March 1, 2022
Dear Parish Family,

Prince George’s County has now lifted their mask mandates for most indoor settings. Thus, effective today, March 1, masks will no longer be required at church or in any indoor setting here at St. Joseph's Parish. 

The CDC has also issued new advisory guidelines, which now classify the COVID-19 Community Level for the District and for Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s Counties as low. The CDC recommendation for these areas is: “Wear a mask based on your personal preference, informed by your personal level of risk.”

Impact on St. Joseph's

After consultation with our parish Task Force Committee, these changes will take effect beginning with Mass on Ash Wednesday, tomorrow March 2:

• Masks are now optional at church and in all indoor settings as we follow guidelines set forth by Prince George's County and the Archdiocese of Washington.  We recognize that this could change if numbers go up.  We will continue to keep you posted.

• There will be no designated areas for masked and unmasked parishioners in church.  You are free to sit wherever you wish.  

• The required use of face masks by ordinary and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (while distributing Communion) remains in effect through Easter Sunday.   We will revisit this policy at the conclusion of Holy Week/Triduum.  Ordinary and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are no longer required to wear face shields.  

• The required use of hand sanitizers by the ordinary and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (when first approaching the sanctuary and immediately after someone has received Communion on the tongue) remains in effect until further notice.    

• The Cry Room has been renamed 'St. Michael's Room' (in honor of St. Michael the Archangel) and is now open for parents with infants and young children.  Please be respectful and considerate of others when using this room.  It should not be seen as a play room or social area during Holy Mass.  Rather it should be seen as a 'training room' for young children who are learning how to participate and behave at Mass.

• Due to the small size of St. Michael's Room, the use of face masks is encouraged.

• Due to very low attendance on Zoom, we are discontinuing our livestream of the Mass with the sole exception of the 8:30 am Mass on Sundays.  There will be no livestream of the Mass on weekdays, starting tomorrow, March 2.  Now that the dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation has been lifted for well over 7 months, we want to encourage our parishioners to attend Mass in person if at all possible. This decision was also made due to the plummeting case loads as well as the high vaccination rates.  For other options to watch Mass livestream on weekdays, please visit EWTN's website:  https://www.ewtn.com/tv/watch-live/united-states
• The bulletin and pamphlet racks will return to the vestibule as they were prior to Covid-19.