08/21/2020
Dear Parishioners:
We are now celebrating the Saturday and Sunday Liturgy at both parishes on a reduced schedule. There will be Mass at Saint William Church at 6:00 PM on Saturday, August 22nd and at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church at 9:00 AM on Sunday, August 23rd.
Because of the need to maintain social distancing, attendance will be limited to 50 persons at Saint William and to 75 persons at Immaculate Heart of Mary. Admission will be on a first come first served basis. Attendance at Sunday Mass remains optional in the Diocese of Charlotte and our ability to continue celebrating the weekend Liturgy depends on the cooperation of all to ensure that our fellow parishioners are kept safe. To accomplish this we ask you, in the spirit of Christian charity, to follow these guidelines:
* If you feel ill, are coughing, sneezing, or experiencing joint pain or breathing problems, DO NOT come to church.
* If, within the past 14 days, you have been in contact with anyone who has or who had COVID-19, DO NOT come to church.
* Your temperature will be checked at the entrance. Anyone registering a temperature above 100.4 F (38 C) will be denied admission. This is in accordance with CDC guidelines.
* Everyone will be seated by an usher. Please do not seat yourself or insist on having your “favorite pew.” This is the only way we can maintain safe distancing.
* There will be no collection during mass. A collection basket will be placed at the entrance of the church to receive your donations.
* Everyone must wear a face mask at all times and the mask must cover your mouth and your nose. Children 2 and under are exempt.
* Maintain a distance of at least six feet or more between individuals. Families may sit together.
* Communion will be distributed by Father Alex in the center aisle. The ushers will notify you when to leave your pew. Please maintain a distance of six feet between yourself and the person ahead of you. The markings on the floor indicate a six foot distance.
* We ask that you receive the Eucharist in your hand and not on your tongue. While the Church permits reception either in the hand or on the tongue, receiving on the tongue risks cross contamination and could place one of your fellow parishioners at serious risk. Many parishes throughout the country make reception in the hand mandatory.
* When receiving Eucharist in the hand, keep your mask on, extend your hands toward Father and form a bowl by cupping one hand and placing the other hand beneath it. One of the early Church Fathers referred to this as forming a throne for our Lord and King.
* Do not try to take the Eucharist from Father’s hand; wait for him to place the host in your hand and receive it reverently.
Step to the side, remove your mask, place the host in your mouth, and replace your mask. Do not carry the host away from the sanctuary or to your pew.
* Return immediately to your pew for your thanksgiving and do not linger at the altar so that those behind you can maintain a safe distance.
* At the end of Mass, please allow Father Alex to exit first.
Father will exit immediately to the confessional where he will be hearing confessions. At this time, the congregation may exit beginning with the rear pews and working toward the front. Please follow the directions of the ushers in this process.
* Please do not congregate in the Commons but exit immediately to the parking area.
* For confession, ushers will direct you where to sit and when to enter the room for confession. When in confession, please maintain a safe distance of at least six feet between yourself and Father Alex and upon exiting, find a space at a safe distance from the others for saying your penance prayers or you may leave and say your penance privately at home.
Thank you very much for your cooperation and patience.
If you are not able to attend in person, you may watch a Live video of the 6:00 pm Saturday night Mass right here on this page.
