St. Mary &  St. Ann Catholic church

Since the middle of March our parish, like Catholic churches around our diocese and around the nation, has not celebrated public Mass with a congregation.  In that time, we have developed the ability to livestream private Masses from both parish locations so that people might feel included in the celebration.  Now, following the guidance of our bishop and our diocese, as well as relying on the input of parish staff, healthcare professionals, and the members of our parish worship commission, we are at a point when we can begin the process of resuming the celebration of public Masses with a congregation.  I know all of us have been longing for this time to arrive.  I also know that as a parish community, we want to act prudently and with care for the health of all and with respect for the beauty and dignity of the liturgies we celebrate.

After a good deal of discussion and reflection, I have decided on the following dates for our parish’s return to the public celebration of Masses, Adoration and confession.  We will resume these public celebrations beginning Tuesday, June 2 at our St. Ann location.  Here’s what the schedule will look like:
 
Tuesday, June 2                        St. Ann, Bellevue             6:00 PM                Adoration and confessions
                                                                                                7:00 PM                Mass
Wednesday, June 3                  St. Mary, Charlotte          9:00 AM                Mass
                                                                                                6:00 PM                Adoration and confessions
Thursday, June 4                      St. Mary, Charlotte          9:00 AM               Mass
Friday, June 5                            St. Mary, Charlotte          9:00 AM               Mass
 
Saturday, June 6                       St. Mary, Charlotte          3:00 PM                Adoration and confessions
                                                                                                4:30 PM                Mass
Sunday, June 7                          St. Mary, Charlotte          8:00 AM               Mass
                                                     St. Ann, Bellevue             9:30 AM               Mass
                                                     St. Mary, Charlotte          11:15 AM             Mass
 
This will be the pattern we will follow for subsequent weeks.  Please note that the only real change is the new 9:00 AM time for the Wednesday daily Mass at St. Mary.  The weekend Mass schedule will remain the same.  During this time, we will be limited to 25% seating capacity at both worship sites.  Out of an abundance of caution and with concern for the health and safety of all, we are proceeding very deliberately in order to provide our parish community with adequate time to clean and prepare our churches, train key volunteers, inform as many members of our parish community as possible, and to make sure that everything is in place and ready to welcome folks back to Mass in a safe manner.
As we plan to resume the public celebration of Mass with a congregation, here are some things I ask everyone to keep in mind, regardless of which church site you worship at most frequently:
 

• The dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass for Catholics in the Diocese of Lansing remains in effect until July 31, 2020.  It may be extended after that.
• We will continue to offer the livestream of Mass for both weekday and weekend Masses.
• If you are sick or not feeling well, please stay home.  If you are part of a vulnerable population, please stay home.
• In this phase, we are limited to 25% of the seating capacity of each building.  For St. Mary, that means approximately 125 persons in the main body of the church, while at St. Ann that means approximately 50 persons in the main body of the church.

• We will have overflow space with live video feed at both parish locations in order to accommodate an additional 50 people in both locations once the body of the church has reached its capacity.
• When you come to Mass, everyone age 8 and older must wear a mask.  It is best to bring a mask with you, putting your mask on as you leave your vehicle.  We will have a limited supply of disposable masks available.
• For those who worship primarily at St. Mary, we will ask you to enter through the gathering space doors rather than the other entrances.
• For those who worship primarily at St. Ann, we will ask you to enter through the doors on the parking lot side of the church.
• Continue to practice good hand hygiene—wash your hands frequently with soap and water or make use of hand sanitizer.  Don’t touch your face.
• You should plan to bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you.  We will have hand sanitizer available at both parish locations, but our supplies are limited just like yours.
• When you enter the church, you will see that every other row of pews must be left open.  Please do not sit in the rows designated to be left open.
• We will practice physical distancing—families in the same household may sit together; others should maintain a separation of 6 feet.
• You will see that hymnals, missalettes and other worship aids have been removed.  We will make the missalettes available for people to take home and bring back with them each time they come to Mass.  Once you take a missalette, it’s yours to keep—please make sure to put your name in it.
• Rather than pass baskets for the collection, we have installed drop boxes in both parish churches.  Please place your offertory contribution in one of the drop boxes as you enter or depart.
• We will not join hands during the praying of the Lord’s Prayer, and the sign of peace will be omitted during this time. 
• Out of consideration for the health and safety of our Eucharistic ministers, we ask that those who might normally receive communion on the tongue would instead receive communion in the hand.  There will be no distribution of communion from the cup.
• For the distribution of communion, Eucharistic ministers, with an assistant, will make their way through the assembly, bringing communion to those who wish to receive it.  Please make sure to sanitize your hands prior to receiving communion.  Those assisting the Eucharistic ministers will have hand sanitizer if needed.
• Following the final blessing and dismissal the congregation will be dismissed row by row in order to maintain physical distancing.  There will not be coffee or donuts after Mass.  Bulletins will be distributed as you depart.

 
I know this seems like a lot, but I think we have to bear two things in mind:  the first is that we each have a responsibility for the well-being of those around us—this is what Jesus means when he says, “Love one another as I have loved you.”  Second, and perhaps just as important:  if there is anything that we have learned over the last two months, I hope it is a renewed understanding of just how much our faith means to us and what a joy it is to be able to regularly celebrate that faith together in church. 
I also know we can do this!  I take very seriously my role as your shepherd.  I want to keep all of us safe and healthy!  I, too, am looking forward to the day when we all can once again gather in church for Mass and know that we are, and that we celebrate and receive, the Body of Christ.
 
                                                                                                                                        Sincerely in Christ,
                                                                                                                                         Fr. Dwight M. Ezop, Pastor                                                                                                                            

Permission to podcast/stream the music in these services obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-733692