Mass Times beginning Monday, May 25th, 2020
- Saturday 8:00 a.m.
- Saturday 5:30 p.m.
- Sunday 8:00 and 10:30 a.m.
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.
- Wednesday evening 5:30 p.m.
Confessions: Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. and Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
(Fr. Brannen is happy to hear your confession usually just before or after daily mass.)
We will continue to livestream daily mass, Sat. 5:30 pm vigil and Sunday morning 8:00 a.m.
Please adhere to our social distancing protocols while on campus. Here are some general guidelines to help us return together:
Physical distancing will limit seating availability for Mass. Pastors must abide by state and local laws and restrictions that pertain to physical distancing. This physical distancing will determine how many seats can be made available for Mass in the church or other parish buildings, so pastors will define a fair method for determining how many can attend any one Mass and ensuring the greatest potential for participation. Unfortunately, this may mean that by ensuring everyone has at least some opportunity for attending Mass, no one should expect to be able to attend Mass every Sunday or with guaranteed regularity. It is very important that you are registered with the parish to receive updated information regarding Mass times and safety measures. Please make sure your contact information is current so that you can receive updates through email, Facebook or the parish website.
- For the safety of the parish community, it is important that those who are symptomatic, feel sick, have a fever, have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or have traveled internationally or to a domestic hot spot in the past two weeks, stay home. Because of the general dispensation, there is no obligation at this time to attend Mass, so there is no sin if you stay home for any reason.
- The wearing of masks for ages three and up is highly recommended. We do this to protect others as well as ourselves.
- We do not have a large supply of hand sanitizer. We strongly encourage each family or individual to bring their own supply.
- Use of the restrooms will be limited to one person at a time, not including children. Please maintain a 6-foot distance from people waiting in line.
- We strongly encourage all parishioners to maintain proper physical distancing on church property (on the steps, on the sidewalks, in the parking lot, etc.) Before and after Mass, even though we have been isolated for a long time, please do not congregate in the church for conversations.
We have put hymnals away for sanitary purposes. We encourage you to bring worship resources if you choose. You may also follow the mass readings on your phone at www.usccb.org/bible – the click “Today’s Readings.”
Our diocesan standard is to admit no more than 25% of our capacity to allow for proper social spacing. Our capacity is 400 which means that we can accommodate 100 persons per mass.
LIMITING THE SIZE OF THE CONGREGATION AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING
- Please note that only certain doors will be unlocked and open for church entry. The unlocked doors will be: Main front doors facing Waters Ave. 2. The two side doors closest to the altar (one on 44th Street and one to the parking lot). Once mass begins, only the front doors will be accessible.
- We will try to have ushers open the doors as you arrive so that multiple people are not touching the door handles.
- There will be no Holy Water in the fonts, but you are encouraged to make the sign of cross as you enter to recall your baptism, and to acknowledge that you are in the presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
- Please follow the ushers’ directions in regard to seating.
- Once allowable seating is filled, we will not be able to admit any more persons.
- Since the obligation is lifted for attending Sunday mass you may wish to consider daily mass where seating will be more available. Thus, you may wish to watch the Sunday livestream of the mass, and also attend mass on a weekday.
- Members of a single household do not need to practice social distancing with each other so they may sit together in the same row.
- If a group arrived in a single private vehicle, they could also sit together.
- While these groups may sit together, spacing between units and others is still 6 feet.
- Due to social spacing, the cry room is closed. The nursery will remain closed until further notice. Children’s church has concluded for this year, and will hopefully, resume in the Fall.
- Please reserve the end of pews for parents with small children so they may get up and walk if the child is agitated.
- We will not have altar servers during this period.
- We will use volunteer lectors. Volunteers please sign up as normal.
- We will not use Eucharistic ministers until further notice.
- We will use cantors The choir will not resume until it is deemed safe to do so.
- The pews and other common surfaces in the church will be cleaned and sanitized between Masses. We need volunteers to help with this process.
OFFERTORY AND COLLECTION
- Baskets will be placed by the entrances where you may place your offering as you enter the church. We encourage you to consider enrolling in our on-line giving program at: https://www.osvhub.com/mbschurch/funds or to mail in your contribution to our office.
- The offertory procession (bringing up the gifts) will be omitted. The gifts will be placed on the credence table in the sanctuary.
- We will forego the sign of Peace.
HOLY COMMUNION
- The Precious Blood will not be distributed.
- In the communion line, please maintain six feet of distance from the person in front of you, if they are not part of your household. We will have spacing markers taped for your convenience.
- If you are receiving Holy Communion, please wear your mask in line. Immediately before Communion, lower your mask to communicate. Please wear the mask on the way back to your seat.
- Receiving Holy Communion in the hand is preferable, although receiving Holy Communion on the tongue will not be denied.
- If you wear gloves, you must remove them for Holy Communion. If the priest believes he touched the hands or mouth of a recipient, he will pause and use hand sanitizer before continuing.