New Guidelines - Usher Training


Thank you for volunteering your time and effort. Your support is vital to ensure the successful delivery of the first weekend Masses and particularly special because you are helping to support the commencing of Masses during Pentecost. You will play a vital role in ensuring we can deliver our live Masses under the new guidelines of the Archdiocese of Miami and the CDC. Ushers and Volunteers will be responsible for the following:

  1. You will direct people into the main entrance and to their seats
  2. Ensure Masks are worn on parish grounds at all times
  3. Encourage social distancing outside and inside the parish
  4. Ensure worshiper know where to go and what to do
  5. Answer questions and provide support
  6. Ensure overflow to parish hall or to their cars is orderly and timely
  7. Assist with the departure of worshipers
  8. Familiarize yourself with the layout - view layout

 

SETUP

For those Ushers and Volunteers that will assist with setup, the following instructions apply:

  • Please arrive 30 minutes before Mass starts
  • Please ensure the following are in place:
  • Outside Posters & Easels (one on each side door and a third in the back near the office)
  • Offertory Basket & Hand Sanitizer
  • Ensure Side Doors are Locked from the outside
  • Speaker for Outside Communion Announcement

 

OUTSIDE USHERS

Before Mass Begins:

  • Arrive 20 minutes in advance of the Mass & Ensure you have your Usher ID
  • Locate the Lead Usher and ask what time people can begin to enter.
  • As people arrive direct them to the line which starts at the front door and wraps around to the side door.
  • Point out that they must stand on the lines which are 6 feet apart while they wait to enter the church.
  • Ensure they are wearing masks before they enter. Remind them the Offertory Basket & Hand Sanitizers are available as they enter (ask them to use it).
  • Be prepared to answer questions.
  • Inform people at the front of the line they should only enter 1 person or family at a time.
  • When they reach the door, allow people to enter 1 person or family at a time. 
  • Once the count reaches 250 people, check with the Entrance Ushers to see if the church is full. If they confirm it is full, send the overflow to the Parish Hall.
  • Inform overflow they can stay in their cars and watch Mass online - let them know that the Eucharist will be available to them during Communion and they should come to the front of the church during the Lord’s Prayer

During Mass:

  • Coordinate with Lead Usher & Eucharistic Ministers to give Communion to people in their cars
  • Inform people in their car that Communion is available
  • Ensure those waiting for Communion use the lines on the floor
  • Ensure the Volunteers with the Offertory Baskets are available

 

ENTRANCE USHERS

Before Mass:

  • Check in with the Lead Usher
  • Ensure the 2 offertory baskets and 4 hand sanitizers on the tables.
  • Ensure you coordinate with the Outside Ushers for letting people into the church. The Outside Ushers will keep everyone in the line with 6 feet distance and will allow one person or family to enter at a time. 
  • Ensure you are keeping count of your door. Coordinate with the second usher to keep count as people enter.
  • Once inside, make sure greet them “welcome back” and to point out that “there are offertory baskets on the table for your donations” and to “please use the hand sanitizers before you are seated.” 
  • Then tell them that “the Usher (use name) will escort you to your seat. Before Mass begins the Lector will give you more instructions.” Remember, that no one can take a seat on their own and no one should be walking around.
  • Do not leave the Entrance Area. You need to keep your eye on the offertory basket.

During Mass:

  • Once Mass begins take the offertory to the back as you normally would but do not seal because you will be taking the basket outside during Communion for the people watching Mass in their cars.
  • Right before the Our Father ask the Outside Ushers if there are people in the Parish Hall an in their cars. If there are, then let the Sacristan know that they need to take Communion to both locations. 
  • At the Our Father, take the Offertory Basket and follow the EM outside and to the Parish Hall. (If there are too many people, make sure there are 3 Ushers with baskets: 2 outside the church at each corner and 1 for the Parish Hall)

SEATING USHERS

Make sure you are familiar with the seating layout of the church and be prepared to answer questions about the Mass schedule, confession, and the Adoration Chapel. The best answer is to have them visit our website where they will find everything they need.

Before Mass:

  • Once people enter the church the Entrance Usher will introduce them to you and let them know that you will take them to their seats.
  • Greet them and welcome them back.  Confirm where you will be seating them so ask if they are alone, a family or would like to sit in the senior section.
  • Take them to the front pews of their section. Fill up the pews before moving on to the next section.
  • If an individual or senior, ensure they sit at one of the seating labels. If a family, ensure there is only one family per pew. 
  • See the Map of Category for seating.

After Mass:

  • Once Mass is finished the Lector will announce the departure instructions. People will depart one section at a time starting with the back pews.
  • Ensure you are at the pew which will depart first.
  • Lead everyone to the side exit closest to your section.
  • Make sure there are ushers blocking the front entrance and redirecting traffic to the side doors.
  • Make sure people do not congregate.
  • Thank everyone and wish them a good day!

PARISH HALL USHERS

Before Mass:

  • Check in with the Lead Usher to designate the Usher who will be at the Entrance greeting people and responsible for the Offertory Basket.
  • An Usher outside should greet all people and welcome them back. Ensure they are wearing a mask and keeping 6 feet social distance as they form a line to enter. Only allow one person or family to enter at a time. Wait until they leave the entrance area before letting the next person or family in.
  • An Usher at the inside entrance greets people and a sk if they are individuals, seniors or family. Inform them they can drop off their donations in the offertory basket and ask them to use hand sanitizer before they are seated. Please keep an eye on the basket as people drop off their donations.
  • An Usher inside the Parish Hall should ensure all the seats are in order and have not been moved from the previous Mass. As people arrive the Usher should direct people to their seats ensuring they maintain the 6 feet social distance.

During Mass:

  • Once everyone is seated the Entrance Usher should put away the basket according to normal procedures. When you return to the church make sure to inform the Lead Usher that you have people at the Parish Hall who will need Communion.
  • During the Our Father ensure that the EM is heading to the Parish Hall for Communion.
  • Make sure the offertory basket is available should people want to make a donation.

Video Live Stream:

  • Someone will come by to make sure the equipment is working before Mass begins. Please make sure the Usher seating people is available to review the setup should there be a need to address any issues.
  • Once Mass starts if there are issues with the sound make any adjustments as instructed. Call the Tech if there is a problem.
  • Make sure no one touches the equipment.

After Mass:

  • Ensure that everyone departs one section at a time keeping 6 feet distance at all times.
  • Make sure to have the Offertory Basket available as people depart.
  • Do not allow people to stay in the Parish Hall or to congregate after Mass.

COMMUNION USHERS

For Receiving Communion:

  • There will be 2 lines formed at the aisle. One will go toward the altar where the priest celebrant will be. The other line will go toward the Baptismal Fountain where a Eucharistic Minister will be.
  • Communion in the mouth will only be given by the priest.
  • Ensure that everyone maintains 6 feet of distance while in the line.
  • Make sure masks are worn until immediately before receiving Communion.
  • Make sure the line stops at the first and last pews before allowing people one at a time to approach the priest or EM.

Liturgical Ministers:

  • Ensure that there are 3 corporals with consecrated hosts: 1 for the Parish Hall, and the other 2 for people who watch Mass in their car.
  • EM should make sure they communicate with the Lead Usher to determine if Communion will be needed for the Parish Hall and/or for the people in their cars.
  • EMs serving outside should stand at each corner of the front of the church.