Soul Health XVI: We’ve safely re-opened the church; more volunteers needed; church funerals this week

1- Summer Mass times:

Saturday 5 pm,

Sunday changed to 9 am.

2- A couple of tweaks based on an assessment of re-opening weekend:

- There’s space for all – no need for mass passes or registration
- Entrance to the church will be only by the main doors on the street corner

3- Parishioner Joseph Whelton died on Sunday after receiving the Last Rites of the Church hours earlier. His funeral mass is Friday at 1pm; due to the current usable space restrictions for health and safety, the funeral is private. The family asks for your prayers for Joseph, and intends to made available a video of the funeral.

4- Parishioner Joanne Morin died in April of complications related to COVID. Her funeral mass is Saturday at 10am.

5- To continue to offer the two weekend masses this summer, we need even more volunteer greeters. The training is now much simplified after our weekend experience. And we need a laptop operator for music at the masses. Please call the parish number to volunteer.

6- Over two dozen of you have already volunteered in various capacities to re-open the doors. “Well done, thou good and faithful servants” (Matthew 25:21)

7- This week: FREE COURSE: Happiness and the Meaning Of Life, from Bishop Barron’s Institute – 6 videos ~15 minutes each.

8- I announce a special meeting of parishioners to elect a new warden, filling a vacancy for Sunday 26 July at 9:45am (after mass, in the pews). That warden would hopefully become our Treasurer. Nominations may be given to me or any of the wardens.


St. Thomas More, Pray for us

Father Robert+ Pastor, St. Thomas More Parish Verdun

The parish doors will be re-opening this weekend!!

Note the Summer Mass times:

Saturday 5 pm,

Sunday changed to 9 am

Mandatory “How to” Safety Rules to attend Mass this summer at St. Thomas More Parish, Verdun

Coming Prepared

    •    Only one washroom is available; for emergencies only. Come prepared!
    •    Bring your face mask (we will be able to provide a few at the door)
    •    Bring your faith, to follow these rules for the benefit of the community
    •    Bring your patience, in order to comply with the changes wrought by these rules
    •    DO NOT COME if you have any these conditions that prohibit access: fever, cough, contact with a sick person, or have returned from travel within 14 days prior
    •    In light of the months of lockdown, the Church encourages you to prepare by first receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation (if with Fr. Robert, by appointment only). If you cannot, you may vow to do so next week just before receiving communion and then honour your vow, to ensure worthy reception of the true Body of Christ (I Corinthians 11:27)
    •    Bring your “Mass Pass” (only for the Sunday 9am) – It is this sheet of paper

Upon Arrival

    •    To control access, 2 centre doors as well as the Moffat and Bannantyne entrances will open no earlier that 20 minutes before mass time. Only those with mass passes may enter
    •    Both side doors will be closed just before mass time; go to main doors
    •    At that point Mass Passes are no longer valid and anyone may enter until we reach capacity
    •    Before the inner entry doors and on the steps, respect the distancing floor markers
    •    We are not permitted to mark the sidewalk: physically distance there as well
    •    Before the inner doors, study the pictogram (also in this mailing)
    •    Inside the final doors, there is no holy water
    •    Listen to the instructions of the greeters
    •    Then sanitize
    •    Find a pew while respecting the floor markers marked with the colour of the ribbon designated for that mass – red, green or purple – as posted inside
    •    For family groups, use only pews with an additional white ribbon
    •    Masks are required while inside, except for those who cannot wear them. They will sit in the designated pews behind the mask picto-sign towards the back of the church
    •    Do not sit nor even touch any other pew but yours. If you have mobility issues, you cannot support yourself with another pew; rather come prepared and take your time
    •    Respect the distancing floor markers on your way to your pew; do not pass anyone in the aisle
    •    Sit only at either end of colour designated pews. This ensures 2M physical distancing
    •    A coloured mass response card will be placed where you can sit. No one else will have handled this within 3 days. Leave it where you found it upon departure.
    •    No other papers or hymn books will be in church except what you bring for the collection plate


Inside the church

Be Safe:
Help Others Feel safe in the Church

During Communion

    •    Do not leave your pew; communion will be brought to you.
    •    Lower or Remove your mask to receive
    •    Cup your hands, one over the other
    •    Do not say “Amen” until the communion minister is giving to the next person

After Mass

“Go into the world, glorifying the Lord by your life”

    •    The back row will exit first
    •    Lift your kneeler to the upright position
    •    Do not leave your pew before the people behind you have left theirs
    •    Do not stop, thereby holding up traffic, even on the sidewalks
    •    Clergy will not be greeting at the back; if you have any comments, needs or questions, please call Father Robert
    •    There is no socializing on church property
    •    If doing so on the sidewalk physically distanced, ensure you are not blocking it


When you receive communion:

“Behold what you are
Become What you see”
St. Augustine (5th century)

Soul Health XV

We’re re-opening the church next weekend!

1- First, I’m happy to report that Patricia (Trish), our parish secretary, is recovering very well from surgery. During her convalescence this month, she will be doing some work from home.

2- Check out this 1-minute video of Pope Francis, “Our Families”, that ought to be taken to heart by each of us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGZJRuVvnsc

Re-opening our parish: News and information

3- Volunteers required at each mass: One to operate the laptop for music (simpler than it sounds – pun intended) and several more to be safety greeters. Please contact me to inquire. Thanks to our two dozen volunteers who have come forward, some of whom were trained yesterday.

4- The doors will be opening next weekend!! Note the Summer Mass times:

Saturday 5 pm,

Sunday changed to 9 am

5- Due to provincial capacity restrictions for health and safety, we will add a 10:30 mass with catechism, however restricted to the catechism families, who have been communicated with separately.

6- The rationale is that Sunday at 9 am:

- respects the survey results completed by most
- adding a separate family mass allows enough space that all parishioners can attend Sunday morning without registration (only the 9am mass however requires you bring a “mass pass” to guarantee you a seat)
- almost eliminates the risk of contact between the elderly and children
- as health safety doesn’t allow us to use large fans directly, this hour would not be as hot inside

7- The “mass pass”: It’s purpose is to ensure that, without having to register, our parishioners have first call on the limited available seating, until just before mass time when we admit other people until we’re full.

8- All parishioners will receive in the mail this week an extensive letter, including a separate sheet of safety rules for mass attendance. You will read therein what the “mass pass” is.

9- Additionally, an information session to answer your questions will be held by Zoom and phone call-in Tuesday evening at 7pm for those interested.

10- The parish office will be staffed for calls (514-768-4741) only this Friday from 10am-noon to answer your questions about the parish re-opening after having read the mailing. Also, if you haven’t received the letter, please call then. At other times, messages left will always be returned, except those related to re-opening which will be returned after Friday morning.

11- With the need to prioritize a successful weekend re-opening:

- Weekday masses won’t begin for at least one month
- The Sacrament of Reconciliation will not be offered before mass, rather by appointment with me
- Funerals will resume immediately, baptisms shortly thereafter I expect
- The office will remain closed for personal interaction until it is safer, and at least until Trish is fully back in the saddle. I’m available by phone at the parish number and email.
- Only the church itself and the sacristy washroom (for emergencies) are accessible for now

All further changes and adjustments will be announced at masses and included in these emails and on our website.

St. Thomas More, as we re-open, Pray for us

Father Robert+
Pastor, St. Thomas More Parish Verdun