March 18, 2020,
Updated March 23 2020
 
Dear Parishioners and Friends:
            With the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we as a society are living in unprecedented times. I don’t think any of us would have predicted the mass shutdowns in society that we are experiencing, all in the hope of not spreading the virus to one another. 
            The Catholic Diocese of Burlington is following the same protocols given by the CDC and other government organizations. “Social distancing” has become the norm of our society in the hopes of eradicating this disease. To that end, here is how that new norm will affect us in the Rutland - Wallingford Catholic Community: 

1. As of Friday, March 20, there is no public celebration of Mass, the Way of the Cross, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Lenten fish dinners at IHM, or Lenten holy hours on Wednesday nights. Basically, everything is canceled. 
2. Christ the King Church remains open for private prayer as it normally is. Feel free to stop in and pray. In fact, please do so! 
3. All parish meetings are canceled until further notice. The parish office at Christ the King remains open. 
4. Funerals, baptisms, and weddings may take place providing only immediate family is present. They will be very small celebrations if they take place at all. It is suggested that if you can postpone any of these rites, you do so. 
5. The priests and staff are not visiting private homes, nursing homes, the hospital, or prison for any normal visits. We will come to any of these places in the case of an emergency anointing of the sick, but only if we are given permission by the nursing home or hospital to do so. 
6. Finally, please note that all these precautions can change at any time, with no warning, as things develop.

            So that’s the list of what we can’t do. Stay tuned for another message from me sometime soon about what we can do so that we can continue to grow in faith during these difficult times. 
 
Let’s all pray for one another, 
Fr. Bernie, Pastor