WHAT TO EXPECT AS WE RETURN TO CHURCH

FIRST LET IT BE STATED THAT THE DISPENSATION FROM THE OBLIGATION TO ATTEND HOLY MASS ON SUNDAYS AND HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION OFFERED ON MARCH 17 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL AUGUST 15. IN PARTICULAR, THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING ANY SICKNESS, THOSE WHOSE HEALTH IS IN SOME WAY COMPROMISED, THOSE WHO ARE FEARFUL OF THE POSSIBLE INFECTION OF COVID-19, AND THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 65 SHOULD CONSIDER STAYING HOME.

WE, THE CLERGY AND STAFF OF ST ANN ARE DEDICATED TO YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY. PLEASE RESPECT THE GUIDELINES THAT ARE IN PLACE SINCE THEY ARE THERE FOR A REASON. PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING WHEN ENTERING, SEATED AND LEAVING THE CHURCH. WHILE THE METHODS WE ARE ADOPTING ARE NOT 100% EFFECTIVE THEY ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND ARE CERTAINLY AS EFFECTIVE AS WE ALLOW THEM TO BE.

THEREFORE:

PLEASE ATTEND THE MASS TO WHICH YOU HAVE AGREED TO COME. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE ATICIPATORY MASS, i.e. THE SATURDAY 4:30 SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED TOWARD OUR OLDER FOLKS WHO ARE ABLE AND WILLING TO COME. (see procedure below) *

• · ALL ATTENDEES MUST WEAR MASKS AT ALL TIMES, BRIEFLY REMOVED FOR THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION. NOTICE THAT SOME AREAS OF THE CHURCH ARE BLOCKED OFF, THIS IS TO ASSURE PROPER DISTANCING. FOLKS FROM SAME HOUSEH0LDS MAY SIT TOGETHER BUT PLEASE OBSERVE THE USUAL 6 FOOT DISTANCE BETWEEN ONE ANOTHER.

· WE WILL NOT BE TAKING UP THE COLLECTION IN THE USUAL FASHION, PLEASE NOTICE THE BASKETS PLACED NEAR THE EXITS FOR THAT PURPOSE. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A NOTICABLE DROP IN OFFERING SINCE ALL THIS BEGAN AND WHILE IT HAS NOT YET HAD A SERIOUS IMPACT, IT HAS MADE IT RATHER DIFFICULT AND WE DON’T SEE IT GETTING ANY BETTER UNLESS EVERYONE DOES HIS/HER PART TO SUPPORT THE PARISH.

• · HOLY COMMUNION FOR THE FAITHFUL WILL BE PLACED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MASS. PLEASE APPROACH AGAIN WITH THE 6 FOOT DISTANCING IN PLACE. THOSE WISHING TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO RECEIVE COMMUNION ON THE TONGUE MUST REMAIN UNTIL THE VERY END SINCE THIS REQUIRES INTERRUPTED CLEANING. ONCE YOU HAVE RECEVIED PLEASE EXIT THE CHURCH AND RETURN TO YOUR CAR.

ADMISSION TO MASS WILL BE BY TICKET ONLY FOR REGISTERED PARISHIONERS OF ST. ANN. DUE TO SOCIAL DISTANCING THE CAPACITY OF THE CHURCH HAS BEEN REDUCED TO 90 INDIVIDUALS THEREFORE, WE NEED TO EXERCISE SPECIAL CARE IN MAKING SURE WE ARE NOT DANGEROUSLY OVERCROWDED. TO OBTAIN A TICKET YOU MAY GO TO THE LOADING DOCK OF THE SOUP KITCHEN ON WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, OR FRIDAY FROM 8:30 A.M. TO 11:30 A.M. THESE TIMES WILL BE STRICTLY OBSERVED AND NO EXCEPTIONS. TELL STEVE WHICH MASS YOU WILL ATTEND AND HOW MANY TICKETS YOU WILL NEED. ONE TICKET PER INDIVIDUAL.

• WHEN YOU COME TO MASS YOU WILL ENTER BY THE SIDE ENTRANCE (SOUTH EAST) ONLY. THE FRONT DOORS WILL REMAIN LOCKED AND NO ADMITTANCE WILL BE PERMITTED. PLACE YOUR TICKET IN THE BOX AT THE DOOR AND PROCEED TO A DESIGNATED SEATING AREA. PLEASE NOTE ABOVE THE PROTOCOL FOR COMMUNION AND MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE SOCIAL DISTANCING. PLEASE TAKE THESE DIRECTIVES SERIOUSLY. THEY ARE IN PLACE FOR YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY.