Dear brothers and sister in Christ,
At 2 PM today, Bishop Zubik issued a grand 43 page document "Moving Forward Together" to clergy to help guide the gradual reopening of our churches. As I stated in an earlier Flocknote, yesterday, Bishop Zubik had a conference call with all clergy to give a preview of this document. Last night and this morning, I reviewed that preview with members of our five parish Pastoral Council and our OPV pastoral staff. I have read through the document and can share some of the details in this Flocknote for the immediate weekend and week, but we will need to digest the 43 pages before establishing more complete plans.
- Blessed Palms from Palm Sunday are now available at church entrances where bulletins are also located to be picked up at any time for those who would like them. Please take the palms you touch; do not sort though them; take as many as you would like; there are plenty. Please observe social distance and respect for others.
- Starting this weekend, St. John the Baptist Church will be open for private prayer on Saturday, May 16 from 10 AM until 6 PM and Sunday, from 10 AM until NOON. The church has been sanitized and cleaned for visitors this weekend. Please use all available pews for seating. The Church will be sanitized each night and during the day. There will be one entrance open by the parking lot closest to the graveyard and nearest to Unity Center Road. The other ramp entrance will be open for exit ONLY. The handicap entrance will also be open for those who need to enter and exit using that low grade ramp. A hand sanitizer station will be available at entrance. Please sanitize hands when entering. All those visiting must wear a face mask at all times when in the Church. 6 feet distance must be maintained between all visitors. Cameras will be on and you will be asked to leave if you do not follow these established civil and diocesan directives.
- If you do not have a face mask, you cannot enter the church. We will try to find ways to provide them for parishioners in the future.
- Confessions will be heard following the 9 AM livestreamed Mass (9:30) at SJB. by Father Dave and me starting tomorrow, May 16. The entrance will be unlocked after Mass ends. We will hear confessions in the annex building. Doors to the Annex will be propped open, so you will not need to touch handles. Please remain behind the blue lines to maintain penitent confidentiality. Soft music will be playing in the Church. Areas are clearly marked and there will be an attendant to help direct folks. If you stay in church to pray, stay away from the confession lines. Wear a mask at all times. When you enter the Annex for confession with me or Father Dave, you will be able to stand behind us or in front of us for confession, but a chair is provided if needed.
- Starting Monday, May 18, both Saint Irenaeus and Saint John the Baptist Churches will be open for private prayer between 10 AM and 3 PM. Please sit in the reserved area that will change during the day and week for proper cleaning and sanitizing. Again, there will be one entrance, and separate exit marked. Sanitize hands when entering. Do not touch anything except the pew you sit in. Plan ahead and avoid using the restrooms unless necessary. Wear a face mask at all times in the church. Maintain 6 feet distance between others and in restrooms. These two churches are chosen for their convenience to the parishioners in our grouping and also because of the hard surface pews.
- SJB, SJV, and OLOJ parking lot adoration is still available 24 hours a day.
- Baptisms, Funerals and Weddings can be held now for up to 25 people.
Looking ahead...
We may be able to open more churches in time. The diocese is targeting public Masses for up to 25 people beginning Monday, June 1. Weekend Masses may begin that following weekend for a yet to be determined number of people. As we prepare for those public Masses, we know that we will need help, especially in these areas:
- Volunteer cleaners to be specially trained. Parish staff will clean and sanitize until a volunteer schedule can be established and training can be provided.
- Ushers and greeters for public Masses that will be specially trained.
- Anyone who can make masks that can provide them for parishioners for worship and prayer in our churches.
- A small committee to become a Covid-19 Safety Team to make sure that we are following all civil and diocesan directives.
Once again, I thank you all for your generosity in donations during this time. I shared more in the bulletin this weekend that you can read online or pick up about our financial situation. Online giving, mail in and drop off donations are still available.
I expect to be able to share more plans and specifics next week sometime. One of the diocesan staff members introducing the conference call for clergy yesterday shared a well worded reminder: Opening our Churches with vigilance, and our hearts to the grace that comes with patience. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we move forward together in these unprecedented times.
In Christ's love,
Father Kevin