The Stay-at-Home Update - Issue #2

• Even though words may be my life, evidently there are times when I don’t communicate very well.  Some parishioners thought (hoped?) that I might be sending out an Update every evening during this stay-at-home period.  I don’t think there is a need for that, plus I think I would be running out of ideas rather quickly.  So, with Issue #2, this update is now called “The Stay-at-Home Update.” 

• During this “stay-at-home” period, the hours that the office will be opened will be shorter, and primarily in the morning.  Please call the parish office  at 314-894-1373 before you drive to the campus, just to be sure that someone is here.
• In case you receive a phone call from Mary, your mother > It’s really a group of parishioners who are putting their dialing fingers to work and reaching out to our parishioners via a phone call.

• Two new Sign Up Genius requests will go live this weekend.  One is for attending the daily and weekend liturgies beginning April 6 and the other one is for attending the Triduum and Easter Sunday.
• If you have had the chance to be one of the people who have already represented the parish community at the weekday or Sunday liturgies between March 18 and April 5, please do not sign up for a time and date on these two Sign Up Genius’s.  We have over 1150 households and we need to allow as many people as possible the opportunity to represent the parish for a particular liturgy.  
• Some parishioners have asked why / have expressed their dismay that there even are any parishioners at the liturgies we are live streaming.  Doesn’t “stay-at-home” mean stay-at-home?  When Archbishop Carlson first suspended Masses, the instruction he gave the priests was that, if possible, there should be one person present for the Mass, with a maximum of 4.  Their ministry was to represent the parish community and respond to the prayers, since by its nature the liturgy is a dialogue.  This past week, the number of people who could be present was amended to 10, which is the same guidelines that are in effect throughout the state and country.  

• The Parish Council election ends at 2:00pm on Sunday.  In case you still need to vote, please go to https://www.marymother.org/parish-council/parish-council-election.
• The Parish Lenten Penance Service scheduled for Tuesday; March 31 has been canceled.  
• The Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA), which is usually conducted at the end of April and beginning of May, is being postponed.
• Along with the parish, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Bridge Bread and Our Lady’s Inn relying upon your generosity via an electronic donation or a check mailed to the parish, so are the people helped by the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl program.  You can make a check out to Mary, Mother with the words “Rice Bowl” written in the memo line, and we will see that CRS receives your donation.

• What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile or say “ah” or “a-ha?”  What is something new you might have done?  For me, I saw six deer on the hill behind the garages this afternoon, although I don’t think the    6-foot social distance rule applies to them.  I also learned how to use Zoom, which is a very popular videoconferencing tool.  On Wednesday, we interviewed 2 candidates for the Faith Formation position and will interview 2 more candidates on Monday.

May each of us have a restful night!

The Nightly Update - Issue #1

• During this “stay-at-home” period, the hours that the office will be opened will be shorter, and primarily in the morning.  Please call the parish office at 314-894-1373 before you drive to the campus, just to be sure that someone is here.
• The Parish Lenten Penance Service scheduled for Tuesday, March 31 has been canceled.  In the March 29th bulletin, there will be an article on other options you have.
• The public liturgies of Holy Week and Easter have been suspended.  We will be livestreaming them in the same way that we are livestreaming Sunday and weekday Masses.  A new sign-up sheet asking for parishioners to represent the community will be posted next week.
• In case you receive a phone call from Mary, your mother > It’s really a group of parishioners who are putting their dialing fingers to work and reaching out to our parishioners via a phone call.
• Here is another intention to add to your prayer list:  young couples like Katy & Nick, who have had to postpone their wedding ceremony that was originally scheduled to be celebrated here at the parish on April 18th.

May each of us have a restful night!

Changes at Mary, Mother of the Church in light of Covid-19 Pandemic

MARCH 14, 2020

WE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO LIVE STREAM MASSES! 
see link at top of page.

(Audio and Video quality are limited at this time until a new camera and sound equipment arrive,
but given the impact of COVID-19, we wanted to begin streaming as soon as possible)
 

MARCH 13, 2020

Coronavirus Update #3 from Archbishop Carlson 

At 630 pm, Friday evening, March 13,  2020, 
Archbishop Carlson issued his 3rd update on the coronavirus.  Here are the items that warrant your immediate attention. 

• All Catholics within the Archdiocese of St. Louis are dispensed from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass for the next three weekends (March 14-15, March 21-22 and March 28-29). As with the Lenten practice of abstinence, you are reminded to exercise good judgement and not “excuse yourself lightly” from your obligation. As of this evening, our Mass schedule will remain unchanged.  

• Everyone who is sick, elderly or vulnerable because of a medical condition are urged to remain at home. Please understand that Mass schedules and availability, as well as parish and diocesan events, may change, especially if our clergy are affected by illness.  

• It is strongly recommended that parishioners receive Holy Communion in the hand. Holy Communion distributed by extraordinary ministers will be administered in the hand only. However, if parishioners wish to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, you are to receive it only from the Mass celebrant. Furthermore, as a safety precaution for other communicants and the celebrant, I would ask that you be the last recipients in the Communion procession. 

Rev. Chuck Barthel 

March 2 - Precautionary Measures due to Influenza 

Taking Precautionary Steps
     As you know, seasonal flu is currently making a significant impact in our neighborhoods and throughout the global community.  As of 2:00p on Monday, March 2, the Center for Disease Control has estimated that during the current flu season, 8,200 people have died from various strains of influenza and an additional 140,000 people have been hospitalized.  There have also been six deaths from the coronavirus so far, and all six deaths occurred in the State of Washington. 
 
     On March 2, in order to mitigate the spread of colds, flu, and other contagious illnesses, Archbishop Carlson asked that all parishes of the Archdiocese begin taking the same precautionary measures throughout the Archdiocese. We have been doing many of these precautions since the beginning of February. The following three lists contain what our mass monitors and staff members will continue doing, some changes that will affect our past practices, and a few reminders.
                                                                                           
Rev. Chuck Barthel
 
What our Mass Monitors and Staff Members are being asked to do:

• Sanitize all sacred vessels before and after all Masses (with soap and hot water), because germs may survive on surfaces up to 24 or more hours.

• Holy Water fonts have been emptied and will remain so for the time being.
• Encourage good hygiene, including alcohol-based hand sanitizer lotion in restrooms and public areas, and proper cough-and-sneeze etiquette. It is especially important for extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to implement these measures.
• A hand sanitizer will be placed by the Holy Water font in the vestibule.

• The exchange of the sign of peace is to be exchanged as a verbal greeting.
• Holy Communion is encouraged to be received in the hand.
• The reception of the Precious Blood by the faithful via the chalice is suspended.
• When possible, parishioners should try to keep a distance of three feet from the nearest neighbor.
• Specifically for our parish, we will not be holding hands for the praying of the Our Father.

• Please check in on those who would be considered high risk / most vulnerable such as: our older parishioners who may be living by themselves, persons with disabilities, teenagers and children. 
• For those who are considered high risk, remember that you have the option to participate in the Mass on TV via channels such as EWTN.
• People with a respiratory infection, the flu, a fever or a serious cold are not bound to attend the Sunday Eucharist and are encouraged to stay home.