For more information on the guidelines for the celebration of Mass at St. Nicholas Parish, please click here.
We look forward to welcoming you home to Saint Nicholas Church when we will have our first weekend of publicly celebrated Masses since March 14.
Our Reopening Team has been hard at work the past few weeks preparing and ensuring that our church is safe, clean, and available for public worship. For health and safety reasons, there are a number of important details we'd like to share with you before you plan on coming back to Mass.
The dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation is still in effect until further notice. If, for any reason, you do not feel comfortable attending Mass at this time, please stay home.
Parishioners who are particularly vulnerable (e.g. over the age of sixty, existing heart or lung conditions, diabetes, or otherwise immuno-compromised) are urged to remain home.
Parishioners who feel sick in any way and those with any form of fever or cough are urged and asked to refrain from public gatherings, including liturgical celebrations.
Face masks or facial coverings are to be worn at all times while on parish grounds. Social distancing will be maintained at all times. Please bring your own hand sanitizer; you will be asked to sanitize your hands upon entering the church. If you do not have hand sanitizer, automatic dispensers are available in the church.
Children are invited to attend Mass, however, the cry room is temporarily unavailable because of its enclosed space. Children over the age of 2 must wear a face mask or facial covering and stay together with their parents at all times both inside and outside the church. Children must not run or wander unsupervised while on parish grounds or inside the church.
Additional important information and details on the Mass (for example, arrival time for Mass, entering and exiting the church, participating at Mass, and Holy Communion guidelines) can be accessed here.
Church Capacity
Following the direction and guidance from the State of Maryland, Prince George's County, and the Archdiocese of Washington, our church can only accommodate 40 total people at this time. Since this is a fluid and ever-changing situation, we may be able to increase the numbers later in the week. Please be sure to check your email and Flocknotes for the latest information.
Mass Times
During Phase II of reopening in Prince George's County, Mass will be celebrated at Saint Nicholas Parish on the following days and times with limited capacity (reservations are required at this time):
Please know that the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation is still in effect until further notice. If, for any reason, you do not feel comfortable attending Mass at this time, please stay home.
How to Make a Reservation to Attend Mass
There are three (3) ways for parishioners to make a reservation to attend Mass:
Call the parish office (301) 490-5116 during normal office hours (weekdays from 9 AM - 3:30 PM, with the offices closed on Wednesday);
Visit the parish office during normal office hours (8603 Contee Road); or,
Sign up online via Flocknotes (the signups are emailed during the week).
Volunteers
The Reopening Team will be reaching out to various ministries asking parishioners to serve as volunteers for Masses so that we can open in a safe and orderly manner. For more information, please feel free to contact the Parish Office at (301) 490-5116.
Finally...
Please remember that the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is still in effect until further notice and that livestreaming Masses are still available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.