Holy Ghost Catholic Church

News Release:  Archbishop John C. Wester to Host Series of Live Stream Town Hall Q&A Meetings via Facebook Live Archdiocese of Santa Fe Official

Albuquerque - Thursday, July 9, 2020 - We invite you to join us for a series of Live-Streamed Town Hall Meetings with Archbishop John C. Wester starting in July through October 2020. The two-part town hall meetings will be in English (from 6:00-6:30 p.m. MT) and Spanish (from 6:30-7:00 p.m. MT). The purpose of the town hall meetings is to invite people of God to ask Archbishop Wester questions they may have concerning the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the faithful. To submit a question, sign into your Facebook account and type your questions during the live stream into the chat or go to

http://www.archdiosf.org/reopening      and fill in the online form. Please see the schedule below.

It is of utmost importance to remember that the Church values everyone's safety and well-being. Life is sacred and we will continue to take every precaution to protect our community from COVID-19. As the crisis continues to impact our world at an alarming rate, it is more imperative than ever we heed the advice of our global scientists and public health experts. I encourage people of good will to stay the course, wear your mask, practice social distancing. Together, we can save lives.

Archbishop Wester

2020 Town Hall Meeting Schedule

6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. MT  /  English

6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. MT / Spanish

Wednesday, October 7

Wednesday, October 14

Mass in Church during COVID Pandemic: 1st Phase of Return 1 (Version of May 14, 2020) 

These directives are promulgated by the Archbishop of Santa Fe for the early lifting of the suspension of publicly-attended Mass 

General: 

• Attendance limited to 25% of building capacity (per fire marshal assessment). 
• Dispensation from Sunday obligation remains for all. 
• Safety/ common good is priority. Coordination with staff will be essential, as will be clear and detailed communication to the people. 
• Local pastors can make these directives more stringent as necessitated by local conditions; however, they cannot make them less strict. 
• Reopening will be accomplished in phases. 
• The Archbishop/Vicar General will continue to offer live stream/recorded Mass each Sunday and weekdays, and parishes are encouraged to do so as well. 
• Social distancing/masks/increased cleaning are mandatory. Each measure presents an additional layer of protection, which individually may be insufficient. 
• Cleaning staff should be present to disinfect commonly-touched surfaces after each Mass (pews, door handles, rails, etc.) Have on hand ample cleaning supplies, and masks if possible. 
• Persons over 60 and with compromised immune systems should be pre-advised that they are at increased risk and be encouraged to remain home. 
• Communicate that these guidelines are for the safety of lives and health for themselves and neighbors, and that continued opening depends on everyone’s cooperation. 
• The Archdiocese remains responsive to changes in conditions/requirements, and will revise these instructions periodically as necessary. 

In Churches 

• No open holy water present. There may be a dispenser for people to fill bottles if desired. 
• Wipe down commonly-touched items such as pews, chairs, ambos, hand rails, door handles, etc. between Masses. Prop open doors if possible. 
• Remove missalettes/hymnals and worship aids; these are vehicles for contamination. 
• Remember that livestreaming music requires a separate license. 
• Restrooms to be disinfected after each liturgy, with disinfecting supplies also available for persons utilizing the facilities. 
• Map out seating/give assignments with at least 6 ft distance between families in all directions. This may require roping off some pews. 
• Consider reservations/revised capacity, and persons must sit where directed in clearly marked designated seats. They may not be able to get their “regular” place. Ushers will be needed to direct them. 
• Cry rooms to be closed; inform families beforehand. 
• Those of the same household sit together. 

Individual Responsibility 

• Sick/symptomatic stay home, as well as those with health vulnerabilities or weakened immune systems. 

Mass in Church during COVID Pandemic: 1st Phase of Return 2 (Version of May 14, 2020) 

• Face masks are required for children age 3 and over. Parents are highly recommended NOT to bring children less than 3 years old. Persons without masks will be turned away until they can obtain one. 
• Encourage attendees to bring their own disinfecting supplies to assist the parish during/between Masses. 
• Prepare Children: Children 3 and older must have a mask and understand the need to wear it, having social distancing explained to them. Small children need to be with an adult at all times and not allowed to wander or visit with neighboring persons/families. Children younger than 10 should be accompanied by a responsible adolescent/adult at all times, including in the restroom. 
• Let persons know if masks/sanitizer available and that they are required. 
• Persons with allergies who are sneezing/coughing please refrain from attending out of charity to others. 

Liturgy/Communion 

• No congregational singing so as to minimize spread of breath droplets. Cantor may sing, and use only one instrumentalist. 
• Consider adding Masses to decrease attendance per Mass and allowing more to attend overall than the restrictions would allow with the normal Mass schedule. Persons should only attend one Mass or Communion service during the week to allow others to attend. 
• Dispensation is given for both Mass AND Sunday Celebration without a Priest to be celebrated in the same parish on the same day, thereby allowing more persons to participate without overtaxing priest celebrants. 
• Only the priest can be unmasked while celebrating the Mass. He should mask when not in a speaking role. 
• Deacons: 1) wears masks; 2) remain at least 6 ft. from the priests; 3) does not attend at the altar; 4) may read the Gospel and preach; 5) may prepare the chalice only if maintaining social distancing from the priest and sanctuary personnel. The priest may wash his hands at the credence table. 
• Do not utilize servers at present. 
• Only minimal personnel in the sanctuary during Mass. Sanctuary seating/standing need adhere to social distancing. 
• Use shortest liturgical forms (penitential rite, recitation of Mass parts, provided shorter readings, 2nd Eucharistic prayer, etc.) if available for the day, and only very brief homilies (3 minutes max). Decreased time = decreased contamination. The goal is 30-40 minutes for the Mass to minimize exposure/contamination. 
• No handshakes/contact between families. Among family members is okay. 
• Collection: Have a secure container for persons to place offerings rather than passing a basket. Encourage maximum utilization of online giving. 
• Liturgy of the Eucharist 

o Bread/wine is not to be processed, but come from covered containers from a credence table in the sanctuary.

o Use palls/covered ciboria/coverings for the hosts throughout the liturgy. 

Mass in Church during COVID Pandemic: 1st Phase of Return 3 (Version of May 14, 2020) 

o Only priests should receive from the chalice; each priest to have his own chalice if concelebrating.

o Priests over 60 years old are strongly advised to not distribute Communion themselves.

o Hosts only for the congregation’s Communion, and only in the hand in order to decrease possibility of cross-contaminations by: 1) inadvertent touching of saliva; and, 2) breath droplets transferred to the hand of the minister.

o Per USCCB recommendations, Communion is to be be distributed as people exit the building.

o All ministers/EM of Holy Communion are to very visibly sanitize hands prior to distributing. (Gloves/tongs add no more protection than bare hands because each can be cross-contaminated.) A cloth soaked in a non-toxic disinfecting agent (e.g., alcohol) might be used after some number of communicants for extra precaution.

o Priests/deacons/EMHCs must wear masks while distributing Communion.

o Ensure adequate distancing of EMHCs.

o Place markers or otherwise enforce social distancing during Holy Communion.

o No after-Mass assemblies. People should depart immediately after Mass. 

• Procedure for Holy Communion: 

o Priest(s) receives Communion at the altar as normal. Deacon(s) do not.

o Priest cleanses vessels or lays them aside for cleansing after Mass.

o Very brief announcements, if any.

o Final prayer, blessing and dismissal.

o Priest/deacons remove chasubles/dalmatics and don masks.

o Priest distributes Communion to deacons/EMHCs. All ministers receive ciboria and move to their distribution points.

o Ushers dismiss congregation by rows to receive Communion and/or depart.

o ALL communicants should be masked, receive the host in their hand, and stepping aside prior to lifting mask for consuming, and then exit the building immediately. 

• After Mass/Preparation for Mass 

o Minimal personnel in sacristy, all with masks and maintaining social distance.

o Wash vessels with soap & water.

o Hosts only for congregation, and sufficient wine only for priests. 

For Various Rites: 

• Any rites with Mass follow the above guidelines. 
• Baptism water changed each time (bless container of water each baptism and dispose of properly; use fresh water each time to avoid cross-contamination). 
• Minister should sanitize hands visibly just before the rite in order to give reassurance to attendees. 
• Masks/sanitizer/social distancing should always be used. 
• Outdoor assemblies at cemeteries should be masked and maintain social distancing.

Visit our Facebook Page to access Fr. Hyginus' weekly homilies and other parish information during Mass closures due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.    https://www.facebook.com/HolyGhostParishAlbuquerque

Online Giving

Are you interested in myEoffering? 

 We welcome you and your family to register as an active member of Holy Ghost Parish. To do this, you may come by the parish office during office hours and complete a registration form, you may pick up a registration form in the gathering space of the church or you may click on this link for a registration form.  Holy Ghost Parish Registration  Please print out the form, complete it and return it to the parish office. If you have any children over the age of 18 in your household, it is recommended that they register independently to begin their adult records. It's an unfortunate thing sometimes when people come into the office and we have no record of them being members of our parish. Sometimes, they have been attending Mass and think that alone would qualify as being registered. Sometimes, they are kind enough to put in occasional donations during Mass. Unfortunately, this alone does not register them in the parish. Only completion of the registration form gets you recorded as a member of Holy Ghost Parish. To maintain your membership on our parish roster, it is important to be "active" via your donation records and/or by your ministry service. 

       We welcome all practicing Catholics in our area to join our Holy Ghost family.    

If you have any questions, please call us at 505/265-5957. Thank you.

Our Saint Vincent de Paul Office is located at 929b Arizona SE. SVdP offers assistance with food. If you need a food assistance referral, call the SVdP Clearinghouse at 346-1500 ext. 4. All food will be distributed by first obtaining a referral through the Clearinghouse.

                                                           Archbishop John C. Wester