St. Patrick Church, Chatham, will reopen on June 13, 2020. At that time, public liturgies, including the sacraments, such as Baptism and Matrimony, funerals and Memorial Masses for those who have died during the pandemic may be celebrated. The parish will follow the mandates and guidelines set forth by the State of New Jersey and the Diocese of Paterson. These guidelines are not suggestions. They are, for the meantime, particular law of the Diocese of Paterson. Therefore, these matters require adherence by all parishes and religious communities where the sacred liturgy is celebrated.  Attendance at Mass in the Church will be limited and on a 'first-come, first-served" basis. Those not able to attend will be put on a waitlist for following weekends. Sign-up is online on our Parish website. Please keep the following in mind prior to signing up for a weekend Mass:

1.  Remember that dispensation from the obligation to participate in Sunday and Holy Day Masses remains in effect until further notice. We will continue to live stream Masses at the 5 pm Saturday night vigil and Sunday 10 am Masses.  Visit our website HOME page to connect to the live stream or our YouTube channel at St. Patrick Parish Chatham.

2.  Those who are vulnerable to the coronavirus, those 60 years of age and older, and those with one or several underlying medical conditions should follow Mass at home via live stream until all restrictions are removed.

3.  A person with a cough, fever or not feeling well in general should stay home to protect the health of others.

1.  Click on the Mass Sign-Up link or go to the Mass Sign-Up page on our website and list your family name, first and second Mass choice and finally the number in your family planning to attend Mass.  You will receive a confirmation email either Friday afternoon or Saturday morning if we are able to honor your request. If, as we expect, we reach capacity for certain Masses, we would encourage parishioners to view the live stream and consider attending midweek Masses.  If you have been selected to attend Mass in the church one weekend, please consider viewing the live stream on a following week to allow other people to attend who have not yet had the opportunity.

2.  Only those that receive a confirmation email will be allowed into the church for Mass. PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE CHURCH IF YOU DO NOT HAVE CONFIRMATION THAT THERE IS A SPOT FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.  For the health and safety of our parish community, walk-ins will not be allowed.

3.  If you need handicap access, please indicate that it is needed on the Mass Sign-Up page. You will receive instructions on entering and exiting the church in your confirmation email.

1.  Arrive at the Church at least 30 minutes prior to the start of Mass.

2.  If you are arriving by car and plan on parking in our lot, please follow the parking guidelines and direction of our Meeters. A map of our Parking Lot Guidelines can be found on our website by clicking here. Entrance to the lot prior to Mass will be via the Chatham Street entrance ONLY. All entrances/exits will be open after dismissal.

3.  Follow the direction of our Meeters and proceed to the Church entrance facing Chatham Street maintaining a distance of 6 feet between families. MASKS MUST BE WORN BY ALL AT ALL TIMES EXCEPT THOSE 2 YEARS OF AGE AND YOUNGER. Please bring a small bottle of hand santizer to be used prior the reception of the Eucharist.

4.  A Greeter will check you and your family in at the Chatham Street entrance to the Church. Once signed in, a Seater will take you to your pew. Sanitize your hands prior to entering the worship space. Be advised that you will most likely not be assigned your 'regular' seat. Please do not change seats or pews. Remember, you are entering a 'no-touch, no-contact' zone. Do not shake hands or unnecessarily touch the pews as you walk down the aisles.

5.  For the health and safety of all, the balcony, Blessed Sacrament Chapel, Reconciliation Room, Sacristy, and Children's Cry Room will all be CLOSED. There is NO ACCESS to any of these areas. Please refrain from congregating around statues or stations of the cross. Direction signs and barriers must be respected at all times.

6. Please remember to use the bathroom prior to your arrival at the church. The bathroom will be available only in case of emergency. Children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

7.  Do not leave anything in the pews. Please dispose of masks, gloves, tissues and any other garbage when you leave the building.

8.  Please wait in your pew at dismissal. Exiting will be directed by the Hospitality Ministers and will begin in the back of the church to avoid attendees passing each other and passing those in the pews.

1.  There will be no choirs at any Masses. Singing is discouraged in general as it may increase the risk of viral spread. The parts of the Mass such as the Gloria, Gospel Acclamation, etc., will be recited instead of sung.

2.  There will be no altar servers assisting at this time. All liturgical ministers should maintain a 6-foot distance from the priest and from each other.  All liturgical ministers must wear a mask. The lector only removes the mask once they have reached the ambo and then replace the mask when finished the reading. Cantors will wear masks when not singing. 

3.  There will be no offertory procession. Collection baskets are available at the main entrance. Please place donations in the receptable on your way into the church, prior to the start of Mass. Please continue to use our parish's electronic Online Giving or donate through our website here.

4.  The Exchange of Peace is to be shared without contact. Please give a simple bow or wave to those closest to you.

5.  Reception of the Eucharist:
     a.  Social distancing should be maintained when you approach to receive the Eucharist . Please allow 6-feet between each person in line. Use your hand sanitizer before and after the reception of the Eucharist.
     b.  Follow the direction of the Hospitality Minister.  Instead of the main, middle aisle, the line for the reception of the Eucharist will be the side aisles, against the wall. You will be directed by the Hospitality Minister to exit your pew via the side aisle allowing for 6 feet between people. Two clergy members will be stationed in front of the steps to the sanctuary space, one on each side. Follow the procedures for receiving Communion. Go back to your pew via the main aisle.
     c.  Please remember, only the host will be distributed at every Mass by one of our priests or deacons. The distribution of the Precious Blood from the chalice is discontinued for the foreseeable future. The Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ is received under either species.
     d.  When the communicant reaches the priest or deacon, WITH YOUR MASK ON, make a small bow of your head, receive the Body of Christ in your hand, step to the side, lift your mask, consume the Body of Christ, PUT YOUR MASK BACK ON and then return to your seat or leave the church following the direction of the hospitality minister. 
     e.  If a communicant has any contact with the priest or deacon, he will immediately stop dispensing the Eucharist and use hand sanitzer prior to resuming distribution.
     f.  If you will not be receiving the Eucharist, we ask that you line up and follow the person ahead of you while maintaining the proper social distance. We are requesting all get up from the pew and enter the reception line for the Eucharist to prevent others from climbing over those not receiving the Sacrament. If you choose not to receive, simply cross your arms across your chest, bow and follow the person in line ahead of you back to your pew. or through the exit.
     g.  For those not receiving the Body of Christ, we invite you to make an Act of Spiritual Communion.

  O My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into  my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

1.  There will be no paper in the church at any time. This means all hymnals and missals are removed and worship aids will not be printed. 

2.  There will be no offertory. Please drop your donations into the receptacle in the narthex (church lobby) when you enter or exit the building.

3.  For the health of our parish community, Holy Water fonts and the baptismal font will be empty. Please refrain from touching any of the fonts.

4.  The balcony and children's cry room will be closed until further notice.

Whether you are celebrating Mass in the Church or following via our live stream,
we are One in Christ!

St. Patrick Parish is United in Faith!
Active, Connected, Enriching