May 12, 2020

Dear Friends,

St John Paul II Parish Plan for Reopening our Church and Facilities

We are working hard to prepare for the reopening of our parish and our various ministries. In Part One of this update, we will share with you the parish plan for Adoration and Devotionals, Daily Masses, and our weekend liturgies (Live Stream and In-person). In Part Two, we will share with you the parish plan for reception of Sacraments, Funerals, Parish Offices, and Meeting/Gathering Spaces.
 
In all of our efforts we are adhering to the guidelines recommended by Archbishop Thompson, Governor Holcomb and the State of Indiana, and CDC Guidelines. First and foremost we respect the life and dignity of all persons. In developing our parish plan, we prayed for a balance of getting our parishioners back to church AND keeping all of us as safe as possible in our return. The church will be professionally cleaned/sanitized three times a week (Monday mornings, Friday afternoons, and Saturday evenings). Hand sanitizer will be available at both entrances although if you have some from home we encourage you to bring and use it so that our supply in the parish will last longer for those who have not been able to secure it. Cloths and Sanitizer will be available for crews to sanitize pews, door handles, etc. after each Mass when there is not a professional cleaning. That being said, here is our plan.
 
PART ONE: Phase 1
 
General Protocols
·           As you might imagine people are all over the board about what is safe to do and what is not safe to do. The same is true for what precautions should or should not be implemented.  We want to error on the side of extra caution.
·           Of course,  if you are sick in any way, please stay home . The obligation to attend Mass has been dispensed until August 15, 2020. The obligation to attend Mass when one is sick is always dispensed.
·           Due to the extra cleaning needed,  no restrooms or water fountains will be available at the Church during this time . This is to prevent the spread of the contagion.
·           The use of a face mask is strongly encouraged.  The wearing of a mask does not protect you from the virus, but can serve to protect others if you are an asymptomatic carrier of the covid-19 virus. Therefore, your wearing of a mask is an act of charity toward your fellow parishioners. We are asking you to do that. Children under the age of 2 are exempt.
·           Hand sanitizer will be provided as you enter and exit Church . However, if you have your own please bring it and use it so that our supply will last longer for those who have not yet been able to secure it.
·           There will be kinks in this system . We have tried to imagine them, and I’m sure we have addressed many of them and have missed others. Please give everyone around you a little extra grace during this stress-filled time.
 
Daily Masses
·           Daily Masses will begin to be open to the parish on Tuesday, May 19, 2020.  
These Masses will continue to be live-streamed. Seating will be marked and we ask that the pews closest to the altar be filled first. Mass attendants will be asked to assist in wiping down and sanitizing the pews for the next Mass.
·           All Masses will be held in the St. Paul Chapel .
·           Daily Mass Schedule will remain the same : Tuesday 6:30pm, Wednesday 8:30am, Thursday 8:30am, and Friday 12:00pm.
·           Holy Communion will be distributed at the end of Mass  as you leave Church. Permission to do so has been granted by Archbishop Thompson.
·           We will continue to offer Mass on the First Saturday of the month  following the same protocols as outlined for other daily Masses. The rosary will be prayed after the Saturday Mass as it has been during the livestreamed Masses.  First Friday devotions  will continue after the First Friday Mass as they have been during the livestreamed Masses.
 
Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and other Devotionals
·           Our Eucharistic Adoration Team is working on finalizing the various aspects of offering Adoration to all parishioners.  Our tentative plan is for Adoration to be offered in the St Paul Chapel beginning Thursday, May 21 th  and continuing on Thursdays.
·           Adoration will be open to all parishioners from (9:00am – 6:00pm). It will begin with Exposition and end with Benediction.
·           In order to begin adoration we need 4 parishioners (under the age of 65) to serve as Host and Hostesses . Each will be assigned a 2-hour slot (9a-11a, 11a-1p, 1p-3p, 3p-5p, 5p-6p will be covered by me). The Host/Hostess will assist with seating, cleaning, and sanitizing within new guidelines as well as enabling folks to have fruitful prayer and time with the Blessed Sacrament. To serve as a Host/Hostess please contact Joan Dilger at  jdilger@stjohnpaulparish.org . If we do not get the host/hostesses required we will not be able to offer adoration at this time.
 
Confessions and the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation:
 
·           Fr. Tom will hear confessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:00am-10:00am at the St. Paul Chapel beginning on May 20 th . In order to adhere to social distancing guidelines and privacy of confessions, confessions will take place in the sacristy. Chairs will be placed (6 feet apart) in the gathering area as you wait to go to confession. We ask that you do your penance in the car and that no one go into the church during that time (This is being done to keep the Church sanitized.)
 
 
Weekend Liturgies (Live Stream and In-person)
·           All weekend liturgies will be held in the St Paul Chapel.    We have made some adjustments to the Mass schedule  to allow adequate time to clean and prep the Church between Masses.  Mass times will be Saturday 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 7:30am, 9:30am, and 11:30am . MAY 23/24 WILL BE OUR FIRST WEEKEND BACK WITH IN-PERSON SERVICES. THE 9:30am MASS WILL BE LIVE-STREAMED EACH WEEK. 
·           The St Paul Chapel will now seat 150 people and be compliant to social distancing. 
·           While this may sound strange,  we will be taking RESERVATIONS FOR OUR WEEKEND MASSES . This will allow us to maximize the number of people who can attend each Mass. To reserve a seat for a Mass:
o      go to  www.stjohnpaulparish.org ,
o     click on the Mass Reservations Tab,
o     follow the prompts to fill out your request,
o     It will ask for an email address. If you do not have an email address, use  stewardship@stjohnpaulparish.org  as the email address.
Reservations close at noon on Friday. If you cannot make your reservation on line because you don’t have a computer or internet access you can make your reservation by calling the parish office (812) 246-2512 press 5 and then 412.
·           THOSE WHO ARE 65 AND OVER AND THOSE WITH HIGH-RISK HEALTH CONDITIONS SHOULD REMAIN AT HOME. THIS IS THE POPULATION THAT IS MOST VULNERABLE TO THE CORONAVIRUS. OF COURSE, THOSE WHO ARE SYMPTOMATIC OR HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 SHOULD NOT ENTER A CHURCH UNTIL RELEASED TO DO SO BY THEIR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL. (Archdiocesan recommendation)
·           THE DISPENSATION FROM THE OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE AT MASS ON SUNDAYS IS EXTENDED IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF INDIANAPOLIS AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF INDIANA UNTIL AUGUST 15, 2020.
·           All parishioners are strongly encouraged to wear face masks. Children under the age of 2 are exempt. Since the mask is worn to protect others rather than yourself, it is an act of charity to wear one even if you believe they are not necessary. We are also requesting all parishioners to utilize the hand sanitizer stations at the entrances to the sanctuary.
·           The pews in the sanctuary have been marked off in one foot segments. We will seat every other pew. Ushers will be provided with a guide to direct you to the next available pew that “fits your family size”. We will fill the pews closest to the altar first and then work our way to the back of church. We will also seat from the center of the pew out. This assists us in keeping the 6ft social distancing guideline, reduces passing by others, and ensures we will be able to use all of our available space efficiently. 
·           There will not be a formal offertory. The hosts will already be at the altar and we will not be dispensing the precious blood. Your offerings can be placed in the marked baskets at the entrances/exits of the church. You may use your envelopes to do this. Cash donations will also be accepted if you do not have envelopes.
 
·           Our celebration of the Mass will be the same with a couple of tweaks. We may not be singing ALL verses of each song.   Holy Communion, which will be only under the form of the Sacred Body of Christ, will be given at the conclusion of Mass.  When you receive communion you will not return to the pews, but will exit church at that time. 
·           In order to get the parking lot cleared from one Mass and ready for the next,  please do not congregate in the parking lot after Mass.  We understand that you have not seen your friends for a while and that there is a strong desire to visit with each other. However, we need to get the parking lot cleared for the next Mass.
·           Please try to arrive for Mass earlier than you normally do (but no more than 20 minutes before Mass) . Seating will take longer than normal so if everyone arrives in the last five minutes, it will be hard to get everyone seated for the start of Mass.
·           All hymnals, pens, and other materials have been removed from the sanctuary and narthex. This will reduce possible contagion.   Song lyrics will be visible on the screens. We are not using Homily note sheets at this time. The bulletin will only be available on-line. If you typically follow along in the missal for the readings, you will need to bring your own missal or use your smart phone to do so.
·           The restrooms and water fountain will not be available for use.  Again this is done as a precaution to reduce possible contagion.
·           Only the Pastor and Sacristan will be allowed in the hallway leading to the Sacristy and in the sacristy itself.
·           Specific ministry guidelines  will be made available to those who will be serving as Greeters/Ushers, Sacristan, Eucharistic Ministers, and volunteers cleaning the pews after each Mass. We will utilize only one lector at each Mass. We will not utilize altar servers at this time.
 
PART TWO
Sacraments
As we continue in our gradual re-opening process, we want to make sure the sacramental needs of all parishioners are met. The information below will be our current policy thru July. We will re-evaluate and update guidelines/procedures as the state and our communities move forward in the various stages outlined in the Get Back on Track in Indiana.
·            Baptism
o     We recommend scheduling a private celebration outside of Mass. Please contact Fr Tom by email  tclegg@stjohnpaulparish.org  to make arrangements with him.
o     Baptisms will still be offered during Mass. Only parents and Godparents (and the baby) will be allowed at the baptismal font. 
o     All baptisms will take place in the St Paul chapel
·           First Communion
o     We are still in the process of finalizing a plan for first communion. We will make that available as soon as it is complete.
 ·           Confirmation
o     Preparation will continue for the current confirmation small groups who will celebrate the Sacrament this October.
o     New small groups will be formed in January 2021.
·           Marriage
o     Contact Fr Tom for process and timeline
·           Anointing of the Sick
o     Contact Fr Tom for arrangements and scheduling a time
o     Some things to consider
  • Currently hospitals are not allowing priests in to anoint
  • Nursing Homes have their own policies; check with them before contacting Fr Tom to determine if he is allowed entrance.
  • If you are having an upcoming surgery, anointing can be after church or Fr Tom can come to your home
  •  In danger of death, please call Fr Tom. Hospitals will not allow priests in even under these circumstances. 
·           Holy Orders
o     Including this one also as we continue to foster and nurture vocations to the priesthood. Let Fr Tom know if you want more information regarding this Sacrament.
Funerals
·           Funeral Masses will be held at the St Paul Chapel and will be limited in number of
guests (150).
·           Services at Funeral Home or the grave site are still options.
·           No funeral luncheons can be provided at this time.
·           Cemetery plots will be sold by appointment only. To purchase a plot please contact
Kristina Seipel at  kseipel@stjohnpaulparish.org  or at (502) 751-3562.
 
Parish Offices
·           The Parish Offices will re-open Monday, May 18 th  on a limited basis . Pastoral Staff will continue to work predominantly from home but will also have some office hours.
·           The Parish Office hours will be 9:00am – 12:00pm Monday thru Friday . This will be evaluated again in July as the re-opening continues and all phases of the State’s plan has been implemented/evaluated.
·           Appointments can be made with any Pastoral Staff or Team member as needed.
 
Meeting/Gathering Spaces
The State of Indiana re-opening plan has 5 stages. Stage 2 began May 4 th  and allows gatherings of 25 people. Stage 3 begins May 24 th  and allows gatherings of up to 100 people. Stage 4 begins June 14 th  and allows gatherings up to 250 people. The final stage, Stage 5, begins July 4 th .  Face masks are recommended through June 14 th , they become optional after that. In all stages, CDC guidelines for social distancing need to be applied and used for meetings/gatherings. We will reevaluate July 1 st . Here is our plan moving forward:
 
Parish meetings/gatherings/programs in the future that are held in person should:
o     Adhere to social distancing guidelines with participants sitting 6 feet apart
o     All surfaces to be sanitized after use (tables, chairs, door handles, etc)
o     Restrooms to be sanitized if used
o     Hospitality may be brought in – but use of kitchen, coffee pots, microwave, refrigerators, freezers are not allowed at this time. 
·           We are encouraging parish meetings to still take place by Zoom through July. However, the shelter house over by the St. Joe Office is an outdoor space that could be utilized during this time. You would still need to practice social distancing at that site. To reserve that site contact Barbara Smith at the parish office.
·           Please contact Barbara Smith at the parish office to request space for your meeting, gathering, or program to be held in person or one of our two campuses. We will evaluate and prioritize requests.
 
We have scheduled a Facebook Live Parish Assembly for Saturday, May 16 th  at 10:00am.  This will be a chance for you to see how the Church will be set up for Masses, hear more details about how we are moving toward reopening our parish, and to ask questions about the current plans. If you have any questions about the plan or the parish, please email them to me at  tclegg@stjohnpaulparish.org  and we will answer them at the Parish Assembly. And once again, thanks for your patience once again as we navigate this plan that has many, many moving parts. God bless you all.


Fr. Tom Clegg