Under the provisions of the Governor’s “Safer at Home” order, gatherings of up to 9 people have always been permitted for religious exercises.
The “Best Practices” that the Diocese of Madison gave us was that we should be even more cautious than that — having just one other person present for a daily private Mass. That was relaxed during Holy Week to encourage us to go up to the 9-person limit to celebrate the liturgies of Palm Sunday and the Triduum.
After a meeting of the diocesan College of Consultors at the beginning of this week, the diocese amended its best practices to permit (though not require) priests to celebrate every Mass with up to 8 other people (this includes, servers).
We will take advantage of this permission beginning on Sunday, April 26th.
The only practical way to limit the number of people attending each Mass is to ask people to arrange in advance for a place. Please use the Sign-up Genius link below to request a reservation at Mass. Sign-up is only for registered members of St. Mary.
Please take note that we are adding Masses throughout the week in the hope of accommodating as many parishioners as possible. Those who are at higher risk of complications from the Covid-19 virus should consider their risk before deciding to attend. Also, if you have tested positive or have symptoms of Covid-19, please do not plan to attend.
I realize that many families will need to split up over two Masses to get all those who have received First Communion to Mass. I realize this is not perfect but, again, it is a start to trying to allow as many of those who are healthy to attend Mass in person.
Please only sign up for one Mass to allow all parishioners the opportunity to sign up. After a few days of the sign up being active, if there are still Masses available, you are free to sign up for another Mass. The link below only contains the Novus Ordo Masses at this time, as logistics for the TLM Masses are still being completed. Please look for an addition of those Masses in the coming days. Also, as other parishes are also opening up Masses, please do not share the link to our parish sign up genius on social media. We will exclusively be communicating to the parish through our Flocknote data base. Please contact parishioner Laura Kloess (609-8325, lkloess@yahoo.com) if you need any assistance with the sign-up genius or have any questions.
SIGN-UP
ENTERING THE CHURCH
Please remember to enter/exit the church exclusively through the ramp/handicapped door. While in the church, please use prudent distancing and there will be hand sanitizer available for you to use. Also, the church will be cleaned at more regular intervals.
SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION
Father Heilman is available every day from 8am – 7pm (unless offering Mass) at the front entryway to his rectory. Ring the intercom, and Father will call you in. The front foyer of Father’s rectory has been made into a Confessional, with a screen on Father’s office door. You may want to call Father as you are prepared to travel to Father’s rectory, to make sure he has not been called out. 608-798-4644.
CHURCH OPEN EVERY DAY FOR PRAYER & ADORATION
The church is open every day (8am-7pm. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration is offered every Friday (8am-7pm), and on First Saturdays (8am-4pm). Please adhere the limit of nine people in the church at a time.
FREE SACRAMENTALS
Just drive thru Fr. Heilman’s driveway to his screen porch. Keep your motor running, and walk in and grab what you “need” off of Father’s picnic table. Epiphany Holy Water, Easter Holy Water, Exorcised and Blessed Salt, Green Scapulars touched to a Relic of the True Cross, Blessed Palms.
FATHER’S WEEKLY PODCAST & TEACHING WEBSITE
Please check out Father and Doug Barry’s weekly US Grace Force Podcast. The podcast airs on Wednesday evenings at 6:00pm. You can find the podcast HERE. Also, be sure to check out Father’s teaching website at RomanCatholicMan.com
DONATE
Please continue to be as generous as you can in helping the parish meet its continuing obligations — either by donating online or getting your envelopes to us! Thank you and God bless you! Donate online HERE.
