Letter From Father Joe Regarding Public Masses

Dear Parishioners,

We are in an unprecedented time in the history of Holy Family and in our Church. The Holy Family mission statement suggests that we are to be a joy-filled, loving community and that we be centered in Christ and the Eucharist.  Certainly, the elements of physical community and the Eucharist have been painfully absent from our Parish for almost 2 months, and I share in this suffering.

Bishop Spalding has announced that the Diocese will begin a process to resume the public celebration of Mass. Each pastor has been given the flexibility to determine the best date for re-opening his parish based on his individual parish situation. We have formed a core team to provide input related first and foremost to the safety of you, our parishioners. There are many considerations to be thought out in careful planning such as maintaining social distancing, personal protective gear, sanitization between Mass, etc.

As I mentioned, our first concern is for your safety and health. In order to accomplish that, and to ensure that we are prepared as possible, I have made the decision to conduct our first weekday Mass on Monday, May 25, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Our daily Mass schedule will remain the same and will continue to be offered in the Main Worship Area, except we will NOT have the Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Mass until after June 30, 2020. Livestreaming of all weekday masses will continue through June 30. In addition, the Saturday 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass will become the weekend Mass that will be livestreamed. It will remain available for viewing on Sunday and throughout the week. Public celebration of weekend Masses will begin in the Main Worship area on Saturday, May 30, 2020 with the 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass.

Sunday Masses will be as follows:

Our Sanctuary and gather area overflow seating will allow us to seat, at most, 390 while maintaining proper social distancing between families. The seating capacity in the Parish Hall is 250.

Families and individuals will be asked to remain socially distanced in the narthex (there will be tape on the floor indicating where to stand) until directed where to sit by a team of ushers, and all must arrive together to be seated together. We cannot accommodate personal requests for seat location or reserving of seats. I am asking everyone for their patience as adjustments are being made to the way we are used to celebrating Mass. This may at times lead to discomfort and frustration, so patience and charity of all involved will be essential to handling these changes.  Once capacity is reached in the Sanctuary and gather area overflow, you will be directed to attend the Mass in the Parish Hall. There can be no exceptions – if the ushers communicate that the Sanctuary is full, you may not enter. There will be no Parish Hall option for the 5:00 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass or the 5:30 p.m. Sunday Mass. It is strongly recommended that you arrive early to Mass so everyone can be properly seated.

As the Bishop stated, dispensation from Sunday Mass remains in effect through June 30, and if you are in a high-risk category due to illness, age (over 65) or other health issues, you are strongly encouraged to observe Bishop Spalding’s dispensation by staying home. You who are in this category might consider attending one of our weekday Masses instead of Sunday Mass because they are less crowded, and it will be easier to distance yourself from the other Mass attendees. If you are in this high-risk group, you may choose to attend the Saturday vigil Mass and remain in the parking lot in your car and livestream the Mass. Our Eucharistic Ministers will bring Communion to you in your car. There will be a designated area to park and at the distribution of Communion, we ask that you simply step out of your car and remain by the car door and a Eucharistic Minister will bring you Communion.

We WILL NOT resume any activities other than Mass until further notice. We will continue to offer Zoom as an option for group gatherings.

As you enter for Mass, you will be required to wear a face mask, and it must be worn until you leave, removing it only for the reception of Holy Communion. You are highly encouraged to bring your own mask. One will be provided to you if you do not bring your own. Masks will not be required for children under 2 years of age. Hand sanitizer will be made available at the entrances and exits, and you should sanitize your hands on the way in and on the way out. All hard surfaces that have been occupied, as well as all patens used in the distribution of Holy Communion will be sanitized between each Mass. Only the Sanctuary, the Narthex, and the restrooms, and the Parish Hall during Mass will be open. The nursery will remain closed until further notice. Our building has undergone a very deep cleaning during the time it has been closed.

A few other adjustments you may notice:

• Holy Water and Baptismal fonts will remain empty
• You may only enter through the main church doors – the side entrances will only be used for exiting the building
• There will be no worship aids in the pews – pick up a paper worship music sheet as you enter the Sanctuary/Parish Hall
• At the Offertory, we will not pass the collection baskets, and the gifts will not be brought down – stationary collection baskets will be placed around the back of the Sanctuary for you to place your offering.
• There will be no sign of peace
• The ushers will direct you and your family out of your pew for Communion, maintaining 6 feet between families or single individuals
• Distribution of the Precious Blood is suspended for the time being
• We ask that you receive the Eucharist in your hand, not on your tongue, and that you not wear gloves (Each Priest and Eucharistic Minister will be wearing a mask and will sanitize their hands before and after the distribution of Communion and will do their best not to make touch contact with your hand.)
• Dismissal will be announced by row. Exits will be marked as to which door you should exit.
• The weekly bulletin will be made available online only – if you require a printed copy, you may contact the office during the week
• We ask that you not congregate in the narthex while we are still using social distancing protocol.
• Coffee and Donuts will remain suspended until further notice
• Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Deacons and Priests will be required to have their temperature checked before Mass in the Gather Conference room with a non-contact thermometer and answer in the positive that they feel well and to their knowledge have not been exposed to the Coronavirus.
• Altar servers will not be utilized until further notice.

As you can see, these procedures have been carefully thought out with the safety of our parishioners as our number one priority. We will monitor attendance each week and keep up to date on the latest CDC and civic recommendations before making decisions to adjust any of these procedures. It is my prayer that we are all able to come back and enjoy Mass as a community and that we can, with patience and understanding, comply with all of these new procedures in such a way that will allow for a prayerful return to Mass and for the reception of the Eucharist for which you have had to go without for so long. We will have further communications as we continue to develop these procedures in consultation with our Ushers and all other liturgical ministers. Please rest assured of my continued prayers for you, for your family, and for the resolution of this pandemic.

Father Joe