The General Points First…Number One: The dispensation from attending Mass on Sundays and Holydays of Obligation IS STILL IN FORCE. So if you are uncomfortable with returning to Mass due for any reason, you are not obligated to attend. Indeed, if you are sick or believe that you might make others sick, or that others might make you sick, you should not try to attend. And we’ve been told that when the dispensation does get lifted, we’ll be given a number of weeks notice ahead of the fact.
Number Two: The Green phase lets us go up to 75% capacity from 50% capacity but still asks for social distancing of six feet. So we’ll still need to block off every other pew. As things open up more, we’ll look at that again.
Number Three: Currently, masks are required – signs are posted as you enter the church building, please adhere to the posted instructions.
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Sunday MassThe Schedule
For now, the schedule will remain the same, namely…
Saturday Vigil at 4:30 PM
Sunday 8:00 AM
Sunday 10:00 AM (also LIVESTREAMED)
Sunday 11:30 AM
Sunday 6:00 PM
As crowds start to pick up, we’ll put the 7 AM and 8:30 AM Mass back. If we get wifi and cameras, we’ll livestream the 10 AM from the Church and not our livestream chapel.
As we’ve done up to now, all intentions of the various Masses will continue to be honored.
Coming to Church
Please make sure to wash your hands before coming in.
There will still be no missalettes or anything else in the pews. If you have a personal Sunday Mass Missal or Magnificat or similar publication, you may bring it to follow the Mass/Readings. Readings are also available on the iBreviary app or the Laudate app. Also, you can go to http://www.usccb.org/calendar/index.cfm?showLit=1&action=month to get the readings from the USCCB website and then print them to bring along. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING IN THE PEWS WHEN YOU LEAVE. Thank you.
The Celebration of Mass
Singing will still be at a minimum, namely the Responsorial Psalm and Mass parts.
Collections will still be either with our long-handled baskets or baskets at the bulletin tables if there are insufficient ushers. There will be NO procession of the gifts. Once again, I thank you for your generosity. It has really helped the parish situation. And don’t forget the Electronic Giving option. It’s on the website.
Diocesan guidelines still call for no Sign of Peace during the Green Phase. We’ll continue to invite you to make a non-tactile sign of peace as this has not caused any issues during the Yellow phase.
Receiving Holy Communion
So far, the new communion line has been working well. Please continue to follow directions as given on the signs at the doors. While the signs talk about Yellow phase, the guidelines are the SAME for Green Phase.
While the preferred method of receiving Holy Communion is still by the Hand, we will distribute on the tongue during Green phase. And if you do wear a mask, the preferred time to remove it is BEFORE you receive the Host.
If anyone is uncomfortable receiving Holy Communion while at Mass, don’t feel pressured to receive. You can make an act of Spiritual Communion just as we have been doing. We won’t pray the prayer during Mass but you’ll be able to pray quietly during the procession.
Heading Home
While we won’t chase you out as much in Green Phase, please remember social distancing and respect for others. Bulletins will still be on tables as you leave and you can pick one up as needed.
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Weekday Mass…
The 7:15 weekday Mass will continue to be celebrated in the CHURCH from Monday to Saturday. Masks are strongly encouraged and please remember to social distance. The Precious Blood will not be offered until further notice.
Beginning JULY 1, the 8:00 AM livestream Mass will be discontinued. What we will do is RECORD the 7:15 AM Mass in the Church and then uploaded for later viewing. This will be through the links on the website. When we do get wifi and cameras, the 7:15 will be livestreamed. Pray that happens soon! We’re working on it.
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The Sacrament of PenanceWe will continue to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance on Saturdays after the 7:15 AM Mass and from 3-4 PM in the CHURCH. Please follow the rules already posted in the Church for this sacrament.
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The Sacrament of BaptismWhile we are now allowed to celebrate multiple Baptisms at one time, we will continue to celebrate ONE baptism at a time, TWO per Sunday through July and August. Please follow all social distancing rules and masks strongly encouraged (except of the child being baptized and anyone under 2 years old). Please call the Parish Office to schedule or reschedule.
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The Sacrament of the Sick/Sick CallsThe Sacrament of the Sick will still be offered to those in imminent danger of death in hospitals, nursing homes or at home. Green Phase lets us do Communion Calls at homes. This might take a while to ramp up depending the availability of ministers and the desires of those in their homes. We are contacting the nursing homes in the Parish and will work with their guidelines.
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The Sacrament of MarriageAs with Baptisms, we’ve been able to do weddings but now we’ll be able to let you invite more people–up to the 75% capacity limit.
Again, social distance rules will apply and masks are strongly encouraged. (Yes, we’ll let the Bride and Groom remove theirs to smooch :-). Also, there would be no reception line.
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FuneralsFuneral Masses will be celebrated according to the Green phase guidelines. Priests are still available to come to funeral homes and cemeteries for services.
Funeral Directors have been taking care of asking people to observe social distancing during calling hours and we expect them to continue during this phase. Masks are still strongly encouraged and Communion rules at Mass will apply.
As stated previously, if you wish to celebrate a Memorial Mass for a deceased person whose funeral service was small due to Covid-19, you are welcome to call the Parish Office to schedule. With the exception of some rituals/texts that are only done in the presence of the deceased, the readings and other prayers are the same. We are more than happy to help bring comfort at this time.
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And in other News…There’s yet another Red Cross back-to-back Blood Drive on August 13th and 14th. Go to https://www.redcrossblood.org/ to register.
Parish Groups can call the Parish Office to talk about coming back live meetings on the campus. You need to remember social distancing and to think about everyone’s comfort. We’ll work with you to figure out what’s best for everyone.
And from our Youth Group and Metanoia…
Youth Group is very active right now: Sunday night gatherings after 6 PM Mass have resumed, with all appropriate guidelines being followed. Contact Danielle at corpus.ym@gmail.com for details.
Also, Montgomery County’s Young Adult Group, Metanoia, will be receiving a visit from the Archbishop himself, so if you are between the ages of 18 and 39, head to http://metanoiayoungadults.org/, subscribe to their newsletter and contact them for more information.
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