Returning to Church

Coming Home with Hope, Care, Patience and Respect
What to expect as you return to Mass at St. Luke parish

Our goal is that you feel the joy and excitement of returning to the celebration of the Eucharist in an environment that is safe and respectful of your concerns and honors our God with the quality of our worship.  

The past few Sundays, which included the celebrations of first communion, more than five hundred people have attended Mass each weekend.  While this is less than half of what our normal attendance would be pre-pandemic it does point to a hopeful transition.  Because we are a parish with many young families, we are developing our transition with the concern that most of our younger members will not have been vaccinated.  We also realize that many vaccinated adults are very cautious as they resume a more public life.  

This Memorial Weekend Mass will be celebrated as it has been.  No changes will be in place this weekend.  Over the next month we anticipate a gradual rollout of our liturgical changes.  This will give us time to prepare a safe and respectful transition and communicate with you.  We should keep in mind that while the danger of contracting the virus has significantly diminished prudence dictates caution.  Mid-June should provide a solid benchmark as we process the results of the travel and personal interactions of our memorial weekend and the impact of broad lifting of restrictions in the community.

This is what you can expect beginning the weekend of June 5/6 when the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is reestablished:

• We will continue to help you sanitize your hands as you enter through the center doors at church.  We will postpone the availability of holy water in the fonts for a few weeks.  Masks will not be required if you have been fully vaccinated.  We expect that adults who have not been fully vaccinated will continue to follow the requirements to wear a mask and keep social distance in an enclosed space.  We hope that this requirement will be lifted in the near future.

• Initially the right side of the church (the side with the baptismal font) will respect social distancing and the limits on seating.  We would expect that most people in this area would continue to wear masks.  This section of the church will continue to be sanitized after each celebration. The left side of the church (the side with the lectern) will be open seating without social distancing.  You need not wear a mask here, although some may desire to do so. This part of the church will undergo a deep cleaning on Friday in preparation for the weekend services.  We trust your good will and concern for one another for these temporary changes.

• The priests will continue to have a simplified entrance into church.  Although liturgical aids will only gradually be available, there will be simple entrance and recessional songs with familiar hymns.  The responsorial psalm will be sung together.

• We will continue to be careful with the bread and wine that will be used for holy communion.   Because Communion is a very intimate exchange both spiritually and physically, we will be very prudent and careful during this transition time. Initially we will not have an offertory procession. For the time being we will not pass the basket during the Mass.   Baskets will be available at the main entrance for those who do not use other means of support.  We appreciate your incredible generosity throughout the pandemic.  The sign of peace will continue to be exchanged without physical contact except within households

• Holy Communion will take place during the celebration of Mass at the traditional time.  We will continue to use the side aisles and have our hands sanitized before receiving communion.  We will return to our seats through the center aisle.   I know that many of you are anxious to be able to receive communion on the tongue.  Out of your concern for the well-being of others you have been very generous in refraining from doing so during the pandemic.  We hope that you might continue receiving in the hand during this short time of transition.

I know that this is an awkward period.  While the virus has been mitigated it is still a threat, particularly to the vulnerable, the young and the unvaccinated.  If you are showing any of the symptoms of the illness please stay at home and get tested when possible.  Please respect that people are dealing with the results of the pandemic in many ways.  Throughout the pandemic your respect and concern for one another has been on display.  It is important that this be maintained during this time of transition.

We should also be incredibly thankful.  Many parts of the world continue to experience immense suffering because of the virus.  We need to keep them in our prayers and find ways to offer whatever assistance that we can.

Finally, please be patient.  This transition is based on our trust and concern for the well-being of one another.  With God’s help we will soon be able to gather without restrictions.  

Christ’s peace and blessings,
Msgr. Mike