Dear Parishioners,
It is my pleasure to introduce you to Phase One of “Rising with Christ”, the Diocese of Phoenix’s plan to restore parish life. Beginning this week, Bishop Thomas Olmsted has given permission for parishes to welcome parishioners back to daily and weekend Masses on a limited basis. Although the state and diocesan guidelines permit pastors to admit up to 25% of the seating capacity of each church, we have decided to remain cautious for now and limit our Mass attendance to 20% (approximately 100 people per Mass). Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Once this capacity is met for each Mass, no others will be permitted to enter the church. We appreciate your cooperation with this as we work together to keep our community safe.
Our regular morning Mass will resume on Monday, May 18th at 8:15am (Mon-Fri). We will continue to live-stream these Masses on our parish YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNxWJ4wvmIMJlu9kN3A9l-g/featured?sub_confirmation=1. Holy Communion will also be distributed after each daily Mass for 30 minutes from 8:45am-9:15am. The Communion station is at the main entrance to the church. Be assured that we have implemented some precautionary measures to ensure your safety during Mass.
I am excited to announce that this weekend, May 16 and 17, will be our “Homecoming Weekend” as we resume public Masses on a limited basis. Two Masses will be celebrated this weekend: The first on Saturday, May 16 at 5pm, and the second on Sunday, May 17 at 9am. Both will be live-streamed on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNxWJ4wvmIMJlu9kN3A9l-g/featured?sub_confirmation=1.
Those who participate in Mass via the live-streams are invited to receive Communion for one hour following each Mass. The Communion station will be at the main entrance of the church. Please park your vehicle anywhere in the parking lot and use the north or south walkways for the Communion line. We ask that you observe social distancing while waiting in line and then return quietly to your vehicle for private prayers after receiving Communion. Please be reminded that the Bishop’s dispensation for weekly Mass attendance is still in effect.
To help ensure everyone’s health and safety, some precautionary measures have been put into place. If you are sick or taking care of a sick person, you are dispensed from your obligation to attend Mass. Here are few things to expect when you come for Mass:
The Priests and Deacon will greet you at the end of Mass as usual, but please remember, there will be no shaking of hands.
Confession will take place in the church on Saturdays from 3:30pm-4:30pm. The Confessional stand will be located near the Mary statue on the West side of the church. We ask those waiting in the Confession line to please sit around the North side of the church and maintain social distance.
Thank you all for your faithfulness and prayers during this time of uncertainty. I am so glad we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now. I look forward, with so much joy and excitement, to seeing you back to our normal parish life soon.
Remain Blessed,
Fr. James
Pastor