Flocknote

Resuming Public Masses

Dear friends,

I hope that this finds you well. In what follows there is a lot of information, but it is very important so please read it in its entirety. Thank you in advance for your time and attention!

Starting this weekend (May 30/31) - with Pentecost! - we will be resuming the public celebration of Masses (at 25% capacity so as to allow for social/physical distancing), following the recent guidelines provided by Bishop Hying and the Diocese of Madison.

At the outset of these guidelines the Diocese raises a question that some of you may have and they provide the following answer:

"Given the lifting of civil restrictions in most counties of our diocese, some may ask why we are adopting a gradual approach to reinstituting Masses with significant congregations present. The answer lies in the fact that COVID-19 cases continue to emerge in the state and there is still a very real danger of infection without adequate care; therefore, we want to be prudential in light of public health concerns. To simply emerge from these weeks of physical distancing without any gradualism would be irresponsible. Our hope is that our elderly and at-risk faithful people will exercise prudence and not yet attend Mass, especially given the current dispensation from the Sunday obligation, but we do want to begin enabling others to participate in the Eucharistic sacrifice, the central experience of Catholicism, which we have all sorely missed in these challenging weeks of the pandemic."

Needless to say, as we begin this gradual "reopening" of the parish for the public celebration of Masses things are going to look and feel a bit different than they did at the beginning of March before any of us were thinking about the Coronavirus. In what follows you will find a lot of important information. Please read it all so that together we can ensure a safe environment for everyone as we start to unite around the altar of the Lord once again for Holy Mass.

1. The dispensation from the Sunday Mass Obligation remains in effect

The current dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass (or Mass on Holy Days) remains in effect until further notice. In other words, if for prudential reasons or because of concern for your safety or that of another person you deem it necessary for you to stay home and not attend Mass at this time you are NOT committing a sin and can make this choice in good conscience. In fact, as you will see in #2 below, the Bishop strongly recommends/asks that certain people NOT ATTEND Mass for the time being.

2. At-risk persons should remain at home

Bishop Hying and the Diocese STRONGLY RECOMMEND that the following individuals remain at home and do not attend Sunday/weekend Masses (with larger crowds) at this time:

Those over 65 years of age;
Those with underlying health issues;
Those who are otherwise at high risk of experiencing severe consequences if they were to contract the Coronavirus;
Those who live with or regularly care for any of those in the categories above;
Those who have COVID-19, show symptoms consistent with it, or have had contact with a person with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. These people should self-quarantine and remain at home until they are cleared by a medical professional.

Also, if you have any other illness at this time - especially with a strong cough - please stay home until you are healthy as there is no need to unnecessarily make others anxious during this already difficult time. Doing so is an act of charity.

3. Tuesday morning Masses will be exclusively for those who are 65+

I recognize that for many of you who are over 65 the Diocese's recommendations regarding Sunday Masses might be difficult for you, as you too miss Mass and the ability to receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. As such, I am reserving Tuesday morning Masses (at 9:00am at St. Patrick) for those who are 65 or older. With these Masses we will limit attendance to 40 people to ensure even greater social distancing to protect your health and safety. In order to attend these Masses you will need to "reserve your seat" either by clicking here or by calling our parish secretary, Mary Gamer (by the preceding Monday before 4:30pm when she leaves for the day).

For weekday Masses on Wednesday through Friday it will be first come first served for all people (and since we can have well over 100 for these Masses there is no need to sign up). For each of the weekday Masses please arrive at least 10 minutes early, however.

4. For the time being all Masses will be at St. Patrick in Lodi

Please note that all Masses will be celebrated at St. Patrick in Lodi for the time being for 3 reasons:

St. Patrick has a greater seating capacity and thus it allows for a greater number of people to attend each Mass given our 25% capacity limitation.
St. Patrick has a better internet connection inside of church, which allows me to continue to live-stream the Masses for those who are unable to attend in person for whatever reason.
At present the restrictions on large gatherings in Columbia County are minimal, whereas in Dane County they are greater and present more challenges to navigate through. In short, it is easier to use only St. Patrick for the time being until we can further open things back up.

Thanks for your understanding and patience here, especially if you ordinarily attend Mass at St. Michael. Like you, I hope that we can resume our normal schedule fairly soon.

5. Updated Mass schedule

This is the updated Mass schedule until further notice:

Saturdays - 4:30pm at St. Patrick

Sundays - 9:00am at St. Patrick

Tuesdays - 9:00am at St. Patrick (for those over 65 years of age)

Wednesdays - 9:00am at St. Patrick

Thursdays - 9:00am at St. Patrick

Fridays - 9:00am at St. Patrick

The reason for this schedule is that is allows us time to properly sanitize church and ensure that the live-stream is ready to go. As need dictates and it seems prudent I will look at resuming our normal Sunday Mass schedule (i.e., 2 Masses), but for now this is the current schedule.

6. Live-streaming

Mass will continue to be live-streamed on our website and on our Facebook page:

https://btcatholic.us/live-stream

https://www.facebook.com/BTCatholic/

7. Reserving a seat at Weekend Masses

As I have already mentioned we are limited to the number of people who can attend a single Mass. As such, in order to attend a given weekend Mass you will need to reserve a seat either by clicking here (or on the gold button below) or by calling the parish office and speaking with Mary Gamer (who is in Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-4:30pm). With the online reservation you will see that the seats are in "groups" (from a single person to 6+). Please select the group of seats that is appropriate for you and your family. Families can sit together, but the seats are spaced in such a way that there will be social distancing between families. This will make more sense once you see it in person! Please do not sign up for both a Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass on the same weekend so as to allow space for as many other people as possible to attend Mass on that weekend.

8. Social/Physical Distancing and Hand Sanitation

Please do your best to be considerate of others and try to maintain social/physical distancing of 6 feet between you and those you do not live with as much as possible both inside and outside of church, including in the pews, while entering/exiting, and moving around. It won't be perfect given the logistics of how the pews are set up, how the communion line works, etc., but please try to do the best that you can to respect others in this way. We will also have every other pew blocked off so as to help with social distancing and once again the seats will be reserved in such a way as to help with this as well.

Please also refrain from congregating before or after Mass with others inside of church. I know that it will be tempting to want to "catch up" with someone you haven't seen in awhile, but please wait until after Mass when you are outside, and even then please try to maintain physical distancing.

Hand sanitizer will be widely available throughout the church building. Please use it on your way in and on your way out. Also, if you have your own supply and can bring it/use it that is great.

9. Masks and Gloves

You are welcome to wear a mask at Mass if you would like, but it is not required. There are pros and cons to wearing masks at Mass, so I will leave it to your prudential discretion. If you choose to wear a mask, however, you will need to remove it prior to receiving Holy Communion. Also, if you choose to wear gloves (which are also optional) you will also need to remove them prior to the reception of Holy Communion.

10. Ushers

The Diocese is asking us to have a few "ushers" at each weekend Mass. Ushers will help people to find their seats, ensure social distancing with the flow of the communion line, and help with dismissing people at the end of Mass (more on this below). The following are requirements for volunteer ushers at this time:

They must wear masks (you may bring your own or the parish will supply you with a disposable one;
They must be under 65 years of age;
They must not be otherwise at-risk for the Coronavirus (i.e., have a compromised immune system, etc.);
They must not be otherwise sick;
They should refrain from shaking hands, physical contact, etc. with those whom they are helping.

Given this need for ushers I am looking for volunteers who meet the criteria above and are willing to help. If you are interested you can sign up by clicking here!

11. Sanitation Volunteers

I am also looking for some volunteers to help sanitize the church on Saturday evenings right after the 4:30pm Mass ends. After every other Mass I will have parish staff to help sanitize the church but for Saturdays I am in need of 6 people to help with this. It should take no more than 10-15 minutes. Please sign up if you are willing to help by clicking here.

12. Liturgical Ministers

We will be utilizing a volunteer liturgical ministry schedule for the next few weeks/months. If you are a regular lector, commentator, or altar server and would like to assist at Mass you may sign up by clicking here.

13. Music

At this time the Diocese has asked us to refrain from congregational singing as this increases the risk of contagion. As such, no hymnals will be available and you are asked to simply let the cantor and organist take care of all of the music/chanted responses. Please do not sing along. We also will not use the choirs until further notice for the same reason. You are most welcome to do the spoken responses, however!

14. Entering and Exiting Church

Please enter St. Patrick Church through the new main entryway (drop off entrance) and use hand sanitizer on your way in. This will be the only door that is unlocked before Mass to enter. This will allow our ushers to make sure that we do not have too many people present for a single Mass. The doors will be open 45 minutes before Mass begins - please arrive at least 5 minutes early so that we can get you seated.

At the end of Mass the ushers will dismiss everyone by pew and you are free to leave through any of the doors (which will be propped open when the weather is nice). The purpose of this pew by pew dismissal is to discourage congregating after Mass inside of the building. Thanks for your cooperation with this!

15. Restrooms

Sanitary materials will be available in each of the restrooms and you are encouraged to use them before and after using the restroom.

16. Offertory Collection

Because of the Coronavirus we will not be passing the offertory collection basket during Mass. Instead, I encourage you to give online (https://www.btcatholic.us/give) or drop your envelopes/gifts into new temporary collection boxes that will be by all of the doors in church. You are also welcome to mail in your envelopes to the parish office if you find that more convenient. Thank you once again for your continued generosity and support of Blessed Trinity!

17. Holy Communion

For Holy Communion we will have 6 foot markers on the floor. Ushers will dismiss people pew by pew and you will be asked to stand 6 feet apart from the person in front of you (unless you live together). We will have 2 communion lines: one for those who wish to receive Holy Communion on the tongue and one for those who wish to receive Holy Communion by making a throne with their hands. I will go over the logistics of how this will work in more detail at each of the Masses. Also, for the time being, we will not be making use of the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion schedule. Instead, I will touch base with certain individuals to help as needed.

18. Drive Thru Confessions and Parking Lot Adoration

There will be no drive thru confessions or parking lot adoration for the time being. I would like to consider the ways that we might be able to make use of the Church for these opportunities and I hope to have more information for you early next week. Thanks for your patience!

As we approach the great celebration of Pentecost let us together pray the words of St. Augustine:

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.

Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.

Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.

Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.

With my prayers,

Fr. Scott

Sent by Fr Scott Jablonski on Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 1:57PM