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Phase 2 Guidelines in the TriParishes
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May 11, 2020Easter Greetings!
With the lifting of the “shelter-in-place” order, Fr. Amrit and I are pleased to announce that we may begin the phased return to worship in the churches of our TriParish family. Though Lent seemed to last longer than 40 days, we are able to proceed with Easter joy slowly back to what I pray is an eager and renewed parish life. To that end, we will be observing the guidelines put in place by Bishop Duca and our civic officials, realizing that prudence and right-judgement are essential components of an virtuous and integrated Christian life:
St. Frances Cabrini will allow 65 and St. Joseph parish will be limited to 60 people allowed in the church at a single time. Immaculate Heart of Mary will be limited to 80 people allowed in the church at a single time. This is to comply with the required 50% capacity limit.
The weekend Mass schedule will remain the same with two notable additions (evaluated week-to-week):Saturday Immaculate Heart of Mary 3:00 – 3:45pm Confessions 4:00pm Holy Mass Sunday St. Joseph, Grosse Tête 8:00 – 8:45am Confessions 9:00am Holy Mass Sunday St. Frances Xavier Cabrini 8:00 – 8:45am Confessions 9:00am Holy Mass 11:00am Holy Mass
Only the main doors of the church will be open so that an appointed usher can keep a count of parishioners who have entered. Parishioners are urged to reserve a seat in church by visiting http://triparishes.org/reserve. This will allow us to get an accurate count.
At St. Joseph and St. Frances Cabrini, if online spaces are filled and/or you do not wish to come inside the church for your own health, you can listen to the Mass in your car on the radio at 95.1fm in the church parking lot in Livonia and 96.3fm in the church parking lot in Grosse Tete.
Following distribution of Holy Communion inside, the priest will come outside onto the front portico. A line will form keeping social distancing in mind and Holy Communion will be distributed.
Keep in mind that the obligation to attend Holy Mass continues to be dispensed until further notice. Please do not come to the Mass if you are at risk or feel sick. If you are vulnerable, please discern what is best for you.
Inside the churches social distancing will be maintained. Pews will be marked off so that a distance of 6 feet can be maintained. Those who live in the same household are free to remain seated together.
All persons coming into the church will be required to sanitize their hands before coming in.
Everyone must wear a mask while in church, except when invited to remove them by the priest for Holy Communion.
Volunteers will disinfect the pews after each Mass.
Parishioners will neither hold hands nor receive from the chalice at Mass.
Neither Missals nor hymnals will be used. Disposable worship aids will be provided online and in church.
As mentioned, Fr. Amrit and I will need your help to make sure that our liturgies are both prayerful and healthful. If you’re able, please bring the following to church with you:- Your own mask. If you have extra masks to leave in church that haven’t been used, so that those who have none can have one please contact our parish office (225.625.2438) or bring them with you to Mass.
- Your own disinfectant for the pew. If you’d be willing to wipe down your pew as you leave, that would be a big help for our volunteers, staff, and clergy.
- Hand sanitizer. At present, this is hard to come by! If you can bring your own to sanitize your hands before coming into the church, that would be very helpful. If you have any surplus to leave at church please similarly let us know!
Please stay close to our social media feeds for developing information. We will move forward into a “future filled with hope” (cf. Jeremiah 24:11) together!
– Fr. Chris Decker & Fr. Amrit Raj
