Schedule of Masses for the Week of May 9-15:
Saturday, May 9
8:30 a.m.
5:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m. (outside on the porch, for those who want to go to Mass but are hesitant to enter the church building)
Sunday, May 10
8:00 a.m. Spanish
10:00a.m.
12:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. (TLM)
A Mass will be available in the Community Center at the morning times if needed.
Monday – Friday, May 11 – 15
8:30 a.m.
5:30 p.m.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As I am sure most of you have heard, Governor Abbott has decided to allow the stay at home order to expire on April 30th and Cardinal DiNardo has revoked his order suspending public Masses. We are very excited to begin the celebration of public Masses again! I know that there are still many people who will be uncomfortable coming to Mass or entering the church at this time and that is okay. At this time there is still NO obligation to attend Mass on Sunday. We will continue to live stream the 8am and 10am Sunday Masses and the 8:30am daily Mass.
This has been a difficult time for everyone and returning to some kind of “normal” will take time and patience. There are a number of steps that we will be taking and asking those who choose to come to Mass to take in order to help prevent any possible spread of the COVID-19 virus. Below is our plan for this weekend and we will reevaluate next week to determine if anything needs to be changed.
I apologize for the large amount of information in this message, but we are doing our best to comply with government orders while meeting the spiritual needs of the faithful. Please read the following:
Confessions
The parish priests will continue to hear Confessions outdoors as we have done for the last month. Please check our Facebook page for any location changes in the event of inclement weather.
Confession Times:
- Monday-Friday 9am and 6pm
- Saturday 3pm
- Sunday 4pm
Sunday Mass Obligation
Cardinal DiNardo has dispensed the faithful from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays. If you are uncomfortable coming to church or are considered “high risk” you are encouraged to stay home and pray or read Scripture or preform some other devotional activity.
Church Capacity
Given the current government order, we have to limit the number of persons allowed in the church to 25% of our total seating capacity or about 250 persons. (For the purposes of counting, children under 10 will be counted as .5 and children under 2 will not be counted). On Sunday, we will have a second “overflow” Mass offered in the Community Center at the morning Masses (8am, 10am, and 12pm) with a total capacity of about 125 persons. If more people than this decide to come you will be asked to wait and pray outside. The church speakers broadcast out into the covered porch or you could watch the livestream on your phone.
In order to properly count the number of people who enter the church, only the main doors will be unlocked, and everyone is asked to enter that way. You may still exit the other doors as needed.
All persons from different households are asked to keep 6ft between themselves and others whether inside or outside. In the church, every other pew will be closed off and those of different households are asked to space themselves out.
Holy Communion
Holy Communion will be distributed after Mass. Mass will be celebrated as normal with only the priest receiving Communion during the Mass. After the dismissal, the priest will go to the sacristy behind the altar to thoroughly wash his hands. He will then come out and distribute Holy Communion to those who are in the church. Cardinal DiNardo has asked that only priests distribute Communion at this time so the distribution will likely take more time, please be patient, we will get to you!
For those who are uncomfortable coming to Mass but desire to receive Holy Communion, you may come pray outside during Mass or come at the end in order to receive on the Church porch. You may even live stream the Mass from your car, and then receive Holy Communion when the priest comes to the porch.
Cardinal DiNardo has directed that Holy Communion be distributed only on the hand (because people will be wearing masks), however, Holy Communion will not be given on the hand to someone who is wearing gloves.
Offertory
Rather than passing baskets for the offertory collection, contributions may be deposited in the alms boxes attached to the large cross in the narthex, or in the baskets that will also be in the church doors. Please consider making your donation online.
Masks
Cardinal DiNardo has directed that everyone who come to church wear a mask. Please research the proper use of masks before wearing one. Constantly touching the mask or getting close to others with a mask on defeats the purpose.
Church Cleaning
After every Mass we will clean the common “touch points” such as the door handles and push-bars on the doors to exit, restroom faucets, etc. All faithful who attend Mass here are kindly asked to bring a disinfectant wipe or other household cleanser to clean the wood on the area of the pew where they sit.
Missalettes and Music Trifolds
The missalettes will be placed on a table in the Church narthex. You may take one to follow the readings. If you take one it is yours to keep, please do not return it.
At this time, we will not be printing the music trifolds. If you would like to follow the music, you may download the trifold here and view it on your phone.
Queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo:
Me imagino que la mayoría de ustedes han escuchado que el gobernador Abbott ha decidido permitir que la orden de quedarse en casa expire el 30 de abril y el Cardenal DiNardo ha revocado su orden de suspender las misas públicas. ¡Estamos muy emocionados de comenzar la celebración de misas públicas nuevamente! Sé que todavía hay muchas personas que se sentirán incómodas con asistir a Misa en el Templo este momento y eso está bien. En este momento todavía NO hay obligación de asistir a misa el domingo. Continuaremos transmitiendo en vivo las Misas dominicales de 8:00am y 10:00am y la Misa entre semana de 8:30 am.
Este ha sido un momento difícil para todos y volver a algún tipo de “normalidad” requerirá tiempo y paciencia. Hay una serie de pasos que tomaremos y les pediremos a quienes elijan venir a misa que nos ayuden a prevenir cualquier posible propagación del virus COVID-19. A continuación se muestra nuestro plan para este fin de semana y volveremos a evaluar la próxima semana para determinar si es necesario cambiar algo.
Pido disculpas por la gran cantidad de información en este mensaje, pero estamos haciendo todo lo posible para cumplir con las órdenes del gobierno al tiempo que satisfacemos las necesidades espirituales de los fieles. Por favor lea lo siguiente:
Confesiones:
Los sacerdotes continuarán escuchando Confesiones al aire libre como lo hemos hecho durante el último mes. Consulte nuestra página de Facebook para ver los cambios de ubicación en caso de que llueva o mal tiempo. (Todos los sacerdotes que están confesando hablan español)
Tiempos de confesión:
- Lunes a viernes: 9 am y 6 pm.
- Sábado 3:00 pm
- Domingo 4:00 pm
Obligación de misa dominical
El cardenal DiNardo ha dispensado a los fieles de la obligación de asistir a misa los domingos. Si se siente incómodo con la idea de asistir a la Misa o se le considera de “alto riesgo”, se le anima a quedarse en casa y rezar o leer las Escrituras o realizar alguna otra actividad devocional.
Horario de la Santa Misa:
Para el fin de semana del 9 al 15 de mayo:
Sábado:
- 8:30 a.m.
- 5:00 p.m.
- 7:30 pm (Misa al aire libre, puede quedarse en su automóvil o salir, pero por favor mantenga su distancia de los demás)
Domingo:
- 8:00 am (español)
- 10:00 am
- 12:00 pm
- 5:00 pm (Latin)
Entre semana del 11 al 15 de mayo
- Lunes a viernes 8:30 am y 5:30 pm
- sábado 8:30 am
Capacidad de gente en el Templo:
Dada la orden actual del gobierno, tenemos que limitar el número de personas permitidas en la iglesia al 25% de nuestra capacidad total de asientos o alrededor de 250 personas. (Para poder contar a la gente, niños menores de 10 serán contados como .5 y los niños menores de 2 años no serán contados). El domingo por la mañana, tendremos una segunda Misa al mismo tiempo en el Centro Comunitario (8am, 10am y 12pm) con una capacidad total de aproximadamente 125 personas. Si hay de más personas decidieron asistir, se le pedirá que espere y ore desde afuera. Podrán escuchar la Misa sobre las bocinas de la iglesia o puedes ver la transmisión en vivo en tu teléfono.
Para contar correctamente la cantidad de personas que entran a la iglesia, solo se abrirán las puertas principales, y se les pide a todos que entren de esa manera. Aún puede salir de las otras puertas según sea necesario, pero no entrar.
Se les pide a todas las personas de diferentes hogares que mantengan 6 pies entre ellos y otros, ya sea dentro o fuera. En la iglesia, cada otra banca estará cerrada y se les pedirá que se separen si están cerca de otra familia.
Sagrada Comunión
La Sagrada Comunión se distribuirá después de la Misa. La Misa se celebrará de manera normal con solo el sacerdote recibiendo la Comunión durante la Misa. Después de la despedida, el sacerdote irá a la sacristía detrás del altar para lavarse bien las manos. Luego saldrá y distribuirá la Sagrada Comunión a los que están en la iglesia. Después de distribuir a los que están en la Iglesia, el sacerdote saldrá en la entrada de la iglesia y distribuirá la Sagrada Comunión a cualquiera que no haya podido ingresar a la iglesia. El cardenal DiNardo ha pedido que solo los sacerdotes distribuyan la comunión en este momento, por lo que la distribución probablemente tomará más tiempo, ¡tenga paciencia, ya que todos tendrán oportunidad de recibir la Eucaristía!
Para aquellos que se sienten incómodos viniendo a Misa pero desean recibir la Sagrada Comunión, pueden venir a rezar afuera durante la Misa o al final para recibir en frente de la Iglesia. Incluso puede transmitir en vivo la Misa desde su automóvil y luego recibir la Sagrada Comunión cuando el sacerdote salga.
Ofrenda
En lugar de pasar canastas para la colecta del ofertorio, las contribuciones se pueden depositar en las cajas negras de limosnas adjuntas a la cruz grande en el nártex, o en las canastas que también estarán en las puertas de la iglesia. Por favor considere hacer su donación en línea.
Mascaras
El Cardinal pidio que todos los que viene a la iglesia llevan una mascara. Los invito a que investiguen mas sobre el uso de mascaras y se les avisa que no tendremos mascaras para repartir a aquellos que la hayan olvidado.
Limpieza del Templo
Después de cada Misa, limpiaremos los “puntos de contacto” comunes, como las manijas de las puertas y las barras de empuje en las puertas para salir, los grifos de los baños, etc. Se les pide a todos los fieles que asisten a Misa que traigan una toallita desinfectante u otro limpiador doméstico para limpiar la madera en el área del banco donde se hayan sentado.
Misales blancos y hojas de música:
Los misales se colocarán en una mesa en la entrada del Templo. Puede tomar uno para seguir las lecturas, pero le pedimos que por favor se quede con su librito para prevenir contagio y lo traiga a la Misa la próxima ves que vuelva.
En este momento, no habrá hojas de música para la Misa. Si desea seguir la música, puede descargar la hoja de música aquí y verlo en su teléfono.
Confessions Available/ Tenemos Confesiones
In response to the different restrictions on movement and gatherings have been issued, we are moving confessions outside. Click Here for the details.
En respuesta a las restricciones sobre las reuniones, estamos trasladando confesiones afuera. Vea Aqui para los detalles.
Prayer in Times of Epidemics
Vouchsafe to hear us, O God, our only salvation! And through the intercession of the glorious and blessed Mary, Mother of God and ever Virgin, of thy blessed martyr, Sebastian and of all the saints, deliver thy people from the terrors of thy wrath, and restore their confidence by the outpouring of thy compassion.
Be moved to pity, O Lord, at our earnest entreaties, and heal the illnesses of body and soul; so that experiencing thy forgiveness we may ever rejoice in thy blessing.
We beseech thee, O Lord, grant us a hearing as we devoutly raise our petitions to thee, and graciously turn away the epidemic of plague which afflicts us; so that mortal hearts may recognize that these scourges proceed from thine indignation and cease only when thou art moved to mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.
St. Vincent de Paul Update – March 18:
For the past week we have been operating our SVdP ministry in a manner that safeguarded the health of our Vincentian volunteers and those we serve. Our door has been locked with a sign posted stating that we were providing ‘food only’ service and not accepting financial aid requests. (Providing financial aid requires potential close contact and involves the sharing of documents, IDs etc. ). During this time our activity level has been very quiet. As there now a number of organizations providing food and meals, including many local schools, we believe it is now time to reduce the risk of our Vincentians becoming ill, and close the pantry for a short while. We will reevaluate the situation in a week.
Caring for One Another:
As civil authorities initiate protocols to protect people from the threat of COVID-19 (coronavirus), it’s important to exercise the virtue of prudence for one’s own good and for the good of the community.
As we take prudent steps to ensure the well-being of our community, we entrust ourselves to the provident mercy of Almighty God, and to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Therese of Lisieux.
The Faithful are reminded to avail themselves of the sacrament of Penance (confession) ahead of any planned medical procedures or other hospitalizations, and at any time they are aware of having committed mortal or venial sin. One may also call the parish office to talk to a priest about receiving the Anointing of the Sick at the parish church.
Amid concerns about coronavirus, many local hospitals have initiated protective protocols that restrict visitors; this may hinder the ability of priests to administer the Anointing of the Sick in hospitals, especially if a patient has met their daily visitor limit.
Visit the USCCB website for audio stations of the cross and other information about this Lenten devotion.
Questions about Lenten fasting and abstinence? Learn more about the roots of this practice and how Catholics observe Lent through fasting.
