BOSTON (WHDH) - Churchgoers attending Christmas masses throughout the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston will be required to wear masks, according to Cardinal Sean O’Malley.
This comes after the Archdiocese of Boston re-instated its mask mandate on Saturday, December 18.
“We have asked for masking for a couple of weeks during the Christmas season precisely so that people will feel safe about coming back to church,” O’Malley said.
Churchgoers throughout the archdiocese are required to wear a mask during all public masses, including weddings and funerals.
Mass celebrants, deacons, readers, choir members, and instrumentalists are also be required to wear a mask except for when they are speaking, O’Malley said.
Children under the age of five are not required to wear masks during mass, according to the Archdiocese of Boston.
All churches throughout the archdiocese will be required to provide a designated area in which social distancing is maintained.
The mask mandate is slated to expire on Jan. 17, 2022.
For those who are not comfortable worshipping in person, both midnight and Christmas day mass will be live-streamed.
“God willing, next Christmas we’ll be in a better place,” said O’Malley.
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