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.

Daily Mass

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.

Weekend Mass Attendance

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.

Precautionary Measures

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:

1. There will be no Holy Water font by the church door.
2. There will be no greeting or shaking of hands at any time during the Mass, including the Sign of Peace.
3. Per Bishop Olmsted’s request, the length of weekend Masses will be limited to 30-40 minutes to limit public exposure time.
4. We will limit the number of chairs inside the church to only 100 seats and spread them out six feet apart to maintain a safe social distance. We ask that you do not move chairs around, except for family members who may sit together.
5. There will be hand sanitizer by the door. We ask that you use it as you  enter and leave the church and after using the restrooms.
6. All our ministers have been instructed to maintain the highest level of hygiene by washing their hands properly and use hand sanitizers before they serve or touch any vessels. Eucharistic Ministers will be wearing facemasks while distributing Holy Communion.
7. Holy Communion will be distributed under the species of bread alone. We receive the Body and Blood, soul and divinity of Christ in its totality under the species of bread alone. Receiving both species is a fuller “sign” not a fuller reality.
8. I encourage everyone to receive the host on the hand. Reception of Communion on the tongue could inadvertently contaminate the hands of those distributing Communion. However, this is a personal decision everyone has to make.

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

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

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