Announce from Shimura Catholic Church in response to the spread of the COVID-19.

The spread of the new COVID-19, including the Omicron strain, has once again hit Japanese society.
In response to this, we would like to inform our brothers and sisters who are in charge of mass of our countermeasures and management policy.
We ask that you make your own decisions and take reasonable actions.

Management Policy of our church.

In accordance with the policy issued by the Tokyo Diocese, we will take all possible measures to prevent infection.
We will continue to maintain an important place of communication between believers in our church.

Request to all visitors to the church.

As per the guidelines of the Tokyo Archdiocese, we are exempted from the obligation to attend Masses.
Please use your own judgment and act appropriately, taking into account your own risk of infection.
If your temperature is over 37.5 degrees Celsius, please refrain from attending Mass at home.
Masks must be worn inside the church.
We will also take your temperature at the entrance. We appreciate your cooperation.
Please use the disinfectant available at the entrance of the church.
For more information about church school, classes, volunteer activities, etc., please see the notices from the church or the bulletin board in the church.

About Mass (Japanese and English Masses)

The number and time of Masses will be the same as usual on Saturdays and Sundays. There will be no limit to the number of people who can attend, but the number of chairs in the sanctuary will be limited to about 40, with space between them to ensure social distance.
Also, two rooms on the first floor, the hallway and the library, are open to the public. If the weather is nice, we will set up seating outside as well.
The windows in each room will also be open for thorough ventilation.
We will not be using the choir books, and the Mass will be played on the organ only, with no choral singing for the time being.
Solo singing of responsorial psalms will be conducted.
For Masses where a large number of people are expected to attend, there may be restrictions on admission. This will be announced on the church website in advance.

Thank you for your corporation.