This document from the Office of Divine Worship will help answer some of your initial questions regarding the ending of the mask mandate.

The state officially lifted the indoor mask requirement for Oregonians on March 12, 2022. Beginning Saturday, March 12, the faithful are no longer be required to wear masks in Catholic churches or while attending faith-based Catholic activities. Mask use will be optional. The mask mandate was also lifted for Catholic schools making masking in schools optional as of March 12.

In answer to various inquiries received by this office the following may be helpful: • Priests, deacons and other ministers of the altar should ensure that their hands are carefully washed and sanitized before Mass. The use of sanitizer during Mass is not required. • Priests, deacons and extraordinary ministers may use masks during the distribution of Holy Communion if they desire, but they are not required. • Holding hands during the Our Father is not a liturgical action in the Roman Rite and should not be re-introduced, indeed some of the faithful find it very awkward being asked to hold hands with strangers, especially in light of the pandemic. Obviously, some family units may have their own customs. • During the Communion Rite the ‘sign of peace’ should be executed without physical contact, the exception being family units. The priest or deacon should not use the words “Let us offer each other a sign of peace”. The faithful can be encouraged to turn and acknowledge those nearby when the priest says: “The peace of the Lord be with you always.” This acknowledgement can take the form of a smile or a slight bow of the head. • After consultation with the Vicars Forane the Archbishop has determined that Communion under both Species is not to be re-introduced at this time.