Parish Announcements
Mask-wearing update (July 24th, 2020):
From Fr. Tony Stubeda:
Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
On Wednesday, July 22nd, a new executive order was issued regarding the wearing of masks in spaces where the public gathers. This mandate for the wearing of masks explicitly applies to places of worship, and specifically to the churches of our area faith community. Starting on Saturday, July 25th, masks will be required when coming to Mass, the parishes’ offices, and meetings. We will be posting signs at our doors to remind you of the requirement for masks or face coverings.
I am well aware that the requirement of wearing masks is one that provokes strong and often opposed opinions and feelings in our community. Our bishop has asked us to comply with the order, and we are asking for your cooperation in helping to curb the pandemic that is plaguing us, curtail its spread, and to keep yourself, your families, and your brothers and sisters protected from the effects of this highly contagious virus by wearing masks when you come to Mass.
If you are not wearing a mask at Mass, our ministers of hospitality may gently remind you that we are required to wear them. It will be a gentle reminder, not a demand. Since there are some people with various medical issues that make wearing a mask impossible, we will not be refusing anyone admittance, nor will we be asking people to leave if they do not have a mask, but we will continue to insist that we all wear masks at Mass.
I ask that you continue to pray that God will soon release us from the grip of this threat to our health and well-being, and that soon we can return to gathering without restrictions. We will continue to struggle to find ways to gather, to worship, celebrate and nourish our faith. In the coming days, I will be making some decisions about what alterations we may need to make in our celebrations to keep us all safe.
I urge you all to help us curb the spread of this virus by the wearing of masks so that our schools, churches, and more and more businesses can remain open or open again. This difficult time is a challenge to our faithfulness and charity. Let us remember our mission: to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in our daily lives, and that our mutual love and respect will carry us through this time of trial, danger and frustration.
From Fr. Tony Stubeda:
Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
On Wednesday, July 22nd, a new executive order was issued regarding the wearing of masks in spaces where the public gathers. This mandate for the wearing of masks explicitly applies to places of worship, and specifically to the churches of our area faith community. Starting on Saturday, July 25th, masks will be required when coming to Mass, the parishes’ offices, and meetings. We will be posting signs at our doors to remind you of the requirement for masks or face coverings.
I am well aware that the requirement of wearing masks is one that provokes strong and often opposed opinions and feelings in our community. Our bishop has asked us to comply with the order, and we are asking for your cooperation in helping to curb the pandemic that is plaguing us, curtail its spread, and to keep yourself, your families, and your brothers and sisters protected from the effects of this highly contagious virus by wearing masks when you come to Mass.
If you are not wearing a mask at Mass, our ministers of hospitality may gently remind you that we are required to wear them. It will be a gentle reminder, not a demand. Since there are some people with various medical issues that make wearing a mask impossible, we will not be refusing anyone admittance, nor will we be asking people to leave if they do not have a mask, but we will continue to insist that we all wear masks at Mass.
I ask that you continue to pray that God will soon release us from the grip of this threat to our health and well-being, and that soon we can return to gathering without restrictions. We will continue to struggle to find ways to gather, to worship, celebrate and nourish our faith. In the coming days, I will be making some decisions about what alterations we may need to make in our celebrations to keep us all safe.
I urge you all to help us curb the spread of this virus by the wearing of masks so that our schools, churches, and more and more businesses can remain open or open again. This difficult time is a challenge to our faithfulness and charity. Let us remember our mission: to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in our daily lives, and that our mutual love and respect will carry us through this time of trial, danger and frustration.
The Dilemma of Holy Communion in a Time of Pandemic (July 17th, 2020):
Since my arrival, the most common discussions I have had with you is the dilemma of receiving Holy Communion in this time of the Corona Virus pandemic. This question falls into two or three general areas of concern. The first is whether we should be “allowing” the reception of Communion on the tongue. The protocols we received were quite clear that we should be discouraging reception on the tongue, but that we should not refuse those who choose to receive on the tongue. That creates the dilemma that some people will not receive Communion at all if they cannot receive on the tongue, while others will not receive at all if someone in front of them receives on the tongue. Trying to take both of these points of view into consideration, I am proposing the following solution. When someone receives Holy Communion on the tongue, I will ask the distributor or the priest to sanitize their hands after distributing to someone receiving on the tongue.
A second general concern is the touching of people during the distribution of Holy Communion. The protocols are very clear that whenever the person distributing Holy Communion touches someone, they must sanitize their hands before distributing to the next person. In giving blessings to those not receiving, we will not touch the person but rather just raise our hand and give the blessing.
A third concern is more difficult to respond to. There are many who think that the proximity of the distributor and the person receiving is too close. The words spoken by both pose the danger of transmission of the virus through airborne vapor and droplets. To reduce this risk, the distributor must wear a mask. The protocols do not allow for a silent distribution with no spoken offering and response. The best solution to this issue, although not ideal, is for each person to judge the risk they are taking and to make the decision that most suits their own safety and health. If you are not comfortable receiving Holy Communion, you shouldn’t.
As always, we remind you all to please maintain proper social distancing for the protection of the health of our brothers and sisters while attending Mass. I understand that these measures are difficult and sometimes irritating to us, but we are trying to continue to be nourished by the Eucharist and to protect our brothers’ and sisters’ health at the same time.
I will be communicating with our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to remind them of these practices, and pray that God will soon bring us through these difficult times.
Fr. Tony Stubeda
Since my arrival, the most common discussions I have had with you is the dilemma of receiving Holy Communion in this time of the Corona Virus pandemic. This question falls into two or three general areas of concern. The first is whether we should be “allowing” the reception of Communion on the tongue. The protocols we received were quite clear that we should be discouraging reception on the tongue, but that we should not refuse those who choose to receive on the tongue. That creates the dilemma that some people will not receive Communion at all if they cannot receive on the tongue, while others will not receive at all if someone in front of them receives on the tongue. Trying to take both of these points of view into consideration, I am proposing the following solution. When someone receives Holy Communion on the tongue, I will ask the distributor or the priest to sanitize their hands after distributing to someone receiving on the tongue.
A second general concern is the touching of people during the distribution of Holy Communion. The protocols are very clear that whenever the person distributing Holy Communion touches someone, they must sanitize their hands before distributing to the next person. In giving blessings to those not receiving, we will not touch the person but rather just raise our hand and give the blessing.
A third concern is more difficult to respond to. There are many who think that the proximity of the distributor and the person receiving is too close. The words spoken by both pose the danger of transmission of the virus through airborne vapor and droplets. To reduce this risk, the distributor must wear a mask. The protocols do not allow for a silent distribution with no spoken offering and response. The best solution to this issue, although not ideal, is for each person to judge the risk they are taking and to make the decision that most suits their own safety and health. If you are not comfortable receiving Holy Communion, you shouldn’t.
As always, we remind you all to please maintain proper social distancing for the protection of the health of our brothers and sisters while attending Mass. I understand that these measures are difficult and sometimes irritating to us, but we are trying to continue to be nourished by the Eucharist and to protect our brothers’ and sisters’ health at the same time.
I will be communicating with our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to remind them of these practices, and pray that God will soon bring us through these difficult times.
Fr. Tony Stubeda
General Mass information during this time of Pandemic
For those who are not comfortable returning to Mass at this time and those who are in “vulnerable” categories, note that the Bishop still dispenses the Sunday obligation. Please also be mindful to not come if you are not feeling well. I have heard from so many who are eager to return to Mass, Holy Communion and the ability to pray in our parish churches.
The Minnesota Bishops issued some “protocols” or specific instructions to be followed in this phase. As we are so used to certain ways of doing things, this means we will have to be open to some adjustments for the next weeks. This is being implemented with the assistance of a “task force” who has helped to put this together. In the course of this transition, there will be some adjustments we all have to make. Please try to be flexible – whether that means sitting in a different place than usual, going to a less crowded Mass, or going at a less convenient time. (Also note that the weekday Masses have far less people who attend as a potential option right now for those who might have concerns.)
All of these adjustments are being implemented to make sure everyone who comes to Mass feels safe and comfortable.
Please note the following carefully:
Many thanks to so many who have made great stewardship sacrifices in this time so we are not experiencing the dire financial need that could have come if we all had not been proactive (while knowing that we still need to be vigilant about this).
The Lord will continue to get us through. Many have shared that they have really had a chance to reflect on things like Mass and the Holy Eucharist in a deeper way after having taken them for granted and without much thought until they were no longer available.
Please continue to pray for an end to this pandemic, and for each other.
For those who are not comfortable returning to Mass at this time and those who are in “vulnerable” categories, note that the Bishop still dispenses the Sunday obligation. Please also be mindful to not come if you are not feeling well. I have heard from so many who are eager to return to Mass, Holy Communion and the ability to pray in our parish churches.
The Minnesota Bishops issued some “protocols” or specific instructions to be followed in this phase. As we are so used to certain ways of doing things, this means we will have to be open to some adjustments for the next weeks. This is being implemented with the assistance of a “task force” who has helped to put this together. In the course of this transition, there will be some adjustments we all have to make. Please try to be flexible – whether that means sitting in a different place than usual, going to a less crowded Mass, or going at a less convenient time. (Also note that the weekday Masses have far less people who attend as a potential option right now for those who might have concerns.)
All of these adjustments are being implemented to make sure everyone who comes to Mass feels safe and comfortable.
Please note the following carefully:
- There is hand sanitizer at all of the entrances to the church buildings for people to use.
- There is disinfectant in spray bottles and paper towels in the gathering space for people who wish to wipe down their pews before or after, with a garbage bin in the gathering space/entry way to discard the used paper towels.
- The wearing of masks is now a required mandated in MN.
- There are some pews marked off as “closed to seating” to help facilitate social distancing.
- There is a prohibition on choirs until we hear otherwise.
- The Campus Religious Center Mass on Sundays at 6pm is temporarily moved to Holy Redeemer Church so as to provide a bigger space for social distancing and to provide for more people to attend.
- Please try to space yourselves out by considering a Mass that would have more room available, such as the Spanish Mass at 12:30 pm on Sunday, or the 6 pm Mass on Sunday evening.
- Please note that the 8 am and 10 am Masses at Holy Redeemer are usually the ones that have more children and young families at them, so please take that into consideration in choosing a Mass to attend.
- SCRIP is no longer available after weekend Mass.
- As we transition, for the next weeks, some Masses will have music and others will not so that people can decide what is best for them and their comfort level.
- These Masses for the next weeks will have music:
- 5 pm on Saturday at Holy Redeemer, and 8 am and 10 am on Sunday at Holy Redeemer
- 8:30 am at Milroy
- All other Masses (6 pm Sunday at Holy Redeemer and 10:30 am at Tracy) will not have music for now.
- These Masses for the next weeks will have music:
- Masses from Holy Redeemer Church, both weekday and weekend, will continue to be live-streamed for those who are not yet ready to return to Mass.
- Doors will be propped open before and after Masses so people do not have to touch door handles unnecessarily.
- There will be no offertory procession for the time being. Baskets will be put at each entrance for people to leave their envelopes/contributions on the way in or out. The bread/wine/collection will not be brought up during the Mass.
- To limit interaction for now, there are no greeters, and ushers have a few different duties to assist people while avoiding any unnecessary contact. Bulletins will be available in the gathering space/entry ways of each church for people to take on their own if they wish.
- There will be no exchange of peace or distribution of the Precious Blood for the foreseeable future. (It is good to take this opportunity to note that although we are accustomed to the Sign of Peace at Mass and regularly receiving Holy Communion under both Forms, these are both options in the Mass. For Holy Communion, we do not receive any less Grace or any less Holy Communion by receiving only the Host, and in many parts of the world, it is not common to be able to do so.)
- Before Mass begins, the priest gives a few words of instruction as to receiving Holy Communion. At this stage, only the priest (and deacon if he is at Mass) will be distributing Holy Communion. When approaching to receive Holy Communion, please be mindful of the “social distance” of those around and in front of you. We have received very specific instructions about the care we are to use in distributing Holy Communion. Please be slow and deliberate about receiving Holy Communion so we can avoid any direct contact between the communicant and the priest who is distributing Holy Communion.
- Please be mindful about not rushing out of the church after Mass to avoid crowds all at one time. (This gives an opportunity to encourage something that we all learned a long time ago: after Mass is finished, we should stop to kneel and offer some prayers of thanksgiving for the opportunity to be at Mass and to receive Holy Communion. If we do this, we should be able to avoid the big crowd of people all quickly moving to the door after the final blessing or closing hymn.) To facilitate this, at least for now, let’s have everyone wait in their pews and the ushers will come from the back of church forward to let people know when they can leave.
- We will resume our normal Masses at nursing homes and assisted living facilities when we are invited to do so.
- We have resumed Perpetual Adoration at Holy Redeemer. It is temporarily in the St. Mary's Chapel (at Holy Redeemer School) as it allows for more distancing availability.
Many thanks to so many who have made great stewardship sacrifices in this time so we are not experiencing the dire financial need that could have come if we all had not been proactive (while knowing that we still need to be vigilant about this).
The Lord will continue to get us through. Many have shared that they have really had a chance to reflect on things like Mass and the Holy Eucharist in a deeper way after having taken them for granted and without much thought until they were no longer available.
Please continue to pray for an end to this pandemic, and for each other.
Other notes:
For those who are able to drop off a weekly contribution envelope, there is a mail slot in the entryway of the parish office that can be used (open from 8 am to 4:30 pm), or they can be mailed (503 West Lyon Street, Marshall, MN 56258). If there is anyone who would like to set up automatic monthly or bi-monthly contributions directly from your bank account, this can be done through the Holy Redeemer website, and one-time online contributions can be made through the “DONATE” tab on the parish website as well, or by clicking HERE.
The Parish Office Hours are still Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. However, there is limited entry through one door into the Parish Office during this time of social distancing. The foyer remains open for offering drop-off.
SCRIP can still be ordered here through the Holy Redeemer website also, and we can have it ready for pick up. For anything else, please ring the office door for help. Click HERE to order online.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
For those who are able to drop off a weekly contribution envelope, there is a mail slot in the entryway of the parish office that can be used (open from 8 am to 4:30 pm), or they can be mailed (503 West Lyon Street, Marshall, MN 56258). If there is anyone who would like to set up automatic monthly or bi-monthly contributions directly from your bank account, this can be done through the Holy Redeemer website, and one-time online contributions can be made through the “DONATE” tab on the parish website as well, or by clicking HERE.
The Parish Office Hours are still Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. However, there is limited entry through one door into the Parish Office during this time of social distancing. The foyer remains open for offering drop-off.
SCRIP can still be ordered here through the Holy Redeemer website also, and we can have it ready for pick up. For anything else, please ring the office door for help. Click HERE to order online.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
US Bishops’ Prayer for Deliverance and Protection in response to coronavirus
Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas. We fly to you today as your beloved children. We ask you to intercede for us with your Son, as you did at the wedding in Cana.
Pray for us, loving Mother, and gain for our nation and world, and for all our families and loved ones, the protection of your holy angels, that we may be spared the worst of this illness.
For those already afflicted, we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance. Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful, wipe away their tears and help them to trust.
In this time of trial and testing, teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind. Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.
We come to you with confidence, knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother, health of the sick and cause of our joy.
Shelter us under the mantle of your protection, keep us in the embrace of your arms, help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus.
Amen.
Act of Spiritual Communion (for when we are not able to receive the Holy Eucharist)
My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas. We fly to you today as your beloved children. We ask you to intercede for us with your Son, as you did at the wedding in Cana.
Pray for us, loving Mother, and gain for our nation and world, and for all our families and loved ones, the protection of your holy angels, that we may be spared the worst of this illness.
For those already afflicted, we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance. Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful, wipe away their tears and help them to trust.
In this time of trial and testing, teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind. Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.
We come to you with confidence, knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother, health of the sick and cause of our joy.
Shelter us under the mantle of your protection, keep us in the embrace of your arms, help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus.
Amen.
Act of Spiritual Communion (for when we are not able to receive the Holy Eucharist)
My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
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Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
503 West Lyon Marshall, MN 56258 507-532-5711 Weekend Service Times Saturday Vigil: 5:00pm Sunday: 8:00am, 10:00am Full Schedule including other locations |
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