I pray you and your loved ones are well as we begin this new year and enter back into Ordinary Time. Please continue to pray for Fr. Spisak who underwent hip replacement surgery this past week and is recovering now at his private residence. He plans to return to ministry at our parish on Monday, March 14.

In a recent communication to priests, our diocese asked us to be mindful of the current state of the pandemic and the distress it is causing in our healthcare system and parishes. Over 2,400 Cleveland Clinic employees and over 1,000 UH employees were out sick with COVID in the past few weeks at a time when our hospitals are experiencing high patient volumes and the highest level of patients hospitalized with COVID since the pandemic began. There have also been a number of priests who have come down with the new strain of the virus causing disruptions in availability of priests for Masses throughout our diocese. With Fr. Spisak away, we rely on the availability of visiting priests to celebrate Mass for us. Please pray for the health of the people in our community, the sick, our healthcare workers, deacons, and priests who serve our Masses so that we can continue to serve and minister to the physical and spiritual needs of those in our midst.

My goal for us as we gather for Mass, which I believe I share with our bishop and fellow priests, is to take a prudential and precautionary approach to help us all stay healthy while still maintaining an atmosphere of prayer and reverence. In this way, our clergy can continue to minister at Mass and provide the Word and Sacraments to you for your wellbeing and salvation. With this in mind, there are a few reminders and updates I would like to give regarding our gathering for Mass.

The Mass obligation continues to be lifted for many of us. Our diocese reminds us that "those who are ill, have significant health risk factors or care for someone who is immune-compromised or ill, as well as those who have significant fear or anxiety about contracting the coronavirus in a large group of persons are not obliged to attend Mass". This dispensation from the Mass obligation would also apply to those of us in quarantine. I invite those who cannot come to Mass in-person at this time to access the St. Mary Sunday 8:00 am livestream and recorded Mass available at https://stmarychardon.org. I've included an Act of Spiritual Communion prayer in today's bulletin. I hope you pray it whenever you cannot come to Mass or whenever you want to unite yourself with the sacrifice of our Lord.

Masks are strongly encouraged. Bishop Malesic kindly asked us a few months ago to wear masks while gathering for Mass and events at the parish. Masks and hand sanitizer are readily available at the church entrance. You may also consider bringing your own mask and hand sanitizer when you come for Mass or events to use as needed.

Reception of Communion: ministers of communion will sanitize their hands and wear a mask before distributing communion. While receiving communion in the hand is preferable in this time, those who would like to receive communion on the tongue are invited to come to the communion line of the priest or deacon. We will have an alcohol solution to dip our fingers after distributing to someone on the tongue.

Only the priest will receive from the chalice. The deacons will not receive from the chalice at this time.

Remember that these are temporary measures, and that we are seeking measures of mitigation, not prevention. I know I share the desire with so many of you to return to a more 'normal' celebration of Mass! I do invite you to remain patient with me as we navigate through a stressful time in the life of our Church and society. I want to end by saying how grateful I am for the reverence you bring to our celebrations and for the respect you have for one another when we gather. Keep up the good work!