May 10, 2020
Brothers and Sisters,                                                                                       

I’m happy to announce our schedule and procedures for re-opening St. Joan of Arc Church. We will be following the guidelines set forth by the Archdiocese, which are in compliance with the CDC and directives from state and local authorities. Our return to liturgies will require the cooperation of everyone. For the time being, things will not be a return to normal. We will need to observe tighter regulations until at least the middle of July.

All of this is to minimize the risk for everyone attending Mass. While we will do our best to disinfect the church, there is no way we can guarantee that the building is completely free of germs. So, the Archbishop is asking that people over the age of 65, and people with underlying health conditions, not attend Mass until later in the summer. The dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass has been extended until August 15. We will continue to live stream our Sunday Masses so people can worship at home.

How Many Can Come to Mass?

We will be opening our church at 30% capacity. St. Joan of Arc seats 900, so we will welcome at most 270 people at each Mass.

Who May Come to Mass, and How Often?

Below is a schedule for the gradual re-opening of our church. We assume that weekday Masses will not exceed 200, so limiting attendance should not be a problem. All weekday Masses will be in the main church for the time being.

*To attend a Sunday Mass you will need to be registered ahead of time for that Mass. If you have not pre-registered, you will not be admitted to Mass. This is for two reasons. First, we are not permitted to have clusters of people gathering at the doors of the church. We are still required to practice social distancing. If we simply open the doors to first-come first-served, this will create clusters of people trying to get in. Secondly, we want to be fair, and to give each of our parishioners an opportunity to attend Mass.

Since everyone cannot come at once, we will be dividing households into groups, and issuing an invitation for you to register for the Mass you wish to attend. If that Mass is full, you will need to choose a different Mass for that weekend. For the time being, it is not likely that you will have the opportunity to attend Mass each Sunday. It may be necessary to attend every other Sunday until later in the summer. Again, this is so we can accommodate everyone fairly. We simply cannot allow the church to be packed at this time.

Instruction for registering for Mass will be sent later this week.
 
What Precautions Will Be Taken at Mass?

Our professional cleaning crew will be disinfecting the pews, door handles, and restrooms after each prayer opportunity and Mass. Family units can sit together, but we ask that six feet be left between family units and individuals. Also, we will be cordoning off pews, so that two pews will be left empty in between those to be occupied. Hymnals have been removed from the pews. We will issue one-time use worship aids (please do not leave them in the pews).

As you enter church, please proceed to your seat, and do not gather in small groups for conversation. The same applies to when Mass ends: please do not gather inside or outside the church. While we like to visit with one another, that day will return again. For now, please follow the recommended guidelines for social distancing.

You are encouraged to bring your own hand sanitizer. While we will provide it at the doors, no doubt it will be used quickly. Bringing your own will be a great help to us. I, and the Eucharistic Ministers, will sanitize our hands before and after Communion. For the time being, please do not expect to receive Communion on the tongue, as we are trying to minimize the spread of any infections from person to person as much as possible. Obviously, we will not be using the Communion cups until a much later time. Also, there will be no Holy Water in the fonts until a later date.

You may wear a mask to Mass. However, the Archdiocese has stated that lectors and Eucharistic Ministers will not wear them. During the sign of peace, there will be no touching of others, nor will we hold hands during the Our Father.

Do Not Be Afraid
 
I know all of this sounds scary, and you may be wondering if you should return to Mass at all. So many times in the Gospels, Jesus tells us, “Be not afraid.” As your pastor, I want to tell you the same. Certainly, if you are elderly or have compromised health, stay home. Otherwise, practice good hygiene, be smart, follow the guidelines, and come back to Mass! We all need to be strengthened by Jesus at this time. And, while we need to be prudent, nothing good comes out of fear. So, do not be afraid. Take precautions, and trust in the Lord.

I look forward to seeing you all again. Please be patient during this time of transitioning back to normal. And, thank you for your support of our beloved St. Joan of Arc during these trying times. Many, many blessings to each of you!

Peace,

Fr. Roberts

Click here for Archdiocesan Statement
Click here for more information about policies and procedures regarding Mass