Announcement from Fr. Richard: Public Masses and Updates

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Historic Saint Paul Parish,

Despite the opportunity given us by the Governor and Bishop John that we may resume offering public mass on 20 May, I write to remind us all that we are still in the midst of a pandemic, there is no vaccine, there is no antibody test readily available to anyone who wants one, the COVID-19 test is only a snapshot in time – it means you do not have the virus at the moment you had the test taken, not an hour later and not even a day later – so it must not lull us into a false sense of security.  With all that in mind, it is incumbent upon me to remind you, as your pastor, that the OBLIGATION TO ATTEND MASS IN PERSON IS LIFTED BY DECREE OF OUR BISHOP FOR THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE. Because masses are offered in church buildings does NOT mean that you are obligated to attend. In fact, those who are 65+ years of age, vulnerable, feeling unwell in any way, or have a compromised immune system in any regard, or are fearful of contracting COVID19 from an asymptomatic person are encouraged NOT to attend mass in person. Instead, attend via the broadcast masses. 
Our parish has many vulnerable parishioners, many of whom serve as Ministers of Hospitality and liturgical ministers. We have vulnerable people on staff, too. We consider these facts as we discern our plan regarding how to move forward toward reopening.

Yesterday, 11 May, we were given DIRECTIVES from Bishop John that are at the end of this communication and must be taken in an absolute and strict sense. They are not optional. There can be no veering from them whatsoever. It is our duty as followers of Jesus to protect the least among us and safeguard all life. These DIRECTIVES endeavor to do that.

As you read through the DIRECTIVES, you will see that we have a lot of work to do PRIOR to offering public masses here at Historic Saint Paul. Our first task is to meet via Zoom tomorrow evening, 13 May,  with Historic St. Paul’s COVID-19 Medical Response Team, comprised of medical professionals that JR has assembled and Sister Clara and I have confirmed, to determine how we can best meet the Directives and how and when to move forward safely. This team includes Anita Capillo, RN, BSN. SANE, Dr. Michael Dobbs, Dr. Joseph Gerhardstein, Dr. Clay Gerhardstein, Dr. Stephanie Rose, Mary Wethington, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, Sister Clara, JR our Parish Director of Communications, and myself. 

Besides the Historic St. Paul’s COVID-19 Medical Response Team I am also meeting also virtually with the seven pastors of the Lexington parishes today at 3pm and have met and will be meeting with various members of our parish staff. 

With the DIRECTIVES from Bishop John, pastors were given Guidelines and Considerations from the Diocese as well. They will be part of our discernment, too.
Parishes will be not be able to have the exact same roll-out of beginning public masses because parishes are not alike. Our parish is unique, our building is unique, our vulnerable population is large. We are taking carefully measured steps as we plan our reopening. I, and the leadership of Historic St. Paul Parish, strongly feel this is the most responsible course to take. 


Discerning how to move forward and when we are ready to move forward is an extremely serious and sacred charge. We need much more than 8 or 9 days to meet the DIRECTIVES; it will probably take us another two weeks, at least, to have a plan and supplies and teams in place to begin offering public masses.  So, we will not be ready to open for public masses on 20 May. I have no timeline to offer now, except that we will be working to find a path forward that meets the DIRECTIVES and keeps every parishioner and visitor safe when they come to mass at Historic Saint Paul. 

We intend to continue broadcasting the mass each weekend via internet. The masses in English that we are anticipating we will offer when we reopen the church building will be at 4pm on Saturday, 10am on Sunday, and 5pm on Wednesday afternoons. Masks must always be worn when coming to mass and social distancing is imperative. Please see the DIRECTIVES for specifics. Because we must thoroughly clean and disinfect the church building after each mass, per the DIRECTIVES, we had to suspend the Sunday 8am mass temporarily and have added the Wednesday 5pm mass using the Sunday liturgy.  Confessions will continue to be available by appointment and are offered in the privacy of Brossart House. Masks must be worn by both penitent and priest.
I will inform you as decisions are made, how the decisions will be implemented, and the rationale for the decisions.

In the interim, please keep your par
ish leadership and the COVID-19 Parish Response Team in your prayers as we, together, enter in this most serious and sacred time of discussion, discernment and planning  for your physical and spiritual health, and for your safety.

In corde Iesu,
Fr. Richard Watson
Pastor


DIRECTIVES i.e. Not Optional

• Dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass continues in the Diocese of
Lexington until further notice.
• Attendance at each individual Mass or liturgy is limited to no more than 33 % of the
regular occupancy of your church. Regular occupancy number should be known. Plans
must be in place for how to limit the size of gatherings.
• Social distancing of 6 feet between people not living in the same household must be
followed; social distancing is to be practiced at all times and includes seating, processions,
communion lines and any lines waiting for admission to the church or exiting.
• Elderly and vulnerable populations are to be encouraged to participate in the live-streamed
Masses.
• Signage is to be placed on entrance doors asking anyone with fever or flu-like symptoms to
not enter the church.
• Masks are to be worn by the congregation. Masks are to be worn by ministers at all times
when not speaking, reading or singing as part of their ministry.
• Holy water fonts are to remain empty.
• Hand sanitizer is to be available at least at church entrances and preferably in additional
places.
• There is to be no physical contact during the Lord’s Prayer or during the Sign of Peace.
• Priests, liturgical ministers and sacristans must wash/sanitize hands before and after mass
and before and after the distribution of Communion.
• Hand sanitizer is to be used before the distribution of Communion. If inadvertent contact
(i.e. hand touching hand) is made, the minister of Communion is to stop and sanitize hands
before continuing the distribution. Having a place to set the ciborium and have access to
sanitizer nearby would be helpful.
• Gloves are not to be worn by the ministers or recipients of communion.
• Communion is distributed only in the form of Bread and given to communicants only in the
hand.

• Assembly is to be instructed that there will be no vocal words at the distribution of
communion, the minister will hold up the sacred host and the communicant will bow.
• Songbooks, prayer cards and other items are to be removed from the pews.
• Frequently touched surfaces in the church are to be cleaned and sanitized after every liturgy
(e.g. pews, door handles, microphones, etc.)
• There will be no Children’s Liturgy of the Word, post-Mass social or other gatherings.
• No choirs. Cantors and musicians are allowed with social distancing; the state is asking us to
limit (if not eliminate) congregational singing.
• Ushers and hospitality ministers are to wear masks and not make physical contact with
congregants.
• No offertory procession; bread and wine remain in sanctuary and covered before being
placed on the altar. Hosts to be consecrated for the people are to be placed on the altar in
such a way that the priest is not speaking directly over them during the Eucharistic prayer;
his own host is to be separate.
• No passing of collection baskets or plates. Receptacles should be placed near entrances or in
clearly identified places for receiving offerings. Persons who handle envelopes or cash are to
carefully wash hands afterwards. Offertory counters are to wear gloves and masks for their
own protection.
• Sacristans and those who assist in preparing communion elements must carefully wash their
hands and wear facemasks when in contact with bread and wine.
• Concelebrants and deacons are not to share from the same chalice.
• No paper bulletins are to be distributed.
• Any greetings after mass by the celebrant and/or deacons will still require social distancing
• Restrooms are to be limited to one person at a time and must be cleaned between masses.