Chancery Notice: Further post-Covid pastoral guidelines

      

Having assessed the latest pandemic development, the Government announced on February 28 that all mandatory mask-wearing requirements will be lifted with effect from March 1, thereby enabling Hong Kong society to resume normalcy in full.  In line with this latest decision of the Government, Bishop Stephen CHOW, SJ, has announced with immediate effect the following pastoral guidelines, as supplement to those announced on February 9: 

1. To fulfil the Sunday obligation, the faithful have to actually participate in the Sunday Mass.  Watching an online Mass may not be a substitute for in-person participation, except for the sick, the disabled and the elderly. 
   
2. The faithful should always keep personal and public hygiene.
   
3. The faithful and others who visit a church or a Mass centre are not required to wear a face mask; however, those having respiratory symptoms are advised to wear a face mask.  
   
4. The use of holy water at church entrances, as well as the use of liturgical booklets and hymnals, may be resumed, with due attention to hygiene. 
   
5. Celebrants should as usual consume the consecrated Bread and Wine first, before giving Holy Communion to the faithful. 
   
6. The reception of Holy Communion under both species may be resumed.  The faithful can also receive the consecrated Bread alone.  For hygiene reasons, it is advisable for those who receive Communion “in the hand” to come forward first, followed by those who receive Communion “on the tongue”. 
   
7. Baptism by immersion may be resumed. 
   
8. In the rite of anointing, the celebrant as usual anoints the recipient directly with his thumb moistened with holy oil.

Given at the Chancery Office,
1 March 2023.

 

 

Rev. Lawrence LEE
Chancellor