Celebrating our Faith during COVID-19

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Diocese of Honolulu Response to the Coronavirus

The information below provides guidance in response to the new coronavirus (COVID-19).
Check this page regularly for updates.

Updates

 

MARCH 5, 2021 UPDATE:

Effective Easter Sunday, April 4 (or as of the Easter Vigil, April 3), I am ending the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, which has been in effect since mid-March, 2020. However, anyone who is sick, may have been exposed to anyone with COVID-19, or who has a health condition that would endanger themselves or others by being present in church, continues to be dispensed. 

In order to better accommodate larger numbers of people, especially on Easter Sunday, pastors are to determine whether extra seats can be added on lanais, additional Masses can be added to the schedule, or live-streaming in the parish hall can be done and Holy Communion taken to those who participate by this means.

If anticipated numbers simply cannot be safely accommodated in a particular parish, a pastor can dispense from the Sunday Mass obligation, either for individual parishioners or certain groups of parishioners, and for a specified period of time not to exceed two months without consultation with the Bishop of Honolulu. - Bishop Larry Silva
(Read More)

 

FEBRUARY 24, 2021 UPDATE:

Effective tomorrow, Thursday, February 25, 2021 the City and County of Honolulu (Oahu Island) will move to Tier 3.  All other counties (islands) need to continue observing the rules promulgated by their respective Mayor’s offices.  An official declaration from the Mayor of Honolulu office is not yet published, so we don’t have too many details regarding how it will affect our spiritual services and current practices.  However, the following is already known:

  1. Spiritual Services (i.e., Sunday and daily Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, prayer groups, Stations of the Cross, etc.): Allowed at full capacity as long as we continue to maintain 6-foot distancing (not much change here from our current Tier 2 situation).
  2. Social gatherings/meetings at church grounds: Allowed now for up to 10 people maintaining 6-foot social distancing.
  3. Funeral Homes/Cemeteries: Allowed to have up to 25 people at their services (i.e. Vigil for the Deceased, Wakes, Funeral Liturgy outside Mass and burials).
  4. Funeral Mass at Church continues with an URN only - at full capacity - as long as we maintain proper social 6-foot distancing (no change in this area).  
  5. Continue the MANDATORY use of mask/face shield by everyone at all times.
  6. Continue the use of hand sanitizing and washing hands as often as possible.
  7. Use of conference/breakrooms: Allowed – spaced 6-feet apart.
  8. No change on current music/singing practices.
  9. Religious Education continues as currently directed.  Please check with the Office of Religious Education (Jayne Mondoy) and the Office of the YYAM (Lisa Gomes) for more information.

- Deacon Modesto Cordero, Director, Office of Worship

 

FEBRUARY 1, 2021 UPDATE:

"As we go through the pandemic, we are enjoying the lifting of some restrictions, even as we still need to observe others for the safety and health of our community. I had extended the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation through February 16, 2021. I wanted to reinstate the obligation beginning with Lent, but since we still need to maintain social distancing in our churches, I am hereby extending the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday and Holy Day Mass through noon on Holy Thursday, April 1, 2021, which marks the end of Lent. However, this time I am strongly urging that all who take the dispensation engage in some other form of prayer or worship as suggested below. While none of these can be the equivalent of attending Sunday Mass, they will serve to keep us connected to worship, especially during the penitential season of Lent."  - Bishop Larry Silva
(Read More)

 

JANUARY 12, 2021 UPDATE:

Diocese of Honolulu 2021 Lenten Regulations During the COVID19 pandemic

 

JANUARY 8, 2021 UPDATE:

- Letter from Bishop Larry Silva regarding COVID-19 vaccines

- Memo: "COVID-19 Vaccinations for clergy, lay employees and volunteers" - Dara Perreira, Director of Human Resources, Diocese of Honolulu

 

DECEMBER 15, 2020 UPDATE:

Moral Considerations Regarding the New COVID-19 Vaccines - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

 

OLDER UPDATES HERE

 

Resources

 

Livestream Masses - Livestream Mass schedule and resources

Faithful and Safe - Videos and information that the Diocese of Honolulu has prepared to help with a safe and smooth reopening of our churches

Guidelines for Parish Ministries - Guidelines for opening parish ministries

Individual Parish Reopening Protocols - Protocols and other information regarding reopening individual parishes

Parish Reopening Sample: Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa

 

Diocesan Offices Resources

 

Office of the Bishop

 

Office of Worship

CONTACT:
Deacon Modesto R. Cordero, Director
mcordero@rcchawaii.org
(808) 585-3342

 

Faith Formation

CONTACT:
Jayne Ragasa-Mondoy
Director, Office of Religious Education
jmondoy@rcchawaii.org
(808) 203-6745

Lisa Gomes
Director, Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry
lgomes@rcchawaii.org
(808) 203-6743

 

Office for Social Ministry

Latest Links for Social Ministry Covid-19 Response

CONTACT:
Fr. Robert Stark
Director, Office for Social Ministry - OSM
rstark@rcchawaii.org
(808) 203-6734

Iwie Tamashiro
Director, Parish Social Ministry - OSM
itamashiro@rcchawaii.org
(808) 203-6702

 

Hawaii Catholic Schools

Recommended Resources

 

Hawaii Department of Health

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention