UPDATE regarding
the Proclamation of a
Public Health Emergency
As you may know, Governor Evers recently declared a Public Health Emergency and sent an accompanying Emergency Order throughout the State of Wisconsin that will take effect at 12:01 am, Saturday, August 1st, 2020.
I have attached the Executive Order #82 and Emergency Order #1 to this email.
The logical impact for us is the following:
- Face coverings are required to be worn in all enclosed spaces.
- Enclosed spaces are defined as, "a confined space open to the public where individuals congregate."
- The church is an enclosed space as defined by this Emergency Order and thus masks are now required to be worn both at St. Michael's in Dane and St. Patrick's in Lodi.
There is an exception from wearing masks defined as follows:
- "While a single individual is giving a religious, political, media, educational, artistic, cultural, musical or theatrical presentation for an audience, the single speaker may remove the face covering when actively speaking." - Emergency Order #1, 3., a., vi.
I hope it is clear to all that:
- The priest will not wear the mask while presiding at the Mass. He will wear the mask while distributing Holy Communion, which is specifically required by the Diocese of Madison.
- The Lectors will not wear the face covering while proclaiming the readings.
- The Cantor will not wear the face covering while singing.
Please remember to bring your own face covering. Although face coverings will be provided at the entrance to the church, we should, as much as possible, bring our own face coverings.
Thank you for your cooperation,
Fr. Joseph Baker
Pastor, Blessed Trinity Parish
