Any emerging patterns after two weeks now of public Sunday Masses?
In terms of “nickels and noses” I’ve been surprised that the 8:00 a.m. Mass has become our #1 Mass in terms of attendance.
We had 64 at the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday, 90 at the 8:00 a.m. Mass at St. Benedict, 56 at the 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Benedict and 58 at our 12:15 p.m. Mass at Sts. Peter & Paul. These numbers mean we again had about 25% of capacity in attendance; we are allowed up to 50%.
And, thank you for your church support offerings, as well. Having an array of offering methods – mailing them directly to the parish office, using the offering boxes at church and utilizing either a direct deposit arrangement or using the online system (available at our parish website) – seems to be working sufficiently.
Praise God that a number of our parish groups are able to start meeting again.
This weekend the Bereavement Haven is planning to meet at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 14th, in the Marian Room. We will have the tables and chairs arranged for sufficient spacing. It should be the best space for that group for the combination of prayer and supportive sharing that is essential to it.
Our Knights of Columbus were likewise able to have a full meeting in the Marian Room this past Tuesday (the second Tuesday of each month) observing the necessary spacing. They had conducted conference call meetings for a couple of months before that.
Finally, I am grateful that our St. Vincent de Paul Society local conference is able to provide services again. They have implemented protocols by which almost all of the client contact is accomplished by phone. When it is necessary to meet with a client, they have been doing so outside of the parish offices and with other essential safeguards. Thank you for your generosity to the monthly second collection “For Those in Need.” As noted before, half of the proceeds from that collection go to the SVdP to fund many of their outreaches. Additional gifts from generous parishioners have augmented the second collection funds.
First Communion plans for this year are taking shape as well. It is usually such a beautiful event on the first Sunday of May. This year we have rescheduled it for Sunday afternoon, July 12th. I’d like to assign everyone in the parish to the “Prayer for Good Weather” Committee, as we usually also organize for the parish picnic (unfortunately cancelled for this year L), to please begin praying for beautiful weather for that afternoon for the First Communion Mass.
May the Lord keep us protected and healthy and, as always, well prepared for the gift of eternal life!