St. Joseph Catholic Church

August 2021

The CDC recently recommended that masks be worn while indoors by vaccinated individuals living in an area where the infection rate is substantial or high.  Linn County, Iowa, has reached the level that the wearing of masks indoors is recommended to occur.  Accordingly, I recommend that individuals wear masks in the church and church facilities.  This recommendation will be evaluated on a weekly basis.  The configuration of the interior of the church, twenty percent of seating be with masks and social distancing and eighty percent without social distancing, shall still apply but will be subject to reevaluation.  Any changes instituted are hoped to be incremental rather than on a larger scale.

Yours in Christ,

(Rev.) David O'Connor

24 May 2021 
Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
 
            Archbishop Jackels asked pastors to engage in a consultation process to determine new pandemic protocols to be implemented the first weekend in June (https://dbqarch.org/sunday-opportunity).  The process at St. Joseph was completed on May 20th.
 
            The results showed that we were a divided house with a diversity of opinions about how to revise the protocols.  There is no way that any revision will be a “one size fits all,” nor will it please everyone.  As a human being, I can’t resolve this debacle, but with God, all things are possible.
 
            During my homily on Pentecost Sunday (see: https://stjoesmarion.org/podcasts), I said that revising the protocols offered one of two possibilities.  We could speak the language of the Tower of Babel, which is a language of “it’s all about me,” or we could speak the language of the Holy Spirit, which is love.  The Spirit brings us together in our diversity.  The solution comes with all of us relying upon the gift of the Holy Spirit which we have all received.
 
            After prayer, discernment and consultation, the following shall be in effect immediately:
 
·         No one will be asked to do more than what the CDC or the Archdiocese of Dubuque advises.
·         No one will be asked whether or not they have been vaccinated.
·         To determine whether or not you will wear a mask and practice social distancing in the church and parish buildings, please consult the CDC Choosing Safer Activities chart (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/participate-in-activities.html) which is posted on the bulletin boards in the church.
·         Please make your decision based on prayer, charity and the common good—the language of the Holy Spirit--and not the language of the Tower of Babel.
·         For the time being, communion ministers will be asked to wear masks when distributing Holy Communion.
 
For Weekend Masses
 
·         There will be two sections of the church dedicated to masks and social distancing.  Currently, they will be on the 14th St. side of the church.  These are the pews in the section closest to the organ and piano and the section immediately to the left when looking toward the altar. 
·         The rest of the church will be for those worshipping without masks or social distancing.
·         Please use the CDC chart to determine where you will be seated in the church.
·         The designated areas may change based on Mass attendance and use of the areas.

For Weekday Masses and Eucharistic Adoration
 
·         Open seating will be observed.
·         Please use the CDC chart to determine if you will wear a mask and practice social distancing.
 
Funerals and Weddings
 
·         Seating for the weekend Masses applies.
                                                                                                   
Baptisms
 
·         Will continue to be celebrated after the weekend Masses.
Livestreaming
 
·         Will continue through the near future.  Those who are able to return to Mass are invited to do so.  Please see Archbishop Jackel’s statement (https://dbqarch.org/sunday-opportunity).
·         When a new policy about livestreaming is created, consideration will be given to those who are shut-ins and in care facilities.
 
The Church Basement
 
·         The basement will be used as a flex space to accommodate Mass overflow if needed.  It may be a space designated for masks and social distancing or for open seating without masks depending on the need at the time.
 
The Sacrament of Penance
 
·         The sacrament will continue to be offered in the basement of the church in due consideration to those who wish to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
·         Please use the CDC chart posted on the bulletin boards of the church to determine what you will do.
 
Parish Office
 
·         Please consult the CDC guidelines to determine what you will do.
·         Individual staff members have the discretion to ask that masks be worn and social distancing be observed while in their office or conducting an appointment.
 
May the Holy Spirit be in our hearts and guide us during these changes.
 
Yours in Christ,  
       (Rev.) David H. O’Connor
                     Pastor

 

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