When and where can I receive Holy Communion
What will be the process for receiving Holy Communion?
How will I be able to receive Holy Communion?
Will I be able to go to Mass? If not, when will I?
How will I be able to receive Holy Communion?What precautions should I expect when I arrive at Church
Should everyone go to church to receive Holy Communion?

When and where can I receive Holy Communion
By Pentecost, May 31, 2020, all parishes in the Diocese will make reception of the Eucharist available to parishioners. Those parishes able to meet the directives set forth by Bishop Libasci and the social distancing, sanitation, and mitigation guidance available from federal and state public health officials may begin to offer the distribution of Communion as soon as Saturday, May 23, 2020. Please be patient with our parishes as they begin to welcome the Faithful back to our churches for Holy Communion. While some churches will be prepared to welcome parishioners to receive Holy Eucharist on May 23, others, after careful reflection, will decide it is prudent to wait until May 31.

What will be the process for receiving Holy Communion?

The Faithful will participate in the Mass, via a livestream or a recorded or televised Mass. Where Mass is not available to an individual due to lack of Internet or cable access, preparations may be made by reviewing the readings for the day. At the time determined by the pastor, individuals will enter the church at intervals that respect current social distancing guidelines (currently, six feet). Masks will be required, must be worn while in the church, will be removed to receive Communion, and then must be worn again to exit the church. Once Communion is received, individuals may to offer a brief prayer of thanksgiving as they exit, or at home. While the prayer of thanksgiving is important, at this time the Faithful are asked to offer this prayer in an alternate location, since a stay of any length delays others waiting to receive Communion, some of whom may experience difficulty in waiting. Please see specific directional precautions below.

How will I be able to receive Holy Communion?
Consistent with the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and our normal practice for Communion, receipt of Holy Communion may be standing or kneeling, on the tongue or on the hand, at the choice of the communicant.

Will I be able to go to Mass? If not, when will I?
At this time, the public celebration of Mass remains suspended in the Diocese of Manchester. The Faithful are encouraged to celebrate Mass with their own parishes as Masses are now widely offered via livestream or on television. If your own parish does not offer Mass in one of these formats at this time, visit https://www.catholicnh.org/livestreamed-masses for a list of churches in the Diocese currently offering Mass for remote viewing. There is no set time for when the public celebration of Mass will resume, but Bishop Libasci has been actively working with the priests of the Diocese and others and receiving guidance from local public health experts on a plan for that to happen.

How can I prepare to receive Holy Communion?

Please give your parish at least a few days to prepare its plan for distributing Communion and then check first with your parish website and social media pages for information on when and how Communion will be distributed. Preparation for Communion may be made by going to Mass via such options as livestream, recorded, or televised Mass. Where these options are not available, preparations may be made by reviewing the readings for the day online (www.usccb.org/bible/readings) or in the Missal or Magnificat.

What precautions should I expect when I arrive at Church?Those arriving at a church in the Diocese of Manchester to receive Holy Eucharist will see new safety guidelines:
Wear a mask. Children under age 2 should not wear a mask. For children between 2 and 5 a mask may be worn at the discretion of the parent or guardian. You should plan to bring your own mask as you will not be allowed in the church without a mask and churches may not have the capacity to obtain and supply masks for individuals who do not bring one.
No one may congregate either outside or inside the church,
Social distancing will require that all who arrive must form a line and maintain the six foot distancing rule, Since you are preparing to receive Holy Communion all must maintain prayerful silence; there should be no talking,
Prayers must be silent, not spoken aloud,
The Holy Water Fonts will be empty – please do not touch them,
Sanitize hands on entering the church,
Maintain the six foot distance between you and the person in front of you,
Ushers, signs and/or floor directions will indicate where to enter, exit and stand,
Just before receiving Communion lower the mask and then immediately after receiving Communion the mask must be properly re-positioned,
Go directly out while making your private reflective prayers of thanksgiving.

Should everyone go to church to receive Holy Communion?

The short answer is no. The Faithful are still dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass during this time. In order to protect yourself and others, it is very important that you stay home and not go to a church to receive Holy Communion if you:
Have tested positive for COVID-19 or been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19,
Are at high risk for COVID-19
Have a cough, fever, difficulty breathing or feeling sick
You are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 according to the CDC, either due to age or underlying health conditions

BEFORE COMMUNION PRAYER OF ST AMBROSE

Lord Jesus Christ, I approach your banquet table in fear and trembling, for I am a sinner, And dare not rely on my own worth but only on your goodness and mercy. I am defiled by many sins in body and soul, and by my unguarded thoughts and words. Gracious God of majesty and awe, I seek your protection, I look for your healing. Poor troubled sinner that I am, I appeal to you, the fountain of all mercy. I cannot bear your judgment, but I trust in your salvation. Lord, I show my wounds to you and uncover my shame before you. I know my sins are many and great, and they fill me with fear, But I hope in your mercies, for they cannot be numbered. Lord, Jesus Christ, eternal king, God and man, crucified for mankind, Look upon me with mercy and hear my prayer, for I trust in you. Have mercy on me, full of sorrow and sin, for the depth of your compassion never ends. Praise to you, saving sacrifice, offered on the wood of the cross for me and for all mankind. Praise to the noble and precious blood, flowing from he wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ and washing away the sins of the whole world. Remember, Lord, your creature, whom you have redeemed with your blood. I repent my sins, and I long to put right what I have done. Merciful Father, take away all my offenses and sins; Purify me in body and soul, and make me worthy to taste the holy of holies. May your body and blood, which I intend to receive, although I am unworthy, Be for me the remission of my sins, the washing away of my guilt, The end of my evil thoughts, and the rebirth of my better instincts. May it incite me to do the works pleasing to you and profitable to my health In body and soul, and be a firm defense against the wiles of my enemies.  Amen.

AFTER COMMUNION  –  PRAYER OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Lord, Father all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank you, For even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, Not because of my worth but in the kindness of your mercy, You have fed me with the precious body and blood of your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this holy communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and
salvation. May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will. May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions. May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, And the power to do good. May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and Invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual. May it unite me more closely to you, the One true God, And lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with you And I pray that you will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where You And Your Son and Holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, Total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, And perfect happiness to your saints. Grant this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Office of the Bishop
Diocese of Manchester
153 Ash Street Manchester, NH 03104 (603) 669-3100
www.catholicnh.org

May 19, 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I am so deeply grateful for your patience and for fervently practicing our shared faith in your homes during this time of isolation. I have also been very grateful for your prayers for our Church and have been fortified by witnessing all the broadcast Masses, pastor video messages, live online rosaries, and all our modified ways of sharing in our faith together.
I write to you today to share the news that I have given permission for our pastors and parishes to begin distribution of Holy Communion to the faithful. For some time now, I have been working with our regional Deans and others on the development of plans for the resumption of the public celebration of Mass, and this interim measure, which has been generated from that process, is intended to allow for the reception of the Eucharist pending the resumption of public Masses.
Under this interim plan, priests will be using strict safety precautions and will be provided guidance regarding timing, entry and exit procedures, and training of volunteers. Any parish that is able to comply with the guidelines may begin distributing Holy Communion as early as this weekend (May 23/24); however, I have instructed that all parishes must implement this plan no later than May 30/31. Please check with your local parish to find out when and how they will be putting this plan into place.
We are continuing to work on the resumption of the celebration of public Mass. One of the items that we are addressing is the State of New Hampshire’s current restriction on gatherings of 10 or more people. Although this restriction has begun to be relaxed in certain contexts, the State (as of the time of writing) has not yet done so with respect to gatherings for worship. For the last several weeks, we have been participating in a working group that is developing a careful process for how places of worship will be able to responsibly resume gatherings of more than 10 people. Governor Sununu is awaiting the recommendations that this group even now is finalizing.
Even though we cannot return fully to public celebration of the Mass immediately, I am very hopeful that we will have public liturgies available soon—even if they will inevitably come with modifications. In the meantime, priests continue to celebrate Holy Mass privately, and to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation to individuals. Churches continue to remain open for private individual prayer at designated times as previously directed. My dispensation from the obligation to attend Holy Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation remains in effect.
I am grateful to all of you who have endured this sacrifice for your brothers and sisters with such a strong sense of our oneness in the Lord. Let us all pray for one another and look forward to the day of our great reunion.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci
Bishop of Manchester

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

 All clergy were sent two notifications by Bishop Libasci which I would like to bring to your attention.  You are all very much aware of the vocation situation and the need for more clergy to serve our parishes. The following is a hopeful note for all us.

     With praise and thanksgiving to God, Bishop Libasci will ordain two men as transitional deacons, the final step before becoming a priest, on Sat., May 30, at 10am, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph:  David Gagnon and Joseph Moynahan.

     With praise and thanksgiving to God, Bishop Libasci will ordain two men to the priesthood for the Diocese of Manchester on Sat. June 6th, at 10am at the Cathedral of St. Joseph: Deacon Ryan Amazeen and Deacon Joshua Livingston.

     In light of the coronavirus outbreak and safety restrictions, these men – David Gagnon and Joseph Moynahan – and Deacon Ryan Amazeen and Deacon Joshua Livingston – were given the option to, but chose not to, postpone their ordination.  They will receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders in a largely empty Cathedral, with only their parents, and close relatives and friends in attendance.  Other family, friends, priests and deacon and other well-wishers will be with them in spirit, as they will be able to watch a livestream of the Mass from the Saint Joseph Cathedral website.

     Please include these men in your prayers as their moment of ordination nears.  You are all invited to watch the livestream of the Ordination Mass at www.stjosephcathedralnh.org.

God bless,
Fr. Eddy

With praise and thanksgiving to God, Bishop Libasci will ordain two men as transitional deacons, the final step before becoming a priest, on Saturday, May 30, at 10am, at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph. In light of the coronavirus outbreak and safety restrictions, these men — David Gagnon and Joseph Moynahan were given the option to, but chose not to, postpone their ordination. They will receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders in a largely empty Cathedral, with only their parents, and close relatives and friends in attendance. Other family, friends, priests and deacons and other well-wishers will be with them in spirit, as they will be able to watch a livestream of the Mass from the St. Joseph Cathedral website.
Although priests, deacons and the laity will not be able to share in this most wonderful and significant moment in the life of the Church in person, I am sure that David and Joseph would be grateful if pastors encouraged their parishioners to pray for them and watch the livestream of the Ordination Mass at www.stjosephcathedralnh.org.

An announcement regarding the priesthood ordination will be published next Wednesday.