Our Parish response to COVID-19

- The Parish is making preparations to open on the weekend of June 27th / 28th
  
  Hello St. Augustine Family. As we prepare to open for mass, your health and safety are foremost on our minds. Our plans to open on June 27th have been approved by the our regional Bishop's office, and while we are making every effort to provide Mass for the community in the church (assuming we can get enough volunteers) there is no way we can forecast the numbers who may attend. Regrettably the limitation of seating means that people may arrive and find the building at capacity and be turned away. We are asking people to be charitable and reasonable when this happens. This page will be update daily with all the information you will need if you are planning to attend mass. We thank you for your patience.
- Currently
  
  All ministry meetings are cancelled until further notice.
  
  Celebration of the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion have been postponed to a later date. Information on rescheduling will be posted here when available.
  
  COVID-19 Information
  
  News Release from the California Catholic Conference: Bishops from California reenact the Stations of the Cross drawing attention to the sin of racism.
- Guidelines for Attending Public Mass
  
  In a continuing effort to create a welcoming and safe environment there are several things we ask you to consider and remember:
  
  Those 65 or older are encouraged to remain home. Those with pre-existing conditions or who are immunity compromised should remain home. Any person who is ill should remain at home.
  
  The Archbishop continues to provide dispensation and waives the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
  
  Plan to arrive at the Parish 30 minutes before the scheduled mass.
  
  Please allow the hospitality ministers to find you a seat when you arrive, and please wait for them to usher you out of the building at the end of worship.
  
  Late comers will be asked to remain in the vestibue until the hospitality minister can seat them.
  
  Face masks are mandated in public locations per the state of California. You are strongly encouraged to bring your own mask.
  
  At Holy Communion everyone must come forward to receive the Eucharist or a blessing. This prevents having to pass in front of other parishioners in the pews.
  
  Please remember not to gather in the narthex either before or after Mass.
  
  While we do sing at Mass, we have not yet resumed full congregational music participation at the direction of the diocese.
  
  Once seated, please remain in that designated space in order to maintain social distance. Moving about in the church should be avoided if possible.
  
  Out of respect for the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, it is not permitted to receive Holy Communion in the hand while wearing gloves. It is also not permitted to rest anything, such as a tissue, on the hand to use as a barrier.
  
  We regret that the church cannot remain open for private prayer following Mass, but it needs to be vacated so that we can begin sanitizing and preparing for the next Mass
- What to expect when you arrive at St. Augustine for mass
  
  The Masses will not be the usual “St. Augustine experience” due to current curcumstances. Due to the county and state requirements, there can only be 100 person on the parish premises. Procedures and protocol designed for the well-being of all, means that we cannot linger in the narthex to visit before or after worship. We will continue to forgo the use of holy water, any holding of hands, and the sign of peace. The hymnals and missals will be removed. Communion will be offered in the hand. Please be prepared to be flexible and follow the instructions of the hospitality ministers.
  
  When you get to the parish, you and your party will be given a mass ticket. Once all 100 tickets have been issued, the gates to the parking lot will be closed and latecomers will be notified of the next mass time. On the reverse side of the ticket, there will be space for you to fill out your Name, Date of visit, Bench Number and Seat Number. If you test positive with COVID-19, you will need to contract the Parish and provide the information on the ticket.
  
  During the 30 minutes before mass, you will be invited to line up between the church and the hall, observing social distancing. Upon entry into the church, you will be assigned a seat,your temperature will be taken using a contactless device, and you will be asked to santize your hands. You will also be asked 6 questions about your health. A minister of hospitality will then guide you to your seat.
  
  Once seated, you will be asked not to move about till mass is over. Face masks are to be worn at all times.
  
  During Communion, you are asked to follow the instructions of the ministers of hospitality. There will be two stations of communion on either side of the church. The floors have been marked accordingly to observe social distancing. When you come to the priest, you will bow as usual, recieve communon in the hand (please no gloves), you will step to the side where there is a cross marked on the floor, remove your mask, consume the body of Christ, put on your mask and then proceed, single file down the center aisle to your pew.After mass, please remain in your pews until your are guided out of the church by a minister of hospitality.