Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish

Just in!  We have figured out a way to continue to record the weekend Mass and post on our website like what has been done in the past couple months.

1.  Do we have to wear masks at Mass? 

• • No, it is not required.  It is still recommended but it will be your choice.
  • If you have a mask already and wish to use it for Mass, please bring it along.
  • Otherwise, masks will be available.  The parish has purchased some masks.
  • If you take a mask from the church, please keep it for when you return to church.

2.  How will we be signing in? UPDATED

• • When you come into church you will register before going to your pew.     

3.  What if the maximum number of people are already in church when I get there?

• • If you arrive after the maximum capacity has been filled, you may wait if you wish for the following Mass.  But remember, at this point the dispensation from attending Sunday Mass is still in effect.  

4.  What about my desire to receive Holy Communion on the tongue rather than in the hand?

• • Although the strong recommendation is for us to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion in our hands, some still prefer to receive on the tongue.  According to the guidelines given to us, this is still permitted.  Those wishing to receive on the tongue will do so in the way that has been customary here at St. Mary’s.
  • Also, for those who receive in the hand, no gloves should be worn when receiving the consecrated host.

5.  How will we know where to sit in church?

• • For the present we will ask you to fill in from the front of the church to the back.  Those who enter the church first will sit in the front pews, etc.  Families can sit together.  Otherwise, social distancing should be followed.  We will try to utilize the church in the best way possible to allow for the maximum number of people at the Mass.

6. What about blessing the children during the reception of Holy Communion?

• For the present, children will not receive a blessing.  The less physical contact during this time, the better.

     Good news!  According to Bishop Callahan’s recent letter to the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse, we will soon be able to celebrate the Holy Mass with a limited number of people in attendance.  Beginning on the weekend of Pentecost, May 30-31, we should be able to open the church for limited attendance at the weekend Mass.  The reason for the limitation is to make sure that health and safety concerns remain as a priority.  We can have about 25% of our church space used which means approximately 140 persons can attend the Mass.  Since a limited number of people can be in the church at any given time, and until such time that we can resume normal attendance, an additional Mass will be offered on Sunday.  (Depending upon the number who are here on Saturday, we could also see an additional Mass).  The Mass schedule for the time being will be as follows:

• Saturday at 4:00
• Sunday at 7:00, 8:30 and 10:00

     The additional Sunday Mass is experimental and will be temporary.  We can hope for a day in the not-too-distant future when we will be able to celebrate the Mass with a full assembly once again and return to our normal time schedule.  But for now we will rejoice in the fact that the Mass can  be celebrated with our parish family.  The Mass itself will have certain restrictions.  For example, we will not use hymnals, every other pew will be cordoned off and not used, social distancing will be enforced, etc.  Each parish is required to have certain supplies available.  Everyone will enter from the Market Street side of church and leave by the parking lot exit.  Those who come to Mass will be required to sign in – which will assist to provide contact tracing in the event that someone would contract the virus.  These precautions will become routine after awhile but initially it may take some time to accommodate ourselves to these measures.

     What about refraining from attending Mass if you are still concerned about the virus?  Those who are at-risk because of age or underlying illness are encouraged to remain at home.  In other words, Bishop Callahan has continued to grant a dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.  If you choose not to come to the Sunday Mass for the time being, the dispensation given by the Bishop removes the penalty of sin.  However, we must still keep holy the Lord’s Day (the Third Commandment).  If you choose not to attend the Sunday Mass, please watch a televised Mass or one that is live-streamed.  Sunday is also a good day to spend time in extra prayer and perhaps some spiritual reading – like reading from the Bible.

     All in all, we are moving in the right direction.  With God’s grace and with good effort on the part of many, we are seeing continued improvements.  God bless us all.