Good morning!
We are very excited to resume our Sunday schedule this upcoming weekend at Saint Simon. Below are the highlights of what to expect when you return and attached to this email you will find an expanded explanation. Thank you for your attention to this communication! I want to add that we are looking to have a prayer service at Saint Simon this coming Thursday evening to pray for an end to racism and for peace in our city and country. Please be on the lookout for further information.
What to Expect When You Return to Saint Simon Highlights
Here is a summary of changes:
- Before coming to church
- If you are sick or experiencing symptoms, please stay at home.
- If you are in a high-risk category (65 or older or have pre-existing medical condition) please stay at home.
- Please bring and use your own hand sanitizer and masks.
- How church is temporarily different
- The nursery is closed until further notice.
- Cry room has been converted into temporary confessional space.
- There is no holy water in the holy water fonts.
- Pews have been roped off to allow for physical distancing.
- The hymnals and Mass response cards have been removed. We will use the projectors.
- The collection baskets are at the entrance of church.
- How Mass is temporarily different
- There will not be altar servers outside of the seminarians.
- We will not be holding hands outside of your household during the Our Father.
- We ask for you to refrain from sharing a physical sign of peace, outside of your household.
- How the distribution of Holy Communion is temporarily different
- The chalice is suspended.
- All pews will circulate counter clockwise (to the right) to the altar up the nearest aisle.
- Please use the tape on the floor as a guide to maintain physical distancing.
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist will use hand sanitizer and will be wearing masks.
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist will place the host in your hands.
- Spiritual Communion might be what is best for your individual situation.
- Those wishing to receive Holy Communion on the tongue must receive from Father Doug and are asked to wait to receive until all those receiving in the hand have done so.
- How exiting church is temporarily different
- Give adequate physical space with each other as you exit.
- Depart promptly so that we can clean between Masses.
- If visiting each other, please do so outside maintaining social distancing, away from the doors, leave plenty of room for others to exit.
- How you can help
- Love one another by practicing patience.
- If you are anxious please do not feel pressured to physically attend. Mass will still be available online. The Archbishop has dispensed our Sunday obligation until at least August 15, 2020.
God Bless,
Father Doug
