Public Mass Information

Effective on May 6th, Bishop William Wack, Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee, has granted us permission to re-open for public Masses! However, Bishop Wack continues to extend the dispensation of the obligation for Catholics to attend Sunday Mass.

On Sunday, we invite you to attend at 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 NOON, 6 PM or 8PM. Daily Mass is offered Monday - Friday at 7 AM and 5:15pm. as well as Saturday at 8 AM.  Registration to attend Mass is no longer required.

This is part of Phase 2 of our parish reopening. There are new protocols that all parishioners must follow to attend Mass. These procedures will be re-evaluated weekly. If you would like to attend Mass, please read through this message.  Thank you for your patience and compliance.

CAPACITY & SEAT RESERVATION

-For now, Masses will be limited to 50% capacity. For St. Thomas More, that equates to us having 30 pews available for each Mass. 

-Please come early to one of the available Masses and a Minister of Hospitality will seat you & your guest(s).  The pews will be filled from front to back at each of the church entrances. Registration to attend Mass is no longer required.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

-Wash your hands.

-For ages 2 and up, face coverings are required on our campus and for the duration of Mass.

-At this time, the nursery is closed but your children are welcome at Mass.

-Bring your own hand sanitizer that can be used before receiving Holy Communion.

-Do not bring items that contain bleach into the church as this will damage the pews.

ARRIVAL PROCEDURES

-Masks (for ages 2+) should be worn when you exit your vehicle.

-The doors of the church will open 30 minutes prior to the start of Mass.

-The church will be seated to fill the open pews from front to back. A Minister of Hospitality will direct you to your seat.

-Every two pews will be closed and marked off with tape. You may be sharing a pew with another household, but social distance is required between the households (6 feet).

MASS PROCEDURES

-Masses will be conducted as you have seen on the Live Stream with reduced volunteer lay ministers. There will be no altar servers, choirs, or lay sacristans at this time. Only the cantor will sing during the Mass.

-Communion will be distributed by clergy only.

-Please keep your face mask on for the duration of Mass.

-Baskets will not be passed during the Offertory. You will be able to place your weekly gift in a basket at each church entrance and on the sanctuary steps, but we strongly encourage online giving through our website: www.cocathedral.com/give.

COMMUNION PROCEDURES

-Bishop Wack has asked that Communion be received in the hand for the time being.

-The Precious Blood will not be offered to the congregation.

-Use of personal hand sanitizer before Communion is strongly encouraged.

-There will be a single Communion line in the center of each main aisle maintaining a 6’ distance between households. 

-Masks should be worn in the Communion line. After the priest offers you Communion, please step to the side, remove your mask, consume the Eucharist, and then re-mask as you head back to your pew.

DEPARTURE PROCEDURES

-After the final blessing, parishioners must remain in their pew.  Each pew will be cleared in order from back to front.

-All exits of the church will be utilized during departure. 

-You can drop your weekly offertory as you depart or as you come up for Communion.

-Clergy will not shake hands, they will wave as you exit.

-Please do not congregate outside. 

CHURCH CLEANING PROCEDURES

-We will continue to implement cleanliness and sanitation practices, including disinfecting pews between every Mass.

-Disinfecting bathrooms, door handles, and other frequently touched surfaces occur throughout the day.

-Parish staff will be required to wear face masks. 

-Please follow the CDC recommendations regarding your own health. If you fall into an "at-risk" category, please stay home and join us online.

Confession remains available Saturday (10 AM - 11 AM). Private prayer in the church is available Monday - Friday (9 AM - 5 PM). All other campus activities remain suspended until further notice.

Any weddings and funerals that are scheduled would adhere to the above protocol.

Additional information will be forthcoming regarding St. Thomas More’s plan for the celebration of other sacraments of initiation (Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmation).