Trinitas Chapel
Access for Visitors
The Trinitas Chapel is an oratory (a place of worship, other than a parish church, designated for the expressed use of a particular community). As such, the primary function and purpose of the Trinitas Chapel is to safely meet the spiritual needs of the on-campus university community. While the Chapel has long welcomed guests from the larger community, be aware that COVID-19 restrictions may limit accessibility to the space.
| Shelter in Place | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
| The chapel is closed to all visitors.
Limited access may be granted to campus ministry staff, pre-approved clergy, and those needed for livestreaming liturgies |
The chapel is closed to all off-campus visitors.
Priest celebrants may elect to offer limited physical attendance to liturgies as they see fit.
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Access will be limited to University students and employees during regular business hours
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Access to the general public resumes |
Liturgies
Liturgies include Sunday Masses, weekday masses (when possible), First Friday Devotions, and prayer services, and other university-sponsored worship experiences.
| Shelter in Place | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
| Limited liturgies will be livestreamed when possible via Youtube. No physical attendance will be permitted. | Weekly liturgies will be livestreamed via Youtube. No physical attendance will be permitted. | In-person attendance of chapel liturgies will be limited to no more than 40 worshippers. Standing-room attendance will not be permitted. | In-person attendance of chapel liturgies will be limited to the number set by the State of Montana. Standing-room attendance will not be permitted. |
At all liturgies, the following procedures and requirements will be enforced:
- Worshippers may not enter the chapel without properly wearing an approved face covering over the mouth and nose. Refer to Health & Wellness for more information.
- Social distancing of at least 6 feet must be maintained at all times while in the chapel.
- The general public (including art appreciation tours) will not be permitted to access the chapel’s sanctuary, choir loft, or sacristies.
- Holy Water fonts will remain empty until further notice
- Worshippers may not hold hands at the Lord’s Prayer
- The sharing of the Sign of Peace will be discontinued
- Reception of the Blessed Sacrament on the tongue will not be permitted (per Diocesan request)
- Distribution of the Precious Blood will not occur until further notice
- Worshippers may not congregate in the chapel or chapel vestibule after the conclusion of liturgies.
- Lectionaries will no longer be available in chapel pews. Worshippers will be encouraged to follow Liturgy readings on their personal mobile devices.
- (Refer to “Music Ministry” below for details regarding the chapel choir and chapel instruments)
When receiving Holy Communion:
- Worshippers will remain in their pew until instructed to come forward by the priest celebrant or an assisting minister
- a minimum distance of six feet is to be maintained from the person standing in front of you in the communion line
- When approaching the priest celebrant of Extraordinary ministry of Holy Communion, keep your mask on and extend your cupped hands forward to receive the Blessed Sacrament in your palm DO NOT CONSUME THE HOST IN FRONT OF THE MINISTER
- Communicants will move to the marked “x” on the floor, lower their mask, and consume the Blessed Sacrament
- After returning their mask to the proper place, communicants will return to their seat via the outer aisles of the chapel pews
Special (High-Attendance) Events
Special events include Mass of the Holy Spirit, Special Holiday services (like Candlelight), All Souls Day Remembrances, Baccalaureate Mass, Memorial Services, or masses that expect an attendance greater than 40 persons. All Procedures for regular Masses will be enforced for special events.
| Shelter in Place | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
| General attendance to events will not be permitted (including outdoor events).
Special events may be cancelled.
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General attendance to events will not be permitted (including outdoor events).
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Events must either occur outdoors or in large indoor venues that permit social distancing. Mask ordinances will be enforced.
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Events must either occur outdoors or in large indoor venues that permit social distancing. Mask ordinances will be enforced.
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Music at Liturgies (Music Ministry)
Music remains an important aspect of the liturgical life of the Church. In recent months, however, we have also been made aware of the increased likelihood of spreading contagion as a result of congregational singing.
| Shelter in Place | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
| Music ministry will be limited to no more than one person.
Wind instruments may not be used at liturgies.
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Music ministry will be limited to no more than two persons.
Wind instruments may not be used at liturgies.
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Pending implementation of safety measures, a chapel choir of no more than 5 may be utilized.
Wind instruments may not be used at liturgies. |
Choirs of 6 or more persons may be utilized from the choir loft only.
Wind instruments may not be used at liturgies. |
All phased responses above may be amended by the campus priest chaplain if deemed necessary for health and safety.
The following procedures and requirements will be enforced for the 2020-2021 academic year:
- Congregational singing will not be permitted
- Music worship aids will not be made available to worshippers
- Music Hymnals will be removed from pews
- Wind instruments will not be permitted at Chapel liturgies
- Use of chapel instruments (including pianos and drums) will be limited to Campus Ministry staff (and music ministers)
- Instruments will be sanitized before and after each use
- Cantors (when utilized) must maintain personal music binders for their use. Sheet music and binders may not be shared.
- Cantors and instrumentalists (when utilized) must wear face shields while at rehearsals and liturgies
- A minimum distance of 6 feet will be maintained between all cantors and instrumentalists
- Cantors may not face each other while singing (no standing in a circle)
- Cantors may not stand in back-to-back rows
- The sharing of hand-held microphones will be avoided when possible
- Congregational seating located within 12 feet of cantors and instrumentalists will be removed or closed off
- If this is not possible, music ministers may be moved to the choir loft
Rehearsals
Weekday music rehearsals will not be permitted while the State of Montana is under “Shelter in Place” orders or in Phase 1 of reopening.
When permitted in Phases 2 and 3 or reopening, the procedures and requirements outlined above will be enforced at rehearsals.
Campus Ministry Programming
Campus Ministry programming includes: Bible studies, RCIA seminars, Providence Servant Leaders meetings, fellowship and faith-sharing events.
| Shelter in Place | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
| All programming will be available through online platforms only.
Some programs may be suspended to better allocate resources. |
All programming will be available through online platforms only.
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In-person attendance to programming may resume, pending assurance of a proper venue, social distancing, and the enforcement of mask ordinances.
Online options will be made available when possible. |
In-person attendance to programming may resume/continue, pending assurance of a proper venue, social distancing, and the enforcement of mask ordinances.
Online options will be made available when possible. |
Community Service & Service-Learning
Protecting Vulnerable Populations
As a ministry founded in the tradition of the Sisters of Providence, care for the poor and vulnerable is paramount to our mission and charism. The recent COVID-19 Pandemic, however, requires us to re-envision how we participate in service and how we protect the populations we serve.
Volunteer service placing student in direct contact with the following vulnerable populations will not be permitted until further notice:
- Children and school campuses
- Hospitals, medical clinics, hospices
- convalescent/rehabilitation facilities, retirement and assisted living communities
- populations incapable of practicing social distancing
University-Sponsored Volunteering (including clubs and athletic teams)
Fall Programming
Off-campus service/volunteer opportunities will not be sponsored by the University of Providence in the Fall semester.
Applications for the approval of one-time on-campus service projects may be submitted to the Office of Mission Integration and Risk of Compliance for review. Submit requests to Nicolas Estrada at Nicolas.estrada@uprovidence.edu.
Spring Programming
| Shelter in Place | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
| Both on and off-campus service opportunities will not be permitted | Both on and off-campus service opportunities will not be permitted | Applications for on and off-campus service projects will be accepted by Mission Integration for review | Applications for on and off-campus service projects will be accepted by Mission Integration for review |
Mission/Service Trips & Retreats
Overnight service trips and retreats will not be hosted in the Fall 2020 semester.
The feasibility of spring-semester programming will be reassessed in the Fall of 2020 by Campus Ministry and Risk and Compliance.
Service Learning
Planning for service-learning in the Spring 2021 semester will continue as scheduled for the time being.
The feasibility of spring-semester programming will be reassessed in the Fall of 2020 by the Office of Mission Integration and the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Galerie Trinitas
Operation
| Shelter in Place | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
| Galerie Trinitas will be closed to the public.
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Galerie Trinitas will be closed to the public.
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Galerie Trinitas will be available to small groups of guests by appointment only. | Galerie Trinitas will be available to small groups of guests by appointment only. |
Appointments
Appointments for private tours of the Galerie Trinitas may be made by contacting Nicolas Estrada at Nicolas.estrada@uprovidence.edu or (406) 791-5261.
Galerie Trinitas Advisory Board
The Galerie Trinitas Advisory Board will not be permitted to hold in-person meetings until further notice. Board members will not be granted access to the Galerie storage/archives facility until further notice.
