COVID-19 will not stop the Junior Ring Mass this year but it has forced the Archbishop Carroll administration to come up with a substitution for the junior prom.

Last year, the Class of 2021 did not have a traditional Junior Ring Mass because of social distancing restrictions related to COVID-19. Instead, the ring Mass happened at the beginning of senior year. In addition, the Class of 2021 got no junior prom.

This year, a Junior Ring Mass is scheduled for April 16, to be followed by a junior celebration, according to Mrs. Allison Papantoniou, the assistant principal for student affairs. The junior celebration — a dress-up affair — will feature a DJ but is not being called a prom. It will not be held inside the East Gym, as the junior prom typically is.

“We can’t fit the whole class into the gym,” Mrs. Papantoniou said, referring to social distancing requirements.

Mrs. Papantoniou said details related to the Junior Ring Mass and junior celebration may evolve. For example, the administration is not sure yet whether the ring Mass will be for juniors only, without an option for guests, or if the juniors will be allowed to invite guests.

“We may tweak a couple of things,” she said.