Dear Parishioners,

As we begin to prepare for the Holiday season, I want to strongly encourage all who desire to attend public Holiday Masses to sign-up early to reserve your seats. You may sign-up for all Masses you plan to attend online at the following site: https://signup.com/go/GeevcDP.

To comply with the COVID-19 social distancing requirements of the Diocese, maximum in-person capacity for Mass has been reduced to approximately 25% of normal. This limitation significantly impacts available seating for the Holiday Masses that traditionally draw overflow attendance. This year, seating will be reserved on a first come/first served basis through our online Mass sign-up site. Reserved seats will be held for those who signed up until ten minutes before the start of the scheduled Mass. At that time, unclaimed reserved seats will be released to others who are waiting in line without a reservation. Once capacity is reached for any given Mass, those still waiting will need to be turned away. To minimize the number of parishioners and guests who will have to be turned away at the door during the Holidays, please follow these simple guidelines:

  • Go to the sign-up link above and reserve seats for yourself, family and guests for all Masses you plan to attend in-person.
  • If your plans change and you no longer will attend a reserved Mass, please go back to the sign-up site and remove your reservation to free up those seats for others.
  • Please show up early for your reserved Mass. It is recommended that you arrive 30 minutes prior to Mass to allow for proper check-in and seating. Reservations will only be held until ten minutes before the scheduled Mass start time. If you arrive later than that, your seat(s) may be given away, and you may be turned away if capacity has been reached for that Mass.
  • If you decide to take a chance and come to Mass without seat reservations, please understand that you may need to wait in line until ten minutes before the Mass start time to see if there are any seats available, and that you may be turned away at the door if capacity is reached for that Mass.

HOLIDAY MASS SCHEDULE

  • Thanksgiving Mass – Wednesday, November 25 at 5:30 PM
  • Mary Immaculate Conception Mass – Tuesday, December 8 at 5:30PM
  • Christmas Eve Mass – Thursday, December 24 at 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM
  • Christmas Day Mass – Friday, December 25 at 10:00 AM
  • New Year’s Day Mass – Friday, January 1 at 10:00 AM

DIOCESAN COVID-19 IN-PERSON MASS PROCEDURE SUMMARY

  • Wear a face covering at all times while in the church building and maintain social distancing with non-family members while in line or in church.
  • Check in with the Door Screener at the parking lot entrance to the commons. No other entrances will be open. You must have/wear a face covering and pass basic COVID-19 screening questions to enter the building.
  • Follow the ushers’ directions to assigned seating. Once seated, please do not change locations.
  • Please refrain from singing during the Mass.
  • During Communion, follow ushers’ direction into the Communion line to maintain social distancing. Wear your face covering while in the Communion line and while receiving the Eucharist in the hand. After receiving Eucharist in the hand, step to either side into a blue box marked on the floor, briefly remove the face covering to consume the Eucharist, replace the face covering and return directly to your assigned seat.
  • The ushers will conduct a controlled dismissal at the end of the Mass to maintain social distancing. Please wait for their direction before leaving church, and immediately depart the building – do not linger or socialize with other parishioners in the building following the Mass.

I appreciate your attention and patience in making early reservations for our planned Holiday Masses and in following the mandatory Diocesan procedures that are a condition for holding public Mass during the pandemic. I particularly want to minimize the number of parishioners and guests who may have to be turned away during the busy Holiday season because of limited Mass capacity, and also want to make sure those who have not yet returned to public Mass understand the new pandemic procedures. As always, please do not hesitate to contact the office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Fr. Paul Muyimbwa Pastor