Parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Casa Grande, will celebrate Mass inside the church beginning this Father's Day weekend instead of in the parking lot.

“I have come to a decision to conclude our parking lot Masses and start a modified re-opening of our parish church where we can gather together again inside of it and celebrate our sacred liturgies in person, beginning the weekend of June 20-21 when we celebrate Father’s Day, the Rev. Ariel Lustan said, the church website reported, "holding in our hearts that confidence that all of us are under the loving protection of our Almighty Father."

The church will take precautions to limit the risk of COVID-19, he said.

Face masks will be mandatory for anyone over the age of 2. There will be social distancing which will limit the seating capacity of the church. There will be no singing since “the virus travels much faster when singing,” Lustan said, the website reported.

Ushers will wear gloves and use long-poled collection baskets to take the offering.

Communion “will be received only in the hand (left over right). The giving of the Precious Blood is indefinitely suspended. The Eucharistic Ministers who will be retrained for safety and efficiency will come to your seats between roped off pews to give you Holy Communion,“ he told parishioners on the website.

Services will still be livestreamed for those who choose to stay at home.

“While we are doing everything reasonable to ensure a safe and healthy place of worship, please remember that there is no way to absolutely guarantee anyone’s safety in a public place,” the priest told the congregation on the website. “There will always be an inherent risk, regardless of age or health, in attending any public event including religious services.“

This is the “new normal” Lustan said, while casting forward to the time when the pandemic is over.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding, prayers and support as we navigate and continue to learn from this ‘new normal', hoping that one day, all our fears and worries have fully disappeared as we go to the house of the Lord to celebrate our faith and communal life,” Lustan said, according to the website.