There is an urgent need to return to a normal experience of Christian life through the physical presence of the faithful at Mass, where circumstances permit, says Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

In a Letter addressed to the Presidents of Bishops' Conferences, Cardinal Sarah insists that "virtual" services cannot compare to, and cannot replace, personal participation in the liturgy. The Letter, bearing the title, "Let us return to the Eucharist with joy!" was published with the approval of Pope Francis, which he granted on 3 September.

Communitarian dimension of the Christian life

"The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus has produced upheavals," not only in social and familial relationships, "but also in the life of the Christian community, including the liturgical dimension," writes Cardinal Sarah.

He notes, "This community dimension has a theological meaning: God is a relationship of Persons in the Most Holy Trinity"; and God "puts Himself in relationship with man and woman and calls them in turn to relationship with Him." So, while pagans built temples to the various deities, to which the people had no access, "Christians, as soon as they enjoyed freedom of worship, immediately built places that were the domus Dei et domus ecclesiae, where the faithful could recognize themselves as the community of God..." For this reason, the Letter continues, "the house of the Lord presupposes the presence of the family of the children of God."

Cooperation with civil authorities

"The Christian community has never sought isolation and has never made the Church a city with closed doors," the Letter reads. "Formed in the value of community life and in the search of the common good, Christians have always sought insertion into society."

Even in the midst of the pandemic, writes Cardinal Sarah, "a great sense of responsibility has emerged. In listening to and collaborating with civil authorities and experts," he notes that the Bishops of the Church "were prompt to make difficult and painful decisions, even to the point of suspending the participation of the faithful in the celebration of the Eucharist for a long period."

Keeping that in mind, Cardinal Sarah writes that nonetheless, "as soon as circumstances permit... it is necessary and urgent to return to the normality of Christian life, which has the church building as its home and the celebration of the liturgy, especially the Eucharist, as 'the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; and at the same time it is the font from which all her power flows' (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 10)."

The Letter continues, "Aware that God never abandons the humanity He has created, and that even the hardest trials can bear fruits of grace, we have accepted our distance from the Lord's altar as a time of Eucharistic fasting, useful for us to rediscover its vital importance, beauty and immeasurable preciousness." So, "as soon as is possible," writes Cardinal Sarah, "we must return to the Eucharist ... with an increased desire to meet the Lord, to be with Him, to receive Him and to bring Him to our brothers and sisters with the witness of a life full of faith, love and hope."

The necessity of personal participation at Mass

The Cardinal emphasized that "as much as the means of communication perform a valued service to the sick and those who are unable to go to church, and have performed a great service in the broadcast of Holy Mass at a time when there was no possibility of community celebrations, no broadcast is comparable to personal participation or can replace it."

On the contrary, he says, liturgies in which the faithful participate only virtually "risk distancing us from a personal and intimate encounter with the incarnate God" whose presence among His people was not virtual but Real, as He said: "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me and I in him" (John 6:56).

Cardinal Sarah insists, "This physical contact with the Lord is vital, indispensable, irreplaceable." Therefore, he continues, "once the concrete measures that can be taken to reduce the spread of the virus to a minimum have been identified and adopted, it is necessary that all resume their place in the assembly of brothers and sisters" and to "invite and encourage again those brothers and sisters who have been discouraged, frightened, absent or uninvolved for too long."

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+Confessions will be on Saturday at 3 PM. Confessions will be in the confessionals on both sides of the Church. Please follow the signage.

+The Church will be open 10 to 15 minutes prior to Mass. This is being done so that we have ample time to do a deep cleaning, that is, disinfect and sanitize the Church.

+Daily Mass will be at 9 AM in the Church.

+Only the front three sets of doors of the church will be unlocked to enter. All other doors will be locked. One can always exit from the inside from any door in case of an emergency. Please exit through the front set of doors.

+It is necessary that everyone two years old and above a wear a mask. The mask should be worn from when you leave the car until the time you return to your car. As you realize it is a mandate that a mask be worn in
public places and that includes the Church. This is being done for the safety of others as well as your safety. People should not congregate inside or outside of the Church before or after Masses.

+When you enter an usher will direct you to where you are to sit.  We will be seating everyone from the front to the back. You will not be sitting perhaps were you normally sit in church at this time. This is being done to maximize the seating space in the Church with social distancing.

+ All missalettes have been removed from the Church. No Church Bulletins will be distributed after Masses. These can be accessed by the Constant Contact that is sent to you on the Thursday prior to Sunday.

+ The ushers will not be taking up the Sunday Collection. Please use the baskets marked Sunday Collection.

+ There will be no Offertory Procession, no Sign of Peace, and a minimal amount of Music/Singing.

+ At Communion Time, please leave your pew and make sure you keep social distance between yourself and the person before you and process single file. You are also being asked to receive Holy Communion in your hands. Remember to extend your hands all the way out as far as possible making sure they are flat and once the Priest/Deacon/Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion places the Sacred Host in your hand only then bring your hands closer to yourself to receive Holy Communion. Please continue to wear your mask until after the Priest/Deacon/Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion gives you Communion before you remove the mask once you have stepped to the side, receive Communion.

+When it is time to leave Church, we will be exiting from the front of the church to the back, so that, we can immediately start disinfecting and sanitizing the Church.

May God continue to keep you safe.

+ Each blue cross on the pews (except for the first pew) can accommodate two people.