Live Liturgy - Some things you need to know and a new ministry opportunity
Dear Friends:
As you may or may not know, Our Lady of the Lakes and Sts. Mary and Joseph are going to open for live liturgy. The first weekend will be May 30th and 31st. This is going to be a completely different setting than we are accustomed to, and this is where you may assist our efforts to resume.
As we are acutely aware, masks, gloves, social distancing are all a part of this new, temporary "normal" imposed on us by the COVID-19 pandemic. These rules will be applied to our churches as we re-open. This is what is going to happen.
1. Only every other pew will be used for mass
2. Six feet distancing will have to be maintained by those seated in the pews.
3. Masks for attendees is optional, but encouraged
4. Fr. Dave and any Eucharistic ministers will be wearing mask when distributing the Holy Host.
5. Entrance to and out of pews will have to be directed and very orderly for this to work.
6. When the church is full due to having much less seating capacity, others will be turned away. (very sorry to say)
7. The dispensation from attendance at weekly mass is still in effect and makes allowances for those who still feel uncomfortable in settings like attending mass.
8. All Hospitality Ministers will be required to wear masks while working closely, seating and directing our parishioners.
As result, we are forming a new ministry known as Hospitality Ministers. We will be responsible for holding people and families at the entrance to church, while we seat people appropriately in the pews. We will also have to designate, by pews, who will go to communion next. And lastly, we will dismiss each pew in an orderly fashion. Here's where all of you and any friends you have not on this mailing, come in. On the 30th and 31st, I will ask anyone interested in helping in this process come to church 1/2 hour before it begins. I will be at all churches at this time. We will then go over how we will seat folks, get them to communion and then dismiss them when mass has concluded. I really need your help in making this all happen. So, anyone who can participate as a Hospitality Minister, please write me back. Let me know what church building your regularly attend we will then have you serve at that mass and mass site. Let me know ASAP, so we can be sure to have enough persons for this job. I suspect we will need a minimum of 3-4 for each mass.
I really encourage all of you to participate if at all possible. Ask others if they want to be part of this ministry, so that we have all churches fully served. We want to resume mass, and do it safely. God bless you all and will await your response.
Ben Melnykovich
Chair, Parish Council
Coordinator of Hospitality Ministers
As you may or may not know, Our Lady of the Lakes and Sts. Mary and Joseph are going to open for live liturgy. The first weekend will be May 30th and 31st. This is going to be a completely different setting than we are accustomed to, and this is where you may assist our efforts to resume.
As we are acutely aware, masks, gloves, social distancing are all a part of this new, temporary "normal" imposed on us by the COVID-19 pandemic. These rules will be applied to our churches as we re-open. This is what is going to happen.
1. Only every other pew will be used for mass
2. Six feet distancing will have to be maintained by those seated in the pews.
3. Masks for attendees is optional, but encouraged
4. Fr. Dave and any Eucharistic ministers will be wearing mask when distributing the Holy Host.
5. Entrance to and out of pews will have to be directed and very orderly for this to work.
6. When the church is full due to having much less seating capacity, others will be turned away. (very sorry to say)
7. The dispensation from attendance at weekly mass is still in effect and makes allowances for those who still feel uncomfortable in settings like attending mass.
8. All Hospitality Ministers will be required to wear masks while working closely, seating and directing our parishioners.
As result, we are forming a new ministry known as Hospitality Ministers. We will be responsible for holding people and families at the entrance to church, while we seat people appropriately in the pews. We will also have to designate, by pews, who will go to communion next. And lastly, we will dismiss each pew in an orderly fashion. Here's where all of you and any friends you have not on this mailing, come in. On the 30th and 31st, I will ask anyone interested in helping in this process come to church 1/2 hour before it begins. I will be at all churches at this time. We will then go over how we will seat folks, get them to communion and then dismiss them when mass has concluded. I really need your help in making this all happen. So, anyone who can participate as a Hospitality Minister, please write me back. Let me know what church building your regularly attend we will then have you serve at that mass and mass site. Let me know ASAP, so we can be sure to have enough persons for this job. I suspect we will need a minimum of 3-4 for each mass.
I really encourage all of you to participate if at all possible. Ask others if they want to be part of this ministry, so that we have all churches fully served. We want to resume mass, and do it safely. God bless you all and will await your response.
Ben Melnykovich
Chair, Parish Council
Coordinator of Hospitality Ministers