Plan for Resuming Public Masses
ONE CORRECTION to the Return to Public Mass Letter:
Week three of the Catholic Comeback Mass Schedule is JUNE 13-14
(It was originally labeled June 11-12, so "no", we will not be having Sunday Mass on the weekdays :)
Sorry for the confusion...

Happy Easter Parishioners of St. James and Good Shepherd,

Though challenging this year, with God at our side, it is an awesome celebration we are having with the 50 days of Easter. This particularly unique season will culminate in a joyous return to public Mass on Pentecost weekend, May 30th & 31st. We have heard from so many who can’t wait to get back together in our churches - whether that’s on Pentecost or at some time in the future. Thanks to the many who responded to the survey, we have good information to make a plan of coming back to Mass. 

With 25% being the required limit of occupancy in our worship spaces and your input as a gauge of the number of people willing to return immediately on May 30-31, we estimate that it will take several weeks to get everyone back to public Mass. So we are going to start with a three week rotation and adjust as we go.

Here is our initial Catholic Comeback Mass schedule:
  • May 30-31: Last name beginning with P-Z are invited to attend
  • June 6-7: Last name beginning with H-O are invited to attend
  • June 13-14: Last name beginning with A-G are invited to attend

Here are your location options:
(Going to either parish is certainly permissible but please attend only one Mass)
Saturday 4:30pm Masses are celebrated only at Good Shepherd
Sunday 10:00am Masses are celebrated only at St. James

Deciding on this schedule was difficult. We recognize this will disappoint some who have an immediate desire to return to Mass. We ask for your patience, understanding and support as we proceed cautiously desiring to care for the spiritual and physical well being of every single member of our flock. We will continue to post these Masses on both parish websites for those who do not wish to return yet, and for those awaiting their turn per the 3 week schedule.

Here is our procedure for those who arrive for Mass:
  • Upon entering the parking lot, please ensure proper social distancing as you go from your vehicle to the church entrance.
  • Only one entrance will be used. It will be the main entrance, the one under the canopy. This main door will open 30 minutes before the scheduled Mass time. Please stay in your cars until the doors are opened and then adhere to safe social distancing.
  • Masks will be required from the moment you leave your car for all over the age of 2. They must be worn for the duration of Mass and until you return to your car, with the exception of receiving Eucharist.
  • There will be no passing of an offertory basket during Mass, so there will be a basket in the church to drop in your offering.
  • Ushers will direct you to a specific area. It is imperative that you not sit anywhere else other than where directed. This is done to efficiently determine capacity and proper social distancing in the worship space. Please understand that you might not be seated where you normally sit.

Procedure during Mass:
  • Music sheets will be available. Please take the music sheets home with you. The music will also be available on our parish website in case you would like to use your phone to follow along.
  • There will be no physical contact at all during the Mass, including the Sign of Peace and the Our Father.
  • Procession to receive Holy Communion will be by each of the individual sections. A single minister will distribute. Please observe proper social distancing as you approach the minister to receive.
  • An usher will dismiss you from your seat for Holy Communion.
  • We will have hand sanitizer available but we would also recommend that you bring your own small bottle so you can sanitize your hands before and after Holy Communion. 
  • Masks must be worn up until the moment of receiving communion and be worn again immediately following receiving Communion.
  • Communion will only be received in the form of the precious body and will be dropped in the cupped hands to avoid direct contact. For obvious reasons, no reception on the tongue will be allowed.
  • We ask that guests remain in their seats until the final processional song has concluded. Ushers will dismiss guests in an orderly fashion to ensure proper social distancing. Please be patient. Though we used only one entrance door, all exits doors will be available expediting exit.
  • There will be no congregating anywhere - including in the worship space, gathering space or parking lot before, during or after Mass. 

CLICK HERE to view how the process of attending will look.
This is Deacon Sandy's weekly video chat featuring Archbishop Listecki explaining many of the points of the Catholic Comeback.

Here are some things to remember:
  • The Archbishop has lifted the obligation to attend Sunday Mass through July 5th.
  • All who are defined by the health department as more vulnerable (i.e. 60+ years of age, those with compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions, etc.) are encouraged to seriously consider staying at home.
  • Please understand that although we are hoping that this plan will accommodate everyone, you may be turned away if the 25% capacity has been reached. We will live stream, record and post the Mass in case you are not able to be in the physical church at this time.
  • If you are not feeling well, have a fever, or are sick, please stay home. It is important that we keep ourselves and each other safe.
  • There will be no printed bulletins available. Bulletins are still available on our website.
  • The church building has been deep cleaned and sanitized following the guidelines/directives provided by the CDC and Catholic Mutual Group. Your parish staff is doing everything they can do to keep you safe in and around our Worship space to help prevent and stop the spread of COVID-19.
  • Per direction from the Archbishop, no Communion for the homebound will be given.

We are trying very hard to make this all work as it is outlined here but there is always the possibility that the Mass schedule or procedures will change due to decisions made by Archbishop Listecki or Deacon Sandy.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact:
Corinna Ramsey at Good Shepherd (ramseyc@archmil.org; 262-345-3897)
Bryan Ramsey at St. James (ramseyb@archmil.org; 262-253-2915)

We understand that this will all be difficult, but we ask for your extraordinary understanding and cooperation. One of our most core beliefs is to protect all life, so it is in the interest of keeping everyone safe and caring for others that we ask this be strictly adhered to for the time being.

May it be a grand celebration of the Lord’s Day on Pentecost. May the Holy Spirit reign in our hearts, in our bodies and in our souls as we proclaim the gospel in our community worship, either in our homes or gathered in person.

And may God bless us all for being Courageous Catholics who long for His true presence in our lives.

Your Good Shepherd & St. James Leadership Teams