are required outdoors, regardless of vaccination status.
School and religious education volunteers are permitted, regardless of their individual vaccination status; volunteers must follow mask guidelines.
All co-curricular activities, sacramental, rehearsals, athletics, music, clubs, field trips, VBS, etc. are permitted.
No pandemic-related arrival and departure procedures (wellness checks, procedure, staggered drop- off/pick-up schedules, or dedicated entrance/exit doors) are currently required.