Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach reopened five weeks ago, offering daily Mass for parishioners and daily times for prayer, the church announced on its website.

“Due to social distancing, our church, which usually seats 1,000 parishioners, is down to a maximum of 175,” Holy Cross Parish Administrator Debbie True told Florida Catholic Tribune.

The church opens for daily prayer from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with weekday Masses at 8 a.m. Sunday Mass began on Pentecost weekend with the church’s regular schedule. However, the 4 p.m. Vigil Mass is not being held, True said.

“Attendance is slow in coming back and we have not reached our new maximum capacity as of yet,” True said. “The numbers are increasing slowly but I fear that with the new rise in COVID-19 cases, our numbers may decline again. We do require masks at all times and have hand-sanitizing stations for people to use on their way into the church, while in line for communion and upon leaving the church.”

Social distancing requires a spacing of six feet and the use of every other pew, the church said on its website. Parish staff has placed an “X” to mark where parishioners need to avoid sitting. Face masks can only be removed temporarily for Communion, which must be received on the hand only.

Collection baskets are placed by the large Celtic cross at the end of Mass. Public gatherings are not permitted before or after Mass. 

In another move to safeguard parishioners’ health, the church bulletin can be accessed online on the website.

The church hasn’t forgotten parishioners who can’t attend in person, or who feel uncomfortable with it.

“We now livestream our 10:45 a.m. Sunday Mass and have many grateful parishioners that they can now ‘attend’ their own parish,” True said.