Friends,

Archbishop Pérez has announced that parishes of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will be able to resume public Masses the weekend of June 6th and 7th. The Archbishop and the diocesan staff have put significant time and effort into developing a plan for resuming masses. So, have we at the Parish. We at Saint Norbert Parish look forward to welcoming you back! Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we make our way back to the in-person celebration of the Mass.

While our county remains in the Yellow Phase of statewide reopening, all of us need to do our part to make sure that our return to Mass is a peaceful and safe experience for all. Please take the time to read the guidelines below. We ask everyone to follow these guidelines when attending Mass during this period:

GENERAL POINTS

• The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation continues to be lifted during the Yellow Phase. You are not required to attend Mass at this time.
• If you are anxious about receiving Holy Communion, you can make a spiritual act of communion at this time.
• Please stay home if you are sick or have any of the following symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, or loss of taste and smell.
• Please stay home if you are at higher risk of severe illness with COVID19. If you are uncertain about your risk status, please consult your doctor and the CDC Guidelines at the link below.
• Click here to read the CDC Guidelines for those at higher risk: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-higher-risk.html

MASS SCHEDULE – CHANGED

The change in the Mass schedule is as follows beginning Saturday, October 3, 2020:

• 5:00 PM Saturday night,
• 9:00 AM Sunday morning,
• 11:00 AM Sunday morning,
• Spanish Mass at 1:30 PM,
• 6:00 PM Youth Mass Sunday evening.
• Confessions will be available after the 9:00 AM mass beginning at 9:45am or by appointment.

Please note: There will only be one daily mass.

• Daily Mass, Monday to Saturday will move to 7:30 AM only beginning Monday, June 8, 2020.

This has been accepted by the Parish Council and the Parish Leadership Team for safety.

Masses will continue to be available via livestream.

• 9:00 AM
• 1:30PM Spanish Mass
• 6:00PM Youth Mass
• 7:30 AM Daily Mass
• Other sacramental celebrations and devotions

BEFORE COMING TO MASS

• Please do not come to Mass if you are sick or are at higher risk for severe illness with COVID19 – Especially those 65 or older and those with underlying conditions (see CDC guidelines).
• Please wash your hands for 20 seconds using soap and water.
• Before entering the Church, please put on a facemask or cloth covering. This is mandatory.
• If you can not wear the mask for the duration of Mass, please stay home.
• Exceptions to this are “children younger than 2 years old, anyone who has trouble breathing, and anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance” (CDC Guidelines).

ENTERING THE CHURCH

• Entry to the church is only available through the front doors – only the main entrance is to be used.
• Please do not congregate for any reason, especially in the narthex, coming (and exiting) Mass.
• Hand sanitizers will be available at the Church entrance. Please use the hand sanitizer upon entering and exiting the Church. Consider bringing hand sanitizer for personal use before receiving Holy Communion.
• To make sure everyone is at least 6 feet apart, we are limiting attendance at Mass. While we do not expect to reach our limit, overflow seating outside will be available.
• Missalettes will not be available at this time.

SEATING

• The Parish staff and safety volunteers will be present to assist people with seating.
• When taking your seat, please honor all posted signs about where you may sit. Every third pew will be open to ensure proper social distancing of 6 feet.
• Members of the same household may sit together as normal. Please place 6 feet between your household and members of a different household.
• Handicapped seating will be arranged by staff and safety volunteers.

DURING MASS

• Minimal singing at masses will be observed. No song sheets will be available.
• There will be no Offertory procession.
• There will be no Sign of Peace during Mass.
• The Precious Blood will not be distributed during Mass.
• There should be no holding of hands during the Our Father.
• There will be no collection taken up during the Offertory. Baskets will be available as you enter and leave the church through the main entrance. Additionally, please visit our website at parish.stnorbert.comfor easy ways to donate online. We now accept all major credit cards.

RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION

• During the Yellow Phase, the faithful will receive Holy Communion in the hand.
• The Communion ministers will be positioned at the Altar step. We ask that the main aisle of the church be used for communion.
• In single file, please approach one of the ministers then return by the side aisles. After the center pews have received, the sides of the church will process to the back and up the center aisle to receive Holy Communion.
• Please maintain social distancing in the Communion line. Please keep several pews between yourself and the person in front of you (at least 6 feet) while in line and when returning to your pew.
• Please consider sanitizing your hands before coming to communion.
• Do not remove your mask before receiving Holy Communion.
• The Communion minister will say Body of Christ. Respond Amen with your mask on.
• After receiving the Body of Christ in the hand with mask on, the recipient should turn 90 degrees to face where they will be walking, take two strides, stop, release the mask from the bottom if able to do so – thus if possible, keeping the nose partially covered and consume the Body of Christ.
• Replace mask fully before returning to the pew, keeping head tilted down in a prayerful manner while mask is off.
• If you receive a gluten free host, please tell the communion minister at the altar step.
• Communion will be brought to the handicapped.

EXITING THE CHURCH

• At the conclusion of Mass, the parish staff and safety ministers will have you exit one row at a time so please do not leave your pew until you are directed.
• Please exit the Church through the main doors and proceed directly to your car. Please do not congregate for any reason, especially in the narthex, coming to (and exiting) Mass.
• Please leave your mask on until you exit the Church and are in your car.
• Please take a parish bulletin home with you or visit our website to review online.

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

St. Norbert Parish will follow the guidelines from the CDC for sanitation as we resume public Masses.

• To view the CDC guidelines, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/faith-based.html
• The Church will be cleaned after each Mass daily, which will include the pews, all door handles and bathrooms.

We, the parish staff, are delighted that there is some return to the normal celebration of the Eucharist. However, as you can see, we are taking our safety very seriously. We ask that you embrace these changes with an open heart and open mind recognizing that there will come a point where we can return to more normal.

How blessed is St. Norbert parish? We have striven to stay connected through these past months; your generous donations continue to support our ministry here at the parish. Your love, care, and concern for the poor continues to feed hundreds of people but maybe, the biggest blessing is that we are invited to share in the Eucharist on June 6^th, the patronal feast of our church. It is the Feast day of St. Norbert!

With shared prayer in the guidance of the Holy Spirit this Pentecost Sunday,

Fr. Steve, Fr. Jim and the Parish Staff