Dear Fellow Parishioners: 

COMING BACK TO CHURCH ON MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020

Soon, based on the decision of both the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Bishop of Springfield, we will once again be "church."  What do I mean by that?  The word for "church" in Latin is ecclesia and this comes from two Greek words - ek (out) and kaleo (call).  The church then is literally "those who are called out."  For us, this will be literally true as we begin to be "called out" of our homes and back to the exercise of our baptismal priesthood in offering the Eucharist together once again here at Our Lady of the Hills parish.  That's the good news.

However, in my recent eblast I alerted you to the fact that while the building is the same, it will look and feel much different.  It is critical to prepare your minds and hearts for the changes that are mandated.  While some parishes have chosen to open this coming weekend, I believe that it is best to begin with a "soft" opening (a limited number of people) as new restaurants and other businesses often do.  Thus, we will begin with Monday-Thursday daily Masses (June 1-4) with fewer people in attendance in order to learn and adjust for the first full weekend of Masses on June 6-7.  We need this next week and half to get supplies, train those with special responsibilities, and for me to write to the Bishop as he has requested asking permission to open once again and then receive his approval.  The following will help you to prepare for our return.

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU HAVE ANY COVID-19 SYMPTOMS (FEVER, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, NASAL CONGESTION, MUSCLE ACHES, SORE THROAT, UNEXPLANED LOSS OF TASTE OR SMELL, HEADACHE, DIARRHEA, ETC.) OR IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER HEALTH ISSUES THAT COULD BE COMPROMISED BY YOUR ATTENDANCE AT MASS, PLEASE STAY HOME FOR NOW.  THE BISHOP HAS CONTINUED HIS DISPENSATION FROM MASS AND EVEN WITHOUT THAT, HEALTH CONCERNS ARE ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD AS A VALID REASON TO BE EXCUSED FROM MASS.  FOR THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WISH TO ATTEND MASS BUT HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE WEEKEND NUMBER OF ATTENDEES, WE SUGGEST GOING TO A WEEKDAY MORNING MASS AT 8:30 A.M. MONDAY TO THURSDAY.  THE NUMBERS WILL BE SMALLER BUT THE SAME RULES AS BELOW WILL BE OBSERVED.  PLEASE KNOW THAT, AS WITH ALL PARISHES, WE WILL RESPECTFULLY BUT FIRMLY INSIST THAT EACH PERSON COMING TO WORSHIP HERE OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES.

1) When you arrive at church, leave a space between your car and the next car for spatial distance. Before you exit your auto, place your mask on.  Everyone will need to wear masks at all times in church.

2) All people will need to bring a personal hand sanitizer if possible to be used especially before and after receiving Holy Communion.

3) All people will need to enter through the front center door of the church only.

4) All Sunday offerings will be placed in a basket in the center aisle as you enter the church.

5) Take a paper Missal that will be yours from now on.  When you bring it home, put your name on it.

6) Use a hand saniitizer and then follow the usher who will bring you to your pew.  Keep 6 feet apart in the pew unless you are members of the same family.

7) Please sing very gently and softly (e.g. as we do when we sing "Silent Night.")

8) There will be no sign of peace.

9) Ushers/greeters will guide people out of their pews (keeping social distance) to go forward along the center aisle to receive Communion.

10) With your face mask on receive Communion, then step to the left or right, lower the mask, place the Communion in their mouth, replace the mask on their face and then return by the side aisle  to their pew. 

11) There will be no Communion with the Precious Blood.

12) People will leave church pew by pew by a side aisle beginning at the rear of the church and at the direction of an usher/greeter.

13) As you leave, there will be bulletins for those who do not get email and also copies of The Word Among Us for June for those who wish to take on.

14 All people must exit through the side door near the parking lot only, return to their autos without congregating, only remove their mask then, and exit the parking lot.  

15) The basement will be locked to limit the sanitation requirements and thus the only bathroom to be used is the one in the confession sacristy located to the left side of the main altar and behind the tabernacle.  This should only be used for emergencies.

16) Following each and every Mass (whether weekday or weekend), the pews, doors, door handles, and other items that have been touched will be sanitized by volunteers. We do need more people to volunteer to help do this (about 10 minutes)  See Fr. Richard.  

All this means that you will need to be incredibly patient and flexible.  For example, you may not be seated in your traditional pew or even on the side of the church in which you havae customarily been seated.  We ask your understanding as we work through the decisions that must be made to comply with state and church guidance and also for your health and safety and that of the other parishioners.  We also alert you to the fact that modifications may be made to these guidelines as we go along based on the actual experience here at Our Lady of the Hills.  

N.B. Confessions will begin on Saturday, June 6 from 2:00-2:45.  We ask that you wear a mask at all times and stand along the center aisle observing the 6-foot separation markers until the person before you exits.  Upon leaving the confessional, please use the side aisle to exit the church immediately.  In the reconciliation room itself we ask that all people kneel (or stand if kneeling is not possible) behind the confessional screen.  The priest will have his mask on.  While the space there is tight there are 3 layers of separation (each mask plus the screen itself).  There will be no face-to-face confession at this time as there is not sufficient social distance space.  

Let us pray with and for each other!

Fr. Richard