COVID-19 Updates

May 18, 2021
Click the button below to read the newly issued guidelines for the return to Mass.



March 9, 2021
Click the button below to read how to attend Mass safely during COVID.

February 18, 2021

1. One of our parishioners generously purchased Holy Water bottles so that we can bless it and distribute after allowing it to sit for two days. We have a limited number and they will be available on a first come basis. 

2. Bishop Caggiano wrote the following to the Pastors:

As you know, since the restoration of public worship, the Diocese has required parishioners to use a Mass reservation system. The purpose of this requirement is twofold: (1) to regulate capacity limits and (2) allow notification of those who attended Mass of potential exposure. I recognize that many of your people have found this requirement to be burdensome. 

For this reason, I am deeply grateful for your cooperation in maintaining the system in place and for their cooperation. I am delighted to report that there have been no reported instances of a parishioner getting COVID-19 while attending Mass (given social distancing, masks, and proper sanitization). This is a significant development that must now factor into our reasoning regarding how best to regulate seating capacity moving forward. More specifically, I do not envision the need to notify those who attend a specific Mass if a parishioner later notifies the parish that they are COVID-19 positive. If all protocols were followed, our history has demonstrated that the likelihood of cross contamination is very slim. If a member of the clergy or an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion later tests positive, the pastor must notify the parish through normal parish communication channels (website, emails, robocalls, etc.).

Therefore, effective immediately, pastors may continue to use a Mass reservation system or choose another method to manage capacity limitations. 

For Our Lady of Fatima Parish, we have decided the following: 

Effective March 1, 2021 we will suspend using SignUp Genius for weekend Masses and have the registration person count how many people are in the church.  Seating will be on a first-come basis.



1. If we hit 200 people the counters/registers will close the doors and not admit anymore people. 
2. We will use SignUp Genius for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter. 
3. We will now open the glass doors. 
4. If you want to sit on the choir side, please enter through the glass doors. 
5. If you want to sit on the Route 7 side, please enter through the door we are now using. 
6. Please sit towards the front when you come in.
7. Please continue to take your temperature and sanitize your hands when you enter. 
8. Please arrive early so that you do not have to walk by people and distract the solemnity of the Mass.
9. If you are late, please wait until after the opening prayer or Gospel Reading to be seated. 
10. We will still only have one restroom open so please use it only in an emergency. 
11. Please do your part to keep everyone safe and maintain six feet of social distancing. 
12. When coming up for Communion, please exit your pew by the black arrow at one end of the pew and do a complete circle and return to your pew by   the way you left your pew. If you cannot make the circle, please move to the center so that others can pass by the pew and maintain six feet of distancing. 
13. One pew per person or family. Please do not sit in a pew that is already occupied.
14. Please bring your Offertory up when you go to Communion so that you do not have to walk past other people. 

Thank you for helping us keep our church safe and compliant.

Fr. Reggie