Update: The dispensation from having to attend Sunday Mass in person ENDED on July 1, 2021.
Dear Parishioners in exile,
At about 4:45 I received the following from message from Archbishop Carlson.
In order to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community, I am mandating the suspension of all public Masses in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, beginning with Masses following this communication today, March 16, 2020. Pending updates and guidance from local and state government and health officials, we have preliminary plans to resume Masses
beginning April 6; however, we will re-evaluate at a later date.
At this time, all churches are to remain open to individuals for personal prayer, devotions and confessions.
As with my directive on March 15 to close schools, this decision has not been made lightly. However, caring for both our physical and spiritual health go hand-in-hand, and the health, safety and overall well-being of the people of the archdiocese is my first priority. Please review new details and guidelines below, to be implemented immediately and maintained
through April 5, 2020, pending further updates:
All public celebrations of the liturgy, as well as Liturgy of the Hours, Stations of the Cross, and all other group services, Bible studies and activities are to cease beginning immediately. The dispensation I have offered for all Catholics in our archdiocese from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is now extended through April 5.…
Please work with your parish staff and lay members to offer live-streamed Masses where possible… (I am meeting at 7p tonight to see what is doable. Will keep you in the loop) Eucharistic Adoration: Decisions regarding whether to continue operation of adoration chapels should be determined by the pastor. … Please take care to implement the most recent social distancing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), ensuring that no more than 10 individuals are gathered in Eucharistic adoration at one time. **see the PS for my message this morning I sent to our Eucharistic Adorers
So, we are certainly in a new place in terms of the externals of our faith practices. The external, communal practices are now private experiences. But here is my challenge to all of you, whether you are a daily mass-goer or not. What if, at 6:30 and 8am, the normal mass times for our parish, we all pause and come together ‘in a spiritual union’ of prayer. And though you may take the prayer in any direction you wish, what if we all began with a decade of the Rosary, seeking through Mary, as did Pope Francis, her intercession to her Son for her suffering children, the church Jesus entrusted to her on the Cross. (Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother.)
For what remains unchanged (or rather, WHO remains unchanged) is Jesus Christ, the rock upon whom the church is built. And though we are now physically isolated from one another, we remain united in our love and prayer and support.
Fr. Bill
ps: And, do not forget, make sure you check in on parishioners for whom this isolation will be difficult.
pps: My missive to those scheduled for Eucharistic Adoration
Effective as of this morning, March 16th, we are suspending EXPOSITION of the Blessed Sacrament in our Eucharistic Adoration Chapel until further notice. The chapel will remain OPEN and AVAILABLE for ADORATION.
Jesus will be present in the tabernacle, and you can offer your adoration and praise and prayer for him there. Refraining from Exposition, however, allows adorers greater freedom in NOT showing up if they are compromised or in a high risk group or feeling ill. You don’t have to worry about getting a sub for your time. You simply stay at home.