Friends in Christ,

I want to take a moment to offer you a quick update on preparations for our Catholic Comeback here at St. Anthony on the Lake. First of all , a huge thank you to the many households who have already shared with us your intentions about Mass on the weekend of Pentecost, May 30 th and 31 st . Whether you are joining us in person or virtually, I know that weekend will be a welcome opportunity to be together in a special way – one we’ve all deeply missed for quite some time.

Your response to our Catholic Comeback Survey is critically important in helping us to plan well for a safe, hospitable, and prayerful experience. So, with that in mind, I am asking that, if you haven’t already, you please click here to take 5 minutes today to offer your household’s response. Whether you plan to attend in person or virtually, your household’s response helps us to prepare. 

As I’ve mentioned throughout this pandemic, we continue to take our guidance from state and local authorities and from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, who oversees all parishes in our area. In light of the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court decision, the Archbishop has just forwarded updated guidelines to all parishes, which include a three-phase process for returning to normal operations. We are currently in phase one, and the Archbishop has confirmed that parishes will return to in-person worship on Pentecost Weekend. We are continuing to work through the guidelines to determine the road map they offer us for other areas of ministry.
Finally, a word on our preparations for Pentecost. Many of you have asked whether we will continue to offer a stream of the Mass online. We realize that many in our family of faith are either particularly vulnerable, work with vulnerable populations or are simply unready to return. It is for this reason that the Archbishop has extended his dispensation of the Sunday Mass obligation through July 5 th and why we will continue to offer a livestream of the Sunday Mass during this transitional time. We are also in the midst of producing a video that will walk you through the various protocols and adaptations we are putting in place, under the direction of the Archdiocese, in order to assure a safe experience for all. 

Thank you for your ongoing prayers and patience as we navigate this transition. The array of emotions, anxieties, expectations and hopes that we all carry during this time can make for rough waters. Let us trust that our God continues to lead us forward and will surely bring us to new life.   

Easter Blessings,
Fr. Tony Zimmer