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Dear Members of St Joseph’s Parish,

Unless there is an unexpected change, we expect that we will be open for Masses again from Friday 3 December! Your parish staff is eager to welcome you back to the church.
Following are the arrangements we will observe, in line with the requirements of government policy to keep us safe from Covid:

1.  All Masses will be at St Joseph’s Church, Takapuna. Only when we move to a “green traffic light” will St Vincent de Paul Church at Milford re-open.
2. Our Sunday Mass schedule: Saturday 5pm, Sunday 7.30am, 9.15am, 11am and 6pm (notice the changed time of two morning Masses).
3. Our weekday Mass schedule: Monday to Friday 9.15am, Saturday 9am. Reconciliation Saturday 9.30am
4. At each Mass, 100 vaccinated people will be accommodated in the church; another 100 in the hall under the church; any extras on the lawn beside the hall.
5. At each Mass, up to 10 unvaccinated adults or people choosing not to declare their vaccination status will be accommodated in the Flanagan lounge.
6. At each Mass there will be a video link to people in the hall, on the lawn and in the Flanagan lounge. Holy Communion will be brought during Mass to people in these areas.
7. Children under 12, currently not offered vaccination, will accompany their parents or caregivers.
8. Entry to the church will be through the main doors facing Taharoto Rd only; to the hall, through the side door facing the school only; and to the Flanagan lounge, through the lower church door facing the car park only.
9.  When you arrive, you must do three things to enter:
   a. Scan into the church’s Covid QR code;
   b. Show your Covid Vaccination Certificate, My Vaccine Pass or proof of vaccination to an usher at the door;
   c. Write your name on the church clipboard, so that the parish has a record of attendance to regulate the number of people in one space.
10.  Holy Communion will be ministered only under the form of bread, and only in the hand. There will be no holy water in the fonts. People are encouraged to wear masks. There needs to be 1 metre social distancing between people of different bubbles.
11.  All the parish staff, including the clergy, are double vaccinated. All serving as ministers at Mass (readers, ministers of Holy Communion, collectors, ushers) are required to be double vaccinated.
12. We will continue to livestream Mass Monday to Saturday on the parish website and Facebook.
    Well, that’s a lot to get your head around! I hope it is an arrangement that provides a safe environment for worship, and a sense of welcome. It will be wonderful to gather again in person to celebrate the Lord in our midst!

    God bless,

    David Tonks

    25 November 2021