Letter From the Pastor

                                                                                                                                     June 8, 2020

Dear Parishioners:

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Welcome back to Church! You have been missed! Public Masses will begin on the Feast of

Corpus Christi, Sunday, June 14 th . Because of the need to sanitize our churches after each

liturgy, we will have to limit the number of Masses we offer. The schedule of Masses at our

three churches in the Bay View and Hunter’s Point will therefore be as follows:

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All Hallows

Saturdays at 6:30 pm in Spanish [beginning June 20th]

Sundays at 8:30 am in English [beginning June 14th]

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Our Lady of Lourdes

Sundays at 10:30 am in English [beginning June 14 th]

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St. Paul of the Shipwreck

Sundays at 8:30 am in Spanish [beginning June 14th]

Sunday at 10:45 am in English [beginning June 14th]

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Unfortunately, we cannot have Church the way we have normally been accustomed to having

it. Guidelines from the Archbishop and the Mayor dictate that some things have to be done

differently. Here is what is needed:

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First of all, everyone must wear a mask and sanitize their hands upon entering the Church. We

will be using only one door for entrance; and hospitality ministers will be at the entrance to

ensure that people are following the guidelines. You will find baskets for donations as you

enter the Church. Please make your donation before the liturgy begins; and I beg you to be as

generous as you possibly can.

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Please note that the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions should stay at home.

They are dispensed from physically being present at Mass. For those not attending in person,

Masses will continue to be streamed on the Internet. Please go to your parish web site for the

exact link.

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When you enter the church, you will notice that every other pew has been blocked off. And

even in the pews being used, parishioners must sit six feet apart—unless they live in the same

household. No missalettes or hymnals will be available for common usage.

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There will be no choirs, with singing to be led by one sole cantor accompanied by a musician.

There will be no hand holding at the Our Father nor any physical greeting at the Sign of Peace.

Nor will there be any congregational singing, as health officials have determined that singing

spreads the Coronavirus much more quickly and intensely than normal speech. Additionally, in

order to keep people in an enclosed environment for as short a period as possible, liturgies will

be limited to 40 minutes maximum.

We have been instructed to distribute Communion at the very end of Mass. When asked to do

so, you may come up to receive the Host, making sure that each person stays six feet apart

from the individual ahead of him or her. Ushers will direct parishioners to Communion pew-by-

pew. Any parishioners wearing gloves are asked to remove them for the reception of the

Sacrament. The priest or eucharistic minister will be wearing a mask and will have sanitized

their hands prior to distribution of the Host. Communion will be offered in the hands

only—without any touching. Following the reception of Communion, you are requested to

leave the Church, as the Mass will already have ended.

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I apologize for having to give you so many instructions. However, as it is necessary at this time

for the safety of all of us. I know you join me in praying for a vaccine that will allow us to return

to a more normal liturgical celebration.

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Yours in Christ,

Father Dan