Dear Epiphany Parishioners,
As we prepare our hearts to celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday this weekend, I wanted to add some more details of our process in the re-opening the church for public Mass. I would like to remind you that we are still recording our weekend Masses. The Vigil Mass will be live-streamed on Saturday evening at its regular time of 5:30 pm, from Facebook and our parish website, and a recording of the Mass will be available for streaming afterwards and throughout the week. In addition, I am attaching a letter from Cardinal DiNardo to the faithful of the Archdiocese that explains the dispensation of Mass attendance during this time of heightened health awareness. He reminds us that the most vulnerable whether it be because of illness or because of age (young or elderly), that we should all adhere to the health precautions issued by those who have closely studied the medical health crisis.
As also a reminder, we are required at this time to limit each Mass attendance to 25% of the congregational space (400 people), to allow for physical distancing. In furtherance of this, entrance to the church will flow through the main Narthex entrance so that we can keep the number in the congregation to the prescribed limited capacity. If you plan to join us for Mass, remember to bring your own mask to keep on, including when you come up for Communion. Per the instructions of the Archdiocese, only the priest will distribute Communion at Mass. The faithful, as they come up to receive Communion, should not lower their mask in front of the priest. Everyone should hold out their hand so that the priest can gently place the Eucharist into the hands without touching the person's hands. The faithful should keep their mask on and step aside and then lower their mask temporarily to consume the Consecrated Host. This might sound technical, but it is also the best way for now to ensure that everyone receiving Communion continues the efforts to limit the spread of germs and potentially the virus to one another.
As you enter and leave the church, we will have hand sanitizers at all entrances and exits for your use. We also have Clorox Wipes to use to wipe down the area you are sitting at before you leave the church. The bathrooms and door handles will be sanitized after every Mass. Again, all of these efforts are intended to also help one another be at peace as we congregate to celebrate the Eucharist.
We will have Confessions on Saturdays again, starting this Saturday, May 2nd, at the regular time of 4:00 pm and by appointment in the coming weeks. You are asked to wear your mask in the church and during Confession and keep the physical distancing space of 6 feet as you wait in line for Confession. Also, we are resuming our regular weekday 9:00 am Mass schedule starting this Monday and the church will remain open until 6:00 pm (Monday through Friday) for private prayer. As I mentioned, daily Mass will be in the main church and is still limited to 400 people in attendance. We will resume Eucharistic Adoration not this week but in the coming weeks as we slowly ease into and adjust to this new schedule and these conditions. Thank you for your support of the Church and of one another as we, as a community, hold one another up in prayer during this most challenging time for our country and the world.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Fr. Tom Lam
