Our parish has worked to prepare the church and ensure it is as safe as possible to reopen for public worship. Despite this, parishioners should understand they assume the risk of contracting COVID-19 anytime they enter a public space, since such precautions do not eliminate the risk of infection.

Beginning Sunday, September 13, St. Francis of Assisi Parish will offer a 5 pm Vigil Mass and Masses at 9:00 am and 12 pm on Sundays. For now, it is required to pre-register for weekend Masses, either through Flocknote or by calling the Parish Office. Parishioners who are vulnerable -- including those over the age of 65, have existing heart or lung conditions or are immunocomprised -- are urged to remain home. Anyone who is feeling sick or experiencing cough or fever symptoms should also avoid public gatherings, including Mass.

Attendees should consider several factors before deciding whether to return to an in-person Mass:

• The dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation remains in effect.
• The online Mass premiering at 10 am Sunday will continue for the foreseeable future.
• A head of household must pre-register all attendees on Flocknote or by calling the Parish Office.
• Face masks or facial coverings must be worn by all persons over the age of two while on the parish grounds and in the church. 
• There will be no hymnals, missalettes, worship aids or bulletins in the church. There will be a cantor and accompanying musician, but no congregational singing to reduce the possiblity of viral transmission. 
•  Attendees will be seated by an usher from the front of the church to the back. Choosing your favorite pew location is not currently possible. 
• The Eucharist will be offered in one species only and must be received in the hand.
• Mass attendees should wait until the end of Mass to leave the church; they will be dismissed row-by-row by the ushers.  

On Sundays, Fr. John will offer Holy Communion from 1:30-2:00 pm in front of the church to parishioners who are unable to receive the Eucharist during in-person Mass. Attendees should park their cars, put on a face mask and line up, maintaining six feet of distance between households or unrelated parties; please note that there may be two lines of people receiving Holy Communion. When it is the participant's turn to receive Communion, he or she must:
 

• Stand six feet in front of Fr. John, the deacon or the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC).
• Come forward once the priest, deacon or EMHC presents the Eucharist and the recipient says 'Amen.' 
•  Receive the Eucharist in his or her hands, move six feet away from the minister, loosen his or her face mask and place the Eucharist in his or her mouth.
•  Depart the parish grounds.  

Beginning Monday, September 14, Fr. John will begin celebrating Daily Mass at 9 am every weekday in the church. Daily Mass attendees should enter the church after 8:45 am and sit in the two middle sections of the church, using appropriate social distancing between unrelated parties. The church will remain open from 8:45 am-12:00 pm, after which the church will be closed to be cleaned. The same health protocols in effect for Sunday Mass are in place for Daily Mass, except that pre-registration is not required and ushers will not seat or dismiss attendees.

Let us work together to return to Mass and resume Holy Communion in the safest way possible for all of our parishoners!