With a lowered risk of transmitting COVID-19, facial coverings, social distancing, and avoiding large gatherings during Mass or other liturgical gatherings will no longer be actively encouraged effective April 1 in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, according to a March 24 memo from the archdiocese’s Office of Worship.

Individuals or parishes are free to retain some restrictions, or to phase them out incrementally, if they deem it prudent, Father Tom Margevicius, the archdiocese’s director of worship, states in the memo. “Further, if the pandemic resumes its virulence, it may be necessary to reinstate some protocols.”

But for now, the Centers for Disease Control, tracking COVID pandemic trends, classifies the entire Twin Cities area with a community level risk of “low,” the memo says.

“It is still advisable to practice good hygiene, keep indoor spaces will ventilated, and (when showing symptoms) isolate and get tested,” Father Margevicius states. “Hower, urging all to wear masks, keep social distance, and avoid large gatherings is no longer required.”

The lowered risk of transmission and rescission of pandemic protocols comes just as parishes prepare for Holy Week liturgies the week of April 10, leading up to Easter Sunday, April 17.

It also comes three years after public Masses in the archdiocese were suspended due to COVID-19, beginning March 2020. Public Masses returned that May, and parishes began inviting people back to Sunday Mass, initially with capacity limits and other precautions in place. Many parishes continue to livestream Sunday liturgies, a practice that became prevalent during Minnesota’s COVID stay-at-home order in March 2020. A dispensation from Catholics’ “Sunday obligation” to attend in-person weekend Masses remained in effect in Minnesota until July 1, 2021.

This year, Holy Week, the Triduum and Easter celebrations can proceed without masks, social distancing or other restrictions. Palms, Easter candles and other liturgical items can be handled without needing sanitization, the memo says.

Also notable is the opportunity to reinstate the common chalice at Communion, a practice that has been discouraged since March 2020.

Changes to the protocols effective April 1 also mean the following are permitted:

Singing by cantors, the choir and assembly

Shaking hands at the sign of peace, with respect for individuals’ level of comfort

Drinking from the common chalice at Communion

Anointing with oil directly from thumb to skin, with cotton swabs still permitted

Holy water stoups and multiple uses of the font for baptisms

Archdiocesan confirmations will proceed without restrictions; pastors can seek permission to have confirmation in their own churches if there are ongoing pandemic concerns.

Outdoor liturgies will no longer regularly be scheduled, except processions such as those on Palm Sunday, Corpus Christi and other celebrations. Outdoor weddings on church grounds already scheduled can proceed, but no new outdoor weddings should be scheduled.

Pastors are encouraged to weigh the costs and benefits of livestreaming liturgies