Limited Reopening Day for Masses

Dear Parishioners,

We have begun our limited reopening! For those of you who will go this week, I hope it will offer you a window of new hope and a new appreciation of the importance of the Mass. It is the “Source and Summit” of our faith, for in it we experience the re-presentation of the Paschal Mystery of Christ, that is his suffering, death, and resurrection. Instead of watching from a screen, you can witness these events in person. 

Since I am writing this column before the actual opening, I want to thank you ahead of time for your patience in all of this: the rewinding of public Masses, the live streaming and recorded Masses, the shuffling of confession times, the closing of our offices, the shuttering of our ministries, and much more. It has been very difficult for us all, and it is not yet over. This week is only a crack in the flood gates of the releasing of our ministries. We will be very clear as things begin to loosen or open up. Many have asked me if we can begin to open up our Communion to the Homebound ministry. At this time, the answer is, no. The permissions given us by Archbishop Sample at this point are only for the limited offering of Mass.

In order to offer Mass for all those who can and want to be present, we have create a rather radical Mass schedule of 16 Masses-a-week with two of those being at our missions. So, I ask for your patience with me and Fr. Arjie as we shift from offering Mass in the most limited way, to a duplication of the Mass beyond anything we’ve ever done. It is doable. But, it depends on our ability to pace ourselves. So, please offer some prayers for us and all those who are working behind the scenes to make the Mass available in the way we are. 

Finally, let us keep our hearts and minds free from self-absorption about what we want and have a right to, and instead seat deep in our hearts what our responsibilities are to each other. If you are going to Mass, maybe consider someone you know who cannot go, and talk with them and pray with them. Offer your time at Mass for their intentions as well as your own. Be their representative before the Lord. Maybe light a candle for them when you arrive at church. Then go see them again and talk to them about your experience at Mass, and share with them your faith and encourage them, as they stay home to keep safe. Mass, just like our faith, is not something to keep to oneself. No! It is to be shared, for we heard in today’s Gospel, we are to go out and make disciples. So, “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call” (Eph. 1:18). Go share the Good News!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Planning for Limited Re-Opening of Public Masses

Dear Parishioners,

I assume by now you have heard the news that Archbishop Sample has encouraged parishes to investigate and attempt have a “limited re-opening” of Masses for the public. At this writing, the maximum number of people is set at 25 while following an involved list of guidelines to help reduce parishioners risks. We are not yet ready, but have been working to make sure we can accommodate all that is needed for such an opportunity for those who would like to attend Mass. Please watch our website, Facebook page, Youtube channel, notices on our office and church doors, and emails for detailed information as to when we will be ready to begin and when sign-ups will be starting. Our tentative goal is May 24th with the majority of the our vicariate parishes doing similar limited re-openings over that same weekend. Since I cannot say that all of the parishes will be ready, please be mindful that this is a target, a tentative date.

We hope to offer short Masses to limited exposure to each other, as duration and proximity are a major issue in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus from person to person. We hope a sign up process will be put into place next Monday in two ways: In-person and via phone. Again, it is too early to describe those details as of this writing. During the sign-up phase, persons will need to offer their name (and names of anyone else in their family coming), address, and contact phone number. This is intended to allow us, internally (not to government officials), to do what is called, “contact tracing” in case someone comes down with the Coronavirus and we need to alert those families that attended Mass. Only those who are pre-signed up will be allowed to come in to the particular Mass which they signed up for. If someone’s name is not on the list, that person will not be allowed in. No substitutions will be allowed. If one becomes argumentative or combative, we may have to shut down the whole Mass or be forced to call the police to escort that person off the property.

We plan to offer four Sunday Masses at St. Anne (8 AM, 9 AM, 10 AM, & 11 AM) and one at each of the Missions (8:30 AM at OLR and 11:00 AM at St. Patrick). During the weekdays, we plan to have our normally scheduled morning Mass (8 AM except on Wed at 8:30 AM) and will be adding an evening Mass at 7 PM. The Sunday 11 AM Mass will be bilingual and the Monday morning Mass will be in Spanish. All other Masses will be in English. We will continue to record and post online our Saturday Vigil Mass. Confession times will be moved to 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM in order to help the preparation needed for that recorded Mass.

Since the Sunday obligation has been dispensed by the Archbishop, nobody needs to come. In addition, the specific date is not of consequence as much as just being able to attend Mass sometime. So we hope to be able to allow groups of 20 parishioners at a time to attend Mass (5 additional will be needed to serve in necessary ministry functions, thus totally 25 persons). Over the course of two weeks, we expect that all those who would like to go will be able. So that means, attendees will be coming once every two weeks. Sign-ups will only allow for a person to sign up once during each two-week period.

We urge you to wear a face mask during Mass. If you do not bring one with you, we will offer you a mask when you are checking in before entering the church building. Sanitizing gel is present for parishioners to use as they enter and leave the church. There will be no singing and seating will be clearly marked. Only family/home-groups can sit together while everyone else must sit at least 6 feet from each other. Similar is true for the communion line. There will be more options for seating than people, so there will be plenty of room. Tape on the ground and flooring will indicate the flow of traffic. No books will be in the pews. Donations are welcome and needed, so a collection basket will be placed in the church for people where they may place their donation (Thank you!). While Sunday Masses and weekday morning Masses will have short homilies, the evening Masses will have no homilies, again, in light of the needs to shorten time in proximity to one another.

If you are 65+ in age or have symptoms of COVID-19 or any other illness, please stay home. If you are suffering from any compromised health issues, stay home. If you are worried about becoming infected due to your coming, stay home. Remember, we will be streaming Mass daily and producing the Sunday Mass for viewing on the Internet, and you are not required to come to Mass at this time.

This is a very trying time for everyone. I expect that your response to this effort will be one of gratitude, not entitlement. We have gone so long without Mass, and are being given a special opportunity to come to our church and worship. Let us rejoice and be glad. Finally, stay tuned to the various ways we will be communicating our opening date and sign-ups.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

References:

Guidelines for Re-Opening Chruches

Church Re-Opening Checklist

5th Sunday in Easter

4th Sunday in Easter

3rd Sunday In Easter

Ministry To Our Homebound During COVID-19

Dear parishioners,

This past weekend, I was able to host a Zoom meeting (think teleconferencing via the internet) with almost half of our 30+ member Phone Call Ministry Team. Yes. That is right! Secretly, we created a stealth group of staff and parishioners who have been, not-so-systematically, contacting fellow parishioners who are registered in our parish and many who are not and just asking them how they are doing, praying with them, and simply letting them know we care. Now, isn’t that novel idea? In this Zoom meeting, we shared many stories of how grateful people were. In several cases, some needed extra help or were running low on food. A few couldn’t get out to go shopping. With God’s grace and a little creativity, we found a way to make it happen for them. To every cloud, there is a silver lining. And that, my friends, is the love of Christ which has been poured into our hearts and desires to reach out to you.

With regard to our parish family who are homebound not due to COVID-19, we learned that we have some 70 parishioners spread out in about 12 care facilities and 19 private residences. For these folks, we sent out some 215 cards so that they would know that they are not unloved or uncared for. 

Now, our job is not yet done. We may be nearing 50% of our parishioners. But, here’s the deal. This group of ninja phone-callers need to be the only ones.Oh! No! How about you? What don’t you pick up that phone, write a card, text or video chat with a friend or neighbor? Yes. Just do it. You don’t need our permission. You just need the desire to share you love and kindness to whomever you know.

Christ prayed that we would al be one, and we have found ingenious ways to reach out and let others know of our love and the love of God.This is the heart of the Gospel. This is the heart of evangelization. This is what Church is. No need to have a reason to call other than to reach out and love them with no agenda or strings attached. When was the last time you received such call? Likely, never! So, let’s do it. Let’s get busy. Go make a list of people you know and care about. Then go reach out them by whatever means is allowed in this time of quarantine. Don’t let technology get in your way. Get a piece of paper. Write a letter. Fold it up and tape it closed. Put an address on the outside along with a stamp, and mail it!! Boom! Done. If that is too much, pick up your phone and just dial them. Leave a loving message if they don’t answer. So, you need not join an official team, no! Just do yourself. Reach out and let others know you care.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Divine Mercy

Christ is Risen!

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Join us for Mass.

Join us for our 2020 Triduum Celebrations

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Join us for our Easter Vigil in the Holy Night!

Stay Home - Save Lives

Dear Parishioners,

With the Governor’s “Stay Home - Save Lives” order, most all of us are hunkering down. As I write this letter, I begin the first day staying home. I must say that I really like the title of her official declaration. It tells us what we should do and why. It reminds me that our lives are not about ourselves, but God. And if we say that we love God, then we must love our neighbor. Therein, I really like that since we are hunkering down to save other people. So, as Christians, we are called to sacrifice ourselves for others.  What are we doing in this regard? How can we possibly help people while staying home? Well, amazing things have been done by people during the most trying of times.  

I was watching a video online from Christian musician, Michael W. Smith, who quoted a message from a friend of his, Pastor Darrin Tyler of Franklin, TN:

In WWII, everyone in Great Britain was hunkered down in fear of the bombing from Germany. During that time, C.S. Lewis began a radio broadcast, and that broadcast became the book, "Mere Christianity.” Isaac Newton was 20 years old when the bubonic plague forced people into their version of “social distancing.” During his year away from Cambridge, he created the theory of gravity. The Apostle Paul, under house arrest, wrote most of the New Testament. I’m not so sure that God causes these things, but I do know one thing, he won’t waste it. We’re all restricted: Plans on hold—Sitting still. What creative, life changing, world impacting ideas are sitting inside of you? Sure, we could spend this time binging on Netflix, or we could spend it changing the world.

I have heard so many amazing things people are doing at this time out of love of their neighbor. Maybe you can help someone by going shopping for them. Maybe you can pay the rent that is coming due for someone who just lost their job. Maybe you have extra food for someone who is about to go hungry. Maybe you can sew masks or protective gear for the heroes on the front line of the medical field. I don’t know what lies ahead exactly. But, I do know that despite all the suffering and heartache, greatness dwells in each one of us. Don’t waste this time. God may be calling you to greatness out of love for another person. By staying home, a simple task, we save lives. By spending that time in service of others, we save souls.

From the newly transplanted home-office, may God bless you all! 

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor (St. Anne, St. Patrick of the Forest, and Our Lady of the River)
Administrator (St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier)