St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish

Bishop Parkes has announced that the parishes should begin preparation to resume Sunday Masses the weekend of May 30-31.  However, this is not a simple return to our previous mode of operation.  Or Mass schedule is the same as before Masses were suspended with the exception of the first Mass on Sunday morning which will be celebrated at 7:00 am. (This will give time to disinfect the Church before the 9:00 am Mass.)

We are doing everything possible to ensure your safety when you come to Mass on the weekends.  Here is what you can expect.

1-The two south side doors will be locked from the outside.  We would like those who come in through the sides to enter through the two north side doors as we have purifying stations setup inside the doors.

2-Parishioners should wear masks to protect others from the virus should they be carrying it even though they may be asymptomatic.

3-When you enter the Church you will notice that there is no Holy Water.  However, you should make the sign of the cross when entering the Church.

4-Please use the hand sanitizer when you enter Church and when you leave. 

5-You will notice that there are collection baskets at the entrances of the church.  This is because we cannot pass the baskets safely.  If you are not giving online or mailing in your parish support, please drop your offering in the basket at the door either before or after Mass.  If there are any special collections, please drop these envelopes in the baskets before or after Mass.  The baskets will be merged and presented at the offertory time.

6-You will notice that half the pews are roped off.  This is to give adequate social distancing between you and the people in front of you and behind you.  Here is the biggest challenge: you need to sit in a pew that allows six feet of social distancing between your household and another household.

7-If you arrive late, please only take a place in a pew if there will be six feet of social distancing.  Please do not attempt to sit in the empty spaces which are in fact social distancing spaces between households. If there are no places available, please remain standing.

8-We may possibly add an overflow Mass, but this will be an instant decision depending on the number of people in the church.  Please do not go to the Hall assuming that there will be an overflow Mass.

9-You will notice that the screens are down.  We are not able to have missalettes at this time.  The music will be projected onto the screen until the offertory hymn ends.  Then the screens will be raised for the Eucharistic Prayer and Communion.

10-As before, the Sign of Peace has been eliminated as well as Communion under the form of the Precious Blood.

11-When you come to Communion, please stay six feet behind the person in front of you.  Two of the tiles on the floor present an adequate distance.  

12-Please receive Communion by hand.  If you are adamant about receiving Communion on the tongue, then please wait to the end of the Communion line.

13-When you exit Church, please leave adequate room for social distancing between your household and other households.

14-The dispensation from the obligation to attend  Sunday Mass remains in place.  Parishioners older than 75 or with any serious physical condition should consider remaining home.  Parishioners who are not comfortable with returning to Church at this time out of fear of contracting the virus should remain home.  As long as the dispensation is in place, Msgr Pellegrino and Fr. Bell will continue to post taped Masses.  However, parishioners should realize that a taped Mass is not the same as attending a live Mass and receiving communion.

15-Regarding confessions, since we still cannot safely use the reconciliation rooms, one priest will be available for confession outdoors at a very strict time of 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm.  In case of rain, the priest will be hearing confessions in the chapel.  The priest must be in the Church at 3:45 to assess the need for an overflow Mass.  There will not be confessions in the evening after the 6:30 pm Mass. 

Daily Masses resumed Monday, May 11th.  We are following our regular schedule of 7:00 am and 9:00 am Monday through Friday and 9:00 am on Saturday.  

The following procedures must be followed:

1-Parishioners should sanitize their hands on entering and leaving the church.

2-Parishioners are encouraged to wear masks, particularly on the communion line. 

3-Household need to sit at least six feet from other households.

4-Parishioners should sit in every other pew.

5-The presentation of the gits at the offertory is suspended.

6-There will be no sign of peace. Nor will there be communion from the chalice.

7-When coming to communion, parishioners need to be six feet apart from the next person in line--two of the large tiles on our sanctuary floor  would be an adequate distance.

8-Parishioners are encouraged to receive communion in the hand.  Those who insist on receiving in the tongue need to be the last people on the communion line.

9-Parishioners should not congregate either before or after Mass.

10-The missalettes will not be available.  Those who have them may bring their own missals.

11-The Wednesday Novena of the Miraculous Medal will be suspended.

We will continue to tape the Sunday Masses, posting them around 4:15 pm on Saturdays.