Archbishop Hartmayer has announced that we are allowed to hold public Masses again.  Weekday Mass will be at the usual times (Monday, Thursday, and Friday at 9:30 am; Wednesday at 7 pm), starting Memorial Day, Monday, May 25; weekend Masses will also be at the usual times (Saturday at 5 pm, Sunday at 9 am and 12 Noon) beginning with the Pentecost liturgy on May 30 and 31.

Even though we will be holding Mass at the church, attendance is still optional; the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains in effect through June 28.  We and other parishes will continue to provide online options so that you can attend Mass at home.

If you do attend in person, please wear masks in the building to help prevent the spread of disease.  Masks are necessary to protect and comfort your fellow parishioner.  If you do not have a mask on, you cannot enter the building and will be asked to leave.  Bandanas or old t-shirts wrapped around your nose and mouth will be sufficient; we want to keep spittle, the occasional cough, and sneezes from landing on other persons or common surfaces.

Before deciding to come to Mass, consider the following: check your temperature and evaluate your general health.  If you have a fever of 100⁰ or higher, have symptoms of serious illness (persistent cough, shortness of breath, chills, loss of taste or smell), or you are concerned about being near a large group of people, stay at home.  If you are healthy and want to attend a smaller gathering, consider coming to some of our weekday Masses.

It is exciting that more people are able to receive the Eucharist and gather together as a community, but we need to be as responsible as possible to contain the spread of disease.  For this reason, parishes will not provide the Precious Blood and St. Mary Magdalene will not distribute the Host directly on the tongue.  Please be prepared to receive in the hand.  There will be no physical contact during the Our Father, and the Sign of Peace will be omitted.  Many parts of the Mass will be different or feel uncomfortable at first, so please follow directions and have an open mind.

Thank you all for your patience as we continue to navigate these unknown waters, and know you have all been in my prayers during this stressful time.  It has been odd, to say the least, to offer Mass with a mostly empty church.  For me, as I’m sure it is for you, it has been a challenge to enter into the prayerfulness and devotion to God we should have at Mass.  I am looking forward to seeing many of you again and experiencing worship together.