One Newfoundland and Labrador diocese will be requiring proof of vaccination and identity verification for anyone age 12 or older to attend Mass or other events held at parishes.
“Effective October 22, 2021, it will be mandatory for all persons 12 and older wishing to attend Masses or Services in our churches to demonstrate proof of vaccination by using the Vaccine Passport: NLVaxPass or by showing proof of vaccination by presenting their QR code before entering our churches,” said an Oct. 15 letter from Bishop Robert Anthony Daniels of Grand Falls-Windsor to the priests and pastoral leaders of the diocese.
The diocese’s territory makes up approximately half of the island of Newfoundland.
The province enacted its vaccine passport system on Oct. 22, requiring residents to download an app and present proof of vaccination to enter “non-essential businesses.”
The Newfoundland and Labrador government website says individuals must be fully vaccinated or have an approved medical exemption by Oct. 22 to access the “businesses and settings” that include “Gatherings of any size held for socializing, celebration, ceremony or entertainment that are hosted at a recognized business or organization, a rental room, community centre, or other venues used to host gatherings (e.g. weddings, funerals, birthday parties, baby showers, faith-based gatherings).”
Although faith-based gatherings are listed, another page entitled Guidance for Businesses and Organizations lists faith-based organizations under its exemptions category and reads:
If faith-based organizations do not verify proof of vaccination for all attendees at faith-based gatherings, they will be subject to the following restrictions:
- Capacity is limited to 50 per cent;
- Everyone must wear a non-medical mask at all times (including the officiant and musicians);
- Congregational singing is not permitted;
- The names and contact information of all attendees must be recorded and retained for 14 days for contact tracing, and must be shared with public health officials if requested;
- Physical distancing must be maintained between individuals from different family groups; and,
- Entry must be restricted to only those who do not have COVID-19 symptoms and who are not required to self-isolate for any reason.
The Grand Falls-Windsor diocese said those who have recently turned 12 will have a three-month “grace period” to receive a COVID-19 vaccine before being subject to the vaccine passport system at churches.
Per Bishop Daniels’ letter, those wishing to attend Mass in the diocese have to download the NLVaxPass app, or print out a physical copy of their vaccine QR code to show the ushers before they can enter the church. A different app, NLVaxVerify, will be used by the ushers, greeters, or other volunteers to verify vaccination status upon entry.
Once vaccination status is verified, a Massgoer will then have to show an identification card to go to Mass. For anyone 19 or older, this must be photo identification.
“The name on the identification must match the name on the COVID-19 Vaccination Record QR code or other form of proof of vaccination,” said Bishop Daniels. If the names and birthdays do not match, ushers are instructed to request an additional ID card.
Bishop Daniels said he had asked the province’s Ministry of Health and Community Services “to verify that this step will be necessary.”
He noted that in certain cases where “it will be a burden for those attending to provide proof,” churches may allow entry with restrictions “for pastoral reasons.” Examples of these situations include funerals and weddings, he noted.
To speed up the process of verifying vaccination statuses before Mass, parish offices may keep a record of the vaccinated. This can only be done with the consent of each person, however.
“This is all new to us; there will be a learning curve and there will be glitches,” said Bishop Daniels. “Our patience and the patience of our parishioners will be tested. But we cannot let the pandemic win.”
“Our people need access to the Sacramental life of the Church especially now. Together we can make this work,” he said.
The other two dioceses in the province have taken different approaches to implementing the vaccine passport system.
The Archdiocese of St. John’s in Newfoundland, the oldest Catholic jurisdiction in English-speaking North America, has not released public statements concerning the vaccine passport.
The Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador is requiring vaccine verification “for all non-faith-based gatherings on Church Property beginning on October 22nd,” according to an Oct. 19 letter from Bishop Bart van Roijen.
“This includes any events where parish facilities are rented out or used by third party groups,” he said. “It is the parish’s responsibility to ensure that all groups using their facilities are compliant with proof of Public Health’s Proof of Vaccination mandate, this includes the verification of the person’s personal identification.”
Masks and physical distancing will still be required, said Bishop van Roijen.
“I would like to extend my gratitude to the priests, ministers, and employees for your co-operation in keeping our parishes safe from the spread of the virus,” he said. “Your attention to these protocols is gratefully appreciated.”
Since the start of the pandemic, Newfoundland and Labrador has reported 1,964 cases of COVID-19, with 15 deaths. There is currently one person reported in the hospital with the disease.
Catholic News Agency with B.C. Catholic files
