• A total of 380 people attended the five masses that we offered. The most popular were the 5:00 PM Saturday mass (reserved for senior citizens and those who have compromising health issues) and the 8:30 AM Sunday mass. Both had just over 100 people in attendance
• Everybody did well wearing masks and practicing social distancing. I thank you for that.
• Masks were a bit of an issue when receiving communion. By the 10:30 AM mass we had figured out that the best thing is for the communicant to keep his or her mask on as we place the host in their hand and then step aside, lift the mask and consume the host as one moves back to the pew.
• I just checked and so far there have been 711 views of the live-streamed 10:30 AM mass and 84 views of the live-streamed 12:15 PM Spanish mass. Please continue to live-stream if for any reason you feel uncomfortable being in a public setting. You can access Mass Worship Aids on our website.
• Thank you to the parish nursing ministry who sanitized the pews after each mass.They are doing that after daily masses as well. Thank you also to our facilities manager, Bill Collentine, for showing us an extremely easy, fast and efficient way to do that.
• As for confessions, as I expected, Fr. Barry and I were busy. I was very pleased with that. We are set up on the east and west sides of the church in the hallway with a chair for face to face confession and a screen for anonymous confession. In that setting the following became apparent for me:
  • Most chose behind the screen confession. That was very good for the following reasons.  1.) Along with the masks that we were wearing, the screen added another level of protection. 2.) Since I wear hearing aids, the fact that the person confessing was closer to me on the other side of the screen made it possible for me to hear them more clearly. 3.) For face to face confessions having the person confessing in a chair six feet away from me made it more difficult for me to hear them.
  • There was, as well, an issue with people walking by to go into the east and west naves of the church. Next Saturday I will have directional signs up asking everyone to enter the naves through the narthex doors while confessions are going on.
• We are, of course, uncertain of what the future holds. While I am glad to see our parishioners I encourage you to continue to be cautious especially now that things are opening up somewhat and people are moving about more which could mean increased chance of infection. However, we can stay safe if we are very diligent about wearing masks, cleaning hands and maintaining social distance in order to decrease the risk of our safety being compromised. 

Mensaje del Padre Samuel

• Acabo de ver, al momento de escribir esto, que hubo 711 vistas de la misa de 10:30 en vivo, y 84 vistas de la misa en español de 12:15. Les pido que sigan viendo las transmisiones en vivo si por alguna razón se sienten incómodos de estar en un lugar público.

• La mayoría escogió confesarse detrás de la pantalla, lo cual fue e muy bueno por las siguientes razones:  1.) Esto agregó otro nivel de protección,  además de usar  cubrebocas. 2.) Como yo uso un aparato auditivo, estando el penitente más cerca de mí por el otro lado de la pantalla, pude escuchar más claramente. 3.)   Para confesiones frente a frente, tener al penitente sentado a dos metros lejos de mí, fue más difícil escuchar.
• También hubo un problema con la gente caminando para entrar a la iglesia por los pasillos este y oeste. El próximo sábado voy a tener letreros para pedir que todos los que entren al los lados este y oeste de la iglesia, lo hagan por las puertas principales del nártex mientras las confesiones se llevan a cabo.