December 14, 2020

Dear Friends and Parishioners:
            Greetings! Welcome to our parish website. I hope to see you at Sunday and weekday Masses. During this time of Covid-19 restrictions, we are all called to socially distance, wear masks and wash our hands often. Below are the protocols we follow to ensure everyone’s safety at Mass. Please know the following:
 

• The bishop has extended his dispensation from Sunday Mass throughout this pandemic. If you’re sick and most especially if you have symptoms of Covid-19, stay home. If your health is such that you’re considered vulnerable, stay home. Please don’t risk it for yourselves or anyone else.
• You will be socially distanced in the church, six feet or more apart. Family units may sit together, but each person in the family counts toward the final number of allowed participants. Sections of the church will be roped off.
• The church will be cleaned between Masses.
• Please bring disinfectant wipes with you to Mass and wipe down the area in which you sat during Mass.
• Masks are to be properly worn throughout Mass by anyone over two years old.
• Communion will normally be distributed on the hand. Those who receive communion on the tongue are to go only to the priest at the end of the communion line, for sanitation purposes.
• There will be no sign of peace and the collection baskets will be placed at the doors in which you can place your donation as you leave.
• There will be no coffee hours or any other kind of gathering in the near future.
• As an option, be aware that weekday Masses are not as highly attended as weekend Masses, and thus may be a good alternative during this pandemic. 

            Please be aware that any of these protocols can change at any moment, without notice, depending on circumstances, government and diocesan guidance, and our cooperation.

            What is most needed from you, my dear friends and parishioners, is a spirit of patience and charity. Some might not agree with these directives, but right now they’re the best we have. They’re being followed by all parishes at the directive of the bishop. We all need to be patient, with ourselves, the Church and one another. And we need a spirit of charity. All of these directives come from a place of not wanting anyone, including your neighbor, your priest, or you to be infected or sick. They’re not perfect, for sure. Let’s all continue to pray for an end to this pandemic so that we can move forward with our lives in joy.

             Please know of my thoughts and prayers during this Advent and Christmas season!

Peace,
Msgr Bernard Bourgeois
Pastor