To the Faithful of Saint Mary and Saint Patrick Parishes,

  Over the past two weeks I have been privileged to meet many of you, celebrate the Holy Eucharist with you, and to continue to pray for Father Redmond that he is enjoying the light and peace of our merciful God in heaven. Next month parish staff members will be sharing their ideas with you for a permanent memorial to him on our parish grounds. Until then, please
continue to keep him and his family in your prayers.

  As we enter into these wonderful solemnities of the Most Holy Trinity and The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) we face a hopeful time for our parishes considering the lifting of the CDC and State COVID-19 protocols and a return to regular weekend Mass attendance with the ending of the Sunday Mass dispensation. I look forward to seeing more of you at Mass each weekend and will continue to make sure that the church is a safe, clean, and welcoming environment.

  Beginning the weekend of June 5-6, you will notice some changes:

• Those who are fully vaccinated may choose to wear a face-covering and social distance but are no longer required to do so inside or outside the church.
• Those who have not been fully vaccinated are to continue wearing face-coverings and to practice social distancing to protect themselves and others. The parish does not have the responsibility to verify who is and who is not vaccinated.
• All parishioners and visitors are asked to be attentive to their health, and out of charity for others, if a person is experiencing any symptoms related to COVID or other illnesses, they should seek medical attention before returning to church.
• Hand sanitizer will remain available at the doors of the church.
• While holy water will return to the baptismal font, the invitation to share the sign of peace will be offered and singing from hymnals will resume, no one is required to participate in these practices if they are not comfortable.
• Chairs will remain available in the gathering space for parishioners and visitors who prefer to attend Mass but remain at a distance for any reason.

Of course, as before acceptable reasons for missing Mass include illness (physical, mental and emotional), caring for someone else who is ill, caring for young children, requirements of work, the difficulty of getting to Mass while traveling, or reasons of similar weight (CCC 2181). Thank you in advance for your part in making this time of transition comfortable and safe for everyone. We come together to worship the one God in a community of mutual respect and encouragement, and I pray that this new summer season will be a time for us to remember the past and look forward to a healthy and grace-filled future.

In Christ,
Fr. Andy Turner
Interim Administrator