Dear Parishioners,
I assume by now you have heard the news that Archbishop Sample has encouraged parishes to investigate and attempt have a “limited re-opening” of Masses for the public. At this writing, the maximum number of people is set at 25 while following an involved list of guidelines to help reduce parishioners risks. We are not yet ready, but have been working to make sure we can accommodate all that is needed for such an opportunity for those who would like to attend Mass. Please watch our website, Facebook page, Youtube channel, notices on our office and church doors, and emails for detailed information as to when we will be ready to begin and when sign-ups will be starting. Our tentative goal is May 24th with the majority of the our vicariate parishes doing similar limited re-openings over that same weekend. Since I cannot say that all of the parishes will be ready, please be mindful that this is a target, a tentative date.
We hope to offer short Masses to limited exposure to each other, as duration and proximity are a major issue in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus from person to person. We hope a sign up process will be put into place next Monday in two ways: In-person and via phone. Again, it is too early to describe those details as of this writing. During the sign-up phase, persons will need to offer their name (and names of anyone else in their family coming), address, and contact phone number. This is intended to allow us, internally (not to government officials), to do what is called, “contact tracing” in case someone comes down with the Coronavirus and we need to alert those families that attended Mass. Only those who are pre-signed up will be allowed to come in to the particular Mass which they signed up for. If someone’s name is not on the list, that person will not be allowed in. No substitutions will be allowed. If one becomes argumentative or combative, we may have to shut down the whole Mass or be forced to call the police to escort that person off the property.
We plan to offer four Sunday Masses at St. Anne (8 AM, 9 AM, 10 AM, & 11 AM) and one at each of the Missions (8:30 AM at OLR and 11:00 AM at St. Patrick). During the weekdays, we plan to have our normally scheduled morning Mass (8 AM except on Wed at 8:30 AM) and will be adding an evening Mass at 7 PM. The Sunday 11 AM Mass will be bilingual and the Monday morning Mass will be in Spanish. All other Masses will be in English. We will continue to record and post online our Saturday Vigil Mass. Confession times will be moved to 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM in order to help the preparation needed for that recorded Mass.
Since the Sunday obligation has been dispensed by the Archbishop, nobody needs to come. In addition, the specific date is not of consequence as much as just being able to attend Mass sometime. So we hope to be able to allow groups of 20 parishioners at a time to attend Mass (5 additional will be needed to serve in necessary ministry functions, thus totally 25 persons). Over the course of two weeks, we expect that all those who would like to go will be able. So that means, attendees will be coming once every two weeks. Sign-ups will only allow for a person to sign up once during each two-week period.
We urge you to wear a face mask during Mass. If you do not bring one with you, we will offer you a mask when you are checking in before entering the church building. Sanitizing gel is present for parishioners to use as they enter and leave the church. There will be no singing and seating will be clearly marked. Only family/home-groups can sit together while everyone else must sit at least 6 feet from each other. Similar is true for the communion line. There will be more options for seating than people, so there will be plenty of room. Tape on the ground and flooring will indicate the flow of traffic. No books will be in the pews. Donations are welcome and needed, so a collection basket will be placed in the church for people where they may place their donation (Thank you!). While Sunday Masses and weekday morning Masses will have short homilies, the evening Masses will have no homilies, again, in light of the needs to shorten time in proximity to one another.
If you are 65+ in age or have symptoms of COVID-19 or any other illness, please stay home. If you are suffering from any compromised health issues, stay home. If you are worried about becoming infected due to your coming, stay home. Remember, we will be streaming Mass daily and producing the Sunday Mass for viewing on the Internet, and you are not required to come to Mass at this time.
This is a very trying time for everyone. I expect that your response to this effort will be one of gratitude, not entitlement. We have gone so long without Mass, and are being given a special opportunity to come to our church and worship. Let us rejoice and be glad. Finally, stay tuned to the various ways we will be communicating our opening date and sign-ups.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
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