St. Anne Catholic Church

Dear Parishioners, 

Sunday Masses went very well on Pentecost Sunday weekend.  Thank you for observing our requests to help maintain the health, and sanity of those coming to Mass.  We will resume daily Mass in our Martha and Mary Chapel with this Saturday’s First Saturday Mass at 9 AM.  Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament resumes next Wednesday and Thursday in the Martha and Mary Chapel. 

Last Saturday at our Cathedral’s diaconate ordination, one of the permanent deacons in attendance learned after the Mass that he had tested positive for COVID-19.  Thus, all of us have to be aware that in public settings, more than likely people who do not know they have the virus may be attending and sitting next to you.  You take a risk any time you go out in public today during this pandemic.  No one can guarantee that you won’t be exposed. The sobering statistics for Georgia is that out of the more than 48,000 of our citizens who have contracted this virus, about 2000 have died, many of these with other health issues. Eternal rest grant unto them.  You can obsess of this statistic and fail to take hope that more than 46,000 have recovered and God willing with immunity from this virus.  So are looking at the 1/3 empty glass of the 2/3rds full glass????

The Obligation to attend Mass is lifted due to the ongoing pandemic.  Therefore, if you are sick in any way, have a hacking cough, are sneezing, or have a fever PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND MASS FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS who are fearful or vulnerable.  If you have underlying health issues or are age 65 and older with health risks, please do not attend Mass.  If you are fearful in anyway about being in a public room like the church building, where we can’t guarantee your safety as it concerns your health, please do not attend Mass. If someone comes to Mass with an active virus, common sense tells us that it can be spread in the congregation. Let us pray that our precautions will prevent that.  We are recommending that you wear a mask to help dissipate any risks to others.  It is an act of charity on your part as you sit in the pew with someone who may be anxious. 

Our precautions are below, however, nothing we are doing from masks to disinfectants will be 100% effective no matter how helpful these are in reducing the risk. And your priests who are on the front lines of ministering to people are at a higher risk and we like you can have it have it and not know. Thus tragically we can be a source of infection to others. This is the new reality today. 

When Jesus tells us “be not afraid” it isn’t a Pollyanna denial of deadly dangers to body and soul, but precisely to go forward in faith into the dangers of life and death united to Him.  God keep you safe.

These are our other precautions:
1.  Every other pew is roped off, and thus closed.
2.  Family members can sit together, but others should space six feet apart in the open pews.  Be respectful of others, and if anyone gets uncomfortable politely motion they should move down. 
3.  We will wipe the tops of the pews with a gentle disinfectant after each Sunday Mass, and use a disinfectant aerosol spray for the air.  If you wish to wear plastic gloves, do so, but you can’t receive Holy Communion in the hand with gloves.
4.  Bring your own hand sanitizer as we can’t guarantee that we will have sufficient due to shortages, but we will have dispensers at the entrances of the church.
5.  At Communion time, observe physical distancing in line. The floor has blue tape. You may receive in the hand or on the tongue. Please receive in the hand PROPERLY!!!! Dominant hand under the other hand, and keep hands flat, and still so the Host may be placed without skin touching skin. If you receive on the tongue, tilt your head slightly back, and extend your tongue slightly, and do not move your head.  If the minister touches any part of the hand or tongue, he will dip his fingers in rubbing alcohol next to him, and dry them.  We will limit the use of Eucharistic Ministers, and both priests will be present to help in the distribution (one priest popping in to do so).
6.  We will have only one lector for each Mass.
7.  Ushers, and Greeters will practice good physical distancing, and verbally assist those who need it.
8.  Receptacles for your Sacrificial offering will be at the entrances to the nave of the church.  You may place it in these receptacles either before or after Mass.  The basket will not be passed at collection time. PLEASE SIGN UP FOR ON-LINE GIVING WITH “OUR SUNDAY VISITOR”  by going to our secure Our Sunday Visitor on-line giving and setting up a personal account.
9.  When entering, and departing the church please space yourselves six feet apart unless in family groupings.  Please converse outside with physical distancing, not in the nave of the church.  In other words,  NO talking or visiting in the main part of the nave of the church before or after Mass—let’s return to the pre-Vatican II practice of sacred silence in the presence of the tabernacle so others might pray.   Visit with others outside and not even in the nave for the time being.
10.  IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ANY OF THE PROTOCOLS WE HAVE SET TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CONTAGION, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND MASS.  YOU ARE DISPENSED.  We will continue to live-stream our daily Masses, and the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass.  You can still make a  “an Act of Spiritual Communion”, and "The Act of Perfect Contrition", from home until you can get to Confession, and Mass.

Father Allan J. McDonald
Pastor