Dear Parishioners and Friends:

I believe that last year’s lockdown has given all of us a greater appreciation for us to come together in worship this Holy Week. Father Luke and I have been trying to come up with creative ways to celebrate and keep everyone safe. For Palm Sunday, we will not have a procession; we will have a simple reading of the Passion by the priest with the congregation seated and keeping silent. The priests will distribute the palm outside in front of the church at the end of the Mass with gloves on. Anyone who is not comfortable coming inside the church can come by and get palm. On Holy Thursday, we will not do the washing of the feet and the procession taking the Eucharist to the side altar will be only the priest and the altar server. On Good Friday, again the passion will be read by the priest with the congregation seated and silent. For the veneration of the cross, instead of coming forward and kissing the cross, we will distribute small crucifixes individually packaged in plastic to each parishioner who can venerate their cross as they choose. For the Easter Vigil, we are having the 4 required readings, no baptisms, 2 receptions into the Church and two confirmations. We will not have individual candles. As we try to assure that a safe distancing practice is followed, we will have Masses simultaneously in the church and down in Taylor Hall. On the two days where an additional Mass in not permitted (Holy Thursday and the Easter Vigil), we will limit attendance in the church to 125 people on a first-come first-served basis. I realize some of this sounds a little strange but it is better than last year where the services were celebrated with no congregation. We look forward to coming together in prayer and fellowship.

Father David Nolan