Saint Rose of Lima Church

Friday in the Seventh Week of Easter, May 29 at 10am         Download Worship Aid        Readings

Pentecost Sunday, May 31 at 10am         Download Worship Aid        Readings

Thanks be to God, we are on our way to resuming the public celebration of the Sacraments at St. Rose of Lima Church! We have been given directives from the Diocese to help us do so in a safe manner, and our staff has been hard at work making this possible. There are many details involved, and I have listed below those most important for everyone to be aware of:

• Our first public Mass will be on Saturday, May 30, with the following limited schedule:

                        Saturday evening vigil Mass at 5pm

                        Sunday Mass at 7:30am and 10am

                        Tuesday daily Mass at 8:30am

                        Wednesday daily Mass at 7pm

This schedule will allow for necessary cleaning. It may be expanded in the weeks ahead. Please note, during the yellow phase Mass will only be celebrated in the church, not at the school.

• In order to provide adequate social distancing, every other pew has been taped off. Lines indicating a 6-foot space have been taped onto the pews that are open. Each individual or family should use these lines to maintain distance from others.
• Everyone entering the church must wear a face mask and maintain social distancing at all times. Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrances and we have a limited number of masks for those who need them, but we ask you to please bring your own.
• The liturgy will be modified where necessary. Throughout the yellow phase, we will not have altar servers, extraordinary ministers of holy communion, or the parish choir.
• The church must be cleaned after each Mass. We will use light soap and water to wipe down every pew and disinfecting wipes on other surfaces, such as door handles. Our Knights of Columbus are graciously offering their assistance, but I would welcome additional volunteers to help accomplish this. If you are interested in volunteering to help clean, please call the parish office at 717-846-4935.
• Our parish office will remain closed to visitors for the duration of the yellow phase but will be open on a modified schedule. Someone will be present in the office from 9am to noon, Monday through Friday. Please feel free to call during this time for any assistance you may need, such as scheduling Mass intentions, requesting a visit to the sick, or requesting information. Office hours will begin Tuesday, May 26.
• We will continue to live-stream the 10am Mass on Sunday. That video can be viewed on the parish website or the parish Facebook page. Everyone who continues to stay home during this time is encouraged to join us.
• The dispensation from the Sunday obligation to attend Mass continues until further notice. Anyone who is concerned for their own health is encouraged to stay home. Anyone who is sick or showing any symptoms, such as sore throat, headaches, or a temperature at or above 100° F is not to enter the church for any reason.
• Holy Communion will be distributed after Mass has concluded. During the final hymn, I will go into the sacristy to wash my hands and put on a face mask. Upon its conclusion, I will offer some instruction and begin to distribute Communion in the usual manner. Lines have been taped on the floor so that, as everyone comes forward for communion, they can maintain adequate distance. Only one single-file should form, not two lines side-by-side. Each communicant should remove his or her mask before receiving Communion. Afterward, you may choose to return to your pew for a prayer of thanksgiving, or you may simply want to leave at that time.
• At no point, either before or after Mass, should there be any kind of gathering in the church or at the entrances. Conversations with other parishioners should be held outside, maintaining proper social distancing.
• Restrooms are available for use. After using the restroom, we ask everyone to use a disinfecting wipe to clean any surface that was touched. Wipes will be placed in the restrooms for this purpose.
• The cry room, because it is a confined space, will not be open for use during this time.
• There will only be two entrances unlocked: the main doors, along Market Street, and the side doors coming off the small parking lot behind the rectory. We ask that you do not go out any of the other doors, except in the case of an emergency. This will limit the places we need to monitor and clean.
• Hymnals have been removed from the pews and in their place, we will temporarily print programs each Sunday. Upon entering the church, you are invited to take one from the table they are on. After Mass, please do not put the program back or leave it in your pew. There will be recycling bins by the tables. Please put the programs in the recycling bin so that no one else will need to touch them.
• Confessions will be heard outside at St. Rose of Lima school in Thomasville. I will sit under the entrance awning and individuals can drive up, without having to get out of their car, to go to confession. Alternatively, I will have a chair placed a safe distance from me for those who want to get out. Confessions will be heard on Wednesday from 5-6pm and on Saturday from 9-10am. That will begin this coming Wednesday, May 27. Throughout the yellow phase, we will not use the confessionals at the church because of their confined space.
• We have had to delay First Holy Communion and Confirmation. At this time, it seems prudent to wait until we have a better idea of how everything will work to reschedule those. We will maintain communication in that regard
• For those who are not comfortable returning to Mass at this time, I would be happy to make a home visit and bring Holy Communion to you. We will make sure this is done safely. Please call the parish office if you would like to arrange a visit at 717-846-4935.

There are surely many more details that will need to be worked out and adjustments will likely need to be made. I appreciate your patience as we move through this phase together, and I thank you for all your prayers in getting to this point. I look forward to seeing some of you soon and will continue to keep everyone in my prayers. May God bless you and keep you in his care.

In Christ,                                           

Father Richards