ARCHDIOCESE OF MIAMI
Office of the Archbishop
May 18,2020
Dear parishioners,
As we reopen our churches for the celebration of the Mass and Sacraments with the People of
God present and actively participating, we recognize that we cannot eliminate the very possible
risk of infection from the novel corona virus or COVID-19. However, your parish priests and I
are committed to mitigating the risk as much as possible. We reopen because we believe as
Church that there are no substitutes for the reception of the sacraments and our first priority is to
be the sign of hope and instrument of the salvation of the entire human race.”
On Tuesday, May 26, parishes will resume celebrating daily Masses. (May 18 in Monroe
County). However, social distancing will be required with approximately 6 feet separation
between persons (except for family members from same household); worshippers are asked to
wear a face mask and to keep it on during Mass, removing it only to receive Holy Communion.
Hymnals, missalettes, holy water will be removed from the church; and the church and its
facilities will be sanitized between services. Hand sanitizers are available at church entrances. In
entering or leaving the church, and in approaching the altar to receive Holy Communion please
maintain proper social distance. These arrangements will take some time getting used to and so
you are asked to pay attention to ushers or others who may be directing. After Mass please do
not congregate in the church or outside but make your way home.
During Mass, please do not hold hands (for example, during the praying of the Lord’s Prayer), or
exchange the Sign of Peace. While preaching or at the altar the celebrant will not use a face
mask, but he and other ministers will when they distribute Holy Communion. (If anyone
disagrees about the necessity of wearing a face mask, I would ask that person to wear it anyway
– out of respect for and charity towards their fellow parishioners.)
Social distancing will reduce the numbers of faithful that can be accommodated – perhaps only
25-30% of your church’s usual occupancy. Your parish priests- with input from their pastoral
councils – will plan appropriately – perhaps by adding Masses to the schedule if necessary or
setting up some type of “reservation system” to assure that everyone who wishes to attend can do
so.
The dispensation from the obligation of attending Mass on Sunday continues indefinitely. Good
judgment and reason should guide your decision as to when you should resume coming to
Sunday Mass.
If you are sick or have flu like symptoms, stay home. If you are frail because of age or are
vulnerable because of an underlying condition, or you are a caretaker of someone who is, it
might be reasonable for you to stay home. If you are fearful, stay home.
These “home bound” parishioners should contact the parish rectory and arrange for the
Sacraments to be brought to them.
9401 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami Shores, Florida 33138
Telephone: 305-762-1233 Facsimile: 305-757-3947
We do not live in a risk-free world- we never have. There is a certain amount of risk we assume
when we cross a street, or when we get in our cars to go to work or even to the comer store. We
can never eliminate risk completely, but prudence helps us to mitigate risk whenever and
wherever possible. So, when we cross a street, we go to a crosswalk and look both ways before
crossing; when we get into our car, we make sure that it is operating safely, that the brakes work,
etc. and when we make a turn we use our turn signals.
The corona virus, COVID-19, has introduced new risks into our lives- and until a vaccine is
widely available, we will be unable to eliminate completely the risks, but we must prudently try
to mitigate those risks wherever and whenever possible. For this reason, the entire world put
itself into “lock down”, practicing social distance, washing hands frequently, and pretty much
staying at home as much as possible. The “lock down” succeeded in as much as the spread of
this very contagious virus was flattened and our hospitals were not overwhelmed with COVID-
19 cases. Nevertheless, a high price was paid by all – for all were affected even if not all were
infected. Our lives were upended: schools closed, public gatherings limited, millions of jobs lost
– and, to be sure despite these measures, many thousands fell sick and too many of our loved
ones died.
In the Archdiocese of Miami, we suspended Masses with congregations present beginning March
16. However, we never “closed”: our parish offices remained open, our schools, our Catholic
Charities, our Catholic Health Services, our Pastoral Center all continued their operations.
Priests continued making sick calls, hearing confession, and offering Mass daily. Through
livestreaming of Masses, Bible studies and many other activities your priests strove to remain
present to you, their parishioners. And while they could not celebrate Masses in church with you
these past many weeks, they never failed in offering you, the people of God, their most “essential
service” of their prayers.
Our civic authorities throughout the US and the world are slowly “unlocking” the various
jurisdictions under their control even while scientists and medical professionals continue to urge
caution. The novel corona virus is still among us – as is the risk of contagion. As we move to
reopen, prudence -the ability to govern and discipline ourselves by the use of reason -must
govern our actions. There is no substitute for good judgment.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Thomas Wenski
Archbishop of Miami
