Bishop David Zubik announced Friday that priests, deacons, everyone handling communion, servers, greeters, ushers, lectors and cantors must wear masks during the celebration of Mass until further notice, and everyone attending Mass is encouraged to wear one as well, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.

Additionally, the presentation of the gifts and the practice of shaking hands as a sign of peace are suspended until further notice, according to a news release from the diocese.

Cindy Micco, communications director at All Saints Parish in Butler, said these practices have been on hold for some time at the five churches under the parish's umbrella.

“We would turn and nod at each other; we haven't been shaking hands since we first put COVID protocols in place,” she said. “We haven't had people bringing (the gifts) up for quite a while either.”

The parish also adapted to new technology to keep parishioners spiritually connected virtually. These practices are encouraged by the diocese, and continue at All Saints Parish.

“When the pandemic first got so bad, we started doing everything we could to keep people seeing the Mass,” Micco said. “We have been televising the 10 o'clock Sunday Mass at St. Paul and now we also livestream them on our Facebook page.”

The diocesan protocol updates are based on the surge in community spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19, and will be re-evaluated on an ongoing basis as more information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health care officials becomes available, according to the news release.

“As Christians and community members, we have a responsibility to protect ourselves, each other and our neighbors,” Zubik said. “When we all follow these steps, it will slow this virus, help us keep our churches open and move us toward the day when can once again associate with others more freely.”

Pope Francis, Zubik and other Catholic bishops across the world continue to encourage all who are eligible to get COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots to do so as an act of love for all people, especially the most vulnerable, according to the news release.