The Arizona State University Catholic Newman Center will tentatively reopen on July 5, the Rev. Rob Clements said.

As COVID-19 is beginning to taper off, the Rev. Clements spoke on a YouTube video on how they would be reopening the correct way. 

The Rev. Clements said that he was uncertain of what reopening would look like, mentioning that there was a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus as a whole, with multiple varying perspectives. 

“It’s hard to find news to trust,”the Rev. Clements said on YouTube. “I wanted to update you on some happenings here at your Newman Center.”

As the state is beginning to reopen, Clements said that he would like to still take plans slowly to ensure that they are approaching it carefully enough by waiting until July 5.

“That affords us a little time to do some things to map out the chapel so that distancing can be observed,” he said on YouTube. “We’ll also be streaming in the hall for any overflow.”

The Rev, Clements said that families may consider sending a single member as a representative rather than the entire family attending, especially while services can be streamed online. 

He said that the center is considering hiring a disinfecting service to come and completely sanitize the facilities, but a decision has not yet been made. 

“I think that this is the safest route to go,” the Rev. Clements said on YouTube.

He also had other good news to share.

 "Bishop Olmstead has assigned Father Daniel Cruz, he is one of our best and brightest younger guys, to be associate director here with me at the Newman Center,” the Rev. Clements said on YouTube.

Cruz will begin his new position on July 1. 

“He is one of the happiest guys to be around, so I look forward to when you get to meet him,” the Rev. Clements said on YouTube. “I hope that everyone is staying well. I hope to see you all soon.”