I don't know how many times I am allowed to say this, but hallelujah!
NO MORE MASS REGISTRATION.
We have been having a bit of fun here in the office this Monday morning. Some parishioners, just to tease us, phoned to complain that "we haven't seen the sign up eMail from Jared this morning! When is it coming out so we can sign up for mass." Hardy har har!
But the biggest point we want to make for the upcoming weekend is that, as humans are creatures of habit, we are sure this weekend is going to be a comedy of "Who's on first, What's on second, errors. In other words, someone is inevitably going to turn right instead of left, walk down the side aisle instead of the center, etc. etc. So let's all just have a bit of patience with each other as we get back into the groove of things.
Father Birendra has asked that we restate some of the following, most notably the information regarding Adoration Chapel:
- MASKS ARE TO BE WORN AT ALL TIMES FOR INDOOR ACTIVITIES.
- Registration for Mass is no longer required beginning the weekend of May 22/23 (hallelujah!)
- Friday, May 21, 2021, is the last day when Adoration will be held in the church.
- The Adoration Chapel will reopen on Sunday, May 23, 2021, at 6:00 p.m.. The passcode will be reset to its original code number for that date. If you do not remember the number, please phone the rectory office.
- First Friday Holy Hour will resume its normal schedule of 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 4, 2021.
- The church is open for full seating; however, four rows at the back of the church will be roped off for those parishioners who wish to social distance. This will allow for two pews on each side of the church to accommodate six-foot distancing. This seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Upper Room may be used as the overflow for social distancing.
- Bulletins will be on the tables and in the wall-mounts at the entrances of the church for distribution.
- There will be no holy water in the fonts.
- Confession will be heard in the confession room outside of the Adoration Chapel, NOT in the Upper Room.
- Missals will be back in the pews!
- Eucharistic Ministers will not be used at this time since there is no distribution of the Precious Blood.
- Lectors will resume their full role of reading the greeting, announcements, the scripture readings, intercessions, etc. Lectors may sit on the altar, side chair, wearing their mask at all times, except when reading.
- Communion will resume with parishioners coming down the center aisle, wearing their mask, removing it to consume the host, and replacing their mask immediately upon consuming the host, and returning to their seat down the side aisle.
- The exchange of the Sign of Peace will be non-contact – a wave, a bow, etc.
- The vestibule lavatory will be open for parishioner use.
- Parishioners may sing during the Mass.
- We will continue to livestream our 9:00 a.m. Mass for homebound parishioners.
- St. Mark will continue to celebrate Baptisms with single families until further notice.
- Parish facilities are open. Normally scheduled meetings may take place, i.e., prayer groups, Hands to Hearts Ministry, etc. Please follow your scheduled timeframe as previously booked through the rectory office. Indoor meetings require masks; outdoor meetings do not.
- The rectory office remains closed.
AND DON'T FORGET TO WEAR SOMETHING RED FOR PENTECOST SUNDAY!
Best,
Paula Mollica
Parish Secretary
P.S. Thanks to John Hoctor, Dolores Hoctor, Leslie Brander, and Father Russ for all their gardening prowess this past Saturday. We got quite a lot accomplished over by the flagpole. Ooooh, you should see the stand-up tool Leslie has for pulling out dandelions and weeds. No bending over! Guess what Santa is bringing me for Christmas! The best gadget I've ever seen!