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Ursula Valdez, Theresa Pyone, Grace Rivera and Susan Roxas are among more than a dozen volunteers trained to help check-in Massgoers for outdoor Masses now being celebrated each Sunday at St. Andrew Parish, Daly City. (Courtesy photo)
Aug. 31, 2020
Catholic San Francisco
St. Andrew Parish in Daly City began outdoor Sunday Masses on Aug. 23, 2020, on a concrete church patio. Masses are at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. each Sunday. A Saturday evening vigil Mass at 4:45 p.m. is livestreamed from the church where San Mateo County COVID-19 protocols prohibit an attending assembly.
“We had 50 chairs at six feet apart set-up in the patio as early as 6:30 a.m.,” Fe Hortinela, a member of the St. Andrew Stewardship Council, told Catholic San Francisco.
“We also have two garden benches that are designated for family attendees," she said. "We added more seats at 11 a.m. as more people came. Some people brought their own chairs.”
Hortinela trained a group of more than a dozen volunteers to help at the outdoor Masses. The parish young adult group also supplied volunteers.
The training included addressing safety protocols and the responsibilities of the role each of the volunteers would play as ushers, greeters, check-in personnel, temperature takers, and consent form takers, a record necessary for contact tracing. Supplies were organized for efficient setup and cleanup, Hortinela said.
For each outdoor Mass a team of four or five of the volunteers welcome congregants, assure all are wearing a facial covering and staff the touch-free sanitizer, thermometer, and consent form stations.
To manage the number of people attending Mass the parish referred to what Hortinela called “preferred Mass time registrations” acquired from parishioners before indoor assemblies were prohibited. The list assists in contact tracing, she said.
“Most congregants attend their preferred Mass time however some people come in for what works best for them and we allow them in as long as we don’t exceed the limit of 75 to a max of 100,” Hortinela said.
“We have 35 to 50 attendees excluding volunteers and liturgical ministers. Most of our congregants are in the high-risk category.”
The parish welcomed newly ordained Deacon Emil Lucero who assisted at the morning Masses with Deacon Noel Santillan. Father Elpidio Geneta, parochial vicar, was principal celebrant. Father Piers Lahey is pastor of St. Andrew Parish.
Another highlight was the first Communion of Nelson Siao and Venice So, both 10 years old and prepared for the sacrament by parish catechist Rita Barichievich.
“We are blessed to celebrate the Masses and continue to abide the protocols for the safety of our congregants,” Hortinela said.