Coming Back to Church
 
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, 
 
The weekend of May 30th and 31st, Pentecost Sunday, we will resume our Mass schedule.  As all of us are looking forward to coming back together as a parish family, I encourage you to follow the regulations announced by Bishop McManus. Continuing Suspension of the Sunday Obligation. Stay home if you are ill, anxious, or immunocompromised. Because older adults and those with underlying health conditions continue to be advised to avoid public assemblies, the suspension of the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays will remain in place until December 31, 2020.
 
Masks and Social Distancing. All members of the congregation should be masked and are required to observe minimum of a six foot social distance.
 
Seating In order to promote social distancing. People shall be seated at least six feet apart in every-other pew. Removable tape will be used to block off pews.
 
Holy Water. All standing Holy Water shall be removed from all fonts.
 
Hymnals and Missalettes will be removed from the church and stored for possible future use.
The floor will be marked with removable tape at six foot intervals approaching all communion stations and approaching all rest rooms.
 
Pew backs and surfaces in bathrooms will be disinfected after every Mass. Door handles and other surfaces will be disinfected daily.
 
Singing. No congregational singing is allowed, with the exception of the Gospel Acclamation, Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation, Great Amen and Agnus Dei. The Opening and Closing music are sung only by the cantor. All the other parts of the Mass are recited.
 
Collection. Instead of passing collection baskets, parishioners         are directed to place their donations in a conveniently located standing basket.
 
Ushers will be recruited from among the parishioners who, with masks, will assure that everyone entering the church has a mask or other suitable face covering. Direct those entering the Church to observe social distancing. Direct parishioners for Holy Communion.
 
Distribution of Holy Communion,
Ushers will direct communicants to leave their pews one row at a time while observing the required social distancing.
 
As each person leaves their pew, they are required to use hand sanitizer to sanitize their hands before receiving Holy Communion. The distribution of the Precious Blood to all but the Priest is suspended.
Co mmunion on the Tongue. A “public health preference” for Holy Communion in the hand is encouraged.
 
Entrance to the church. The only door available to enter the church will be the Derwin Street entrance. Handicap access is available. Please exit out the front doors of the church at the conclusion of mass, unless you need the elevator.
 
Confession will be available starting June 2, 2020 on Tuesdays in the morning 9:00am to 10:00am and Tuesday evenings from 6:00pm to 7:00pm.
 
Starting the weekend of May 30 and 31, 2020
our weekend and weekday mass schedule will change.
Weekend Mass Schedule: 
Saturday 4:00 pm.
Sunday 8:00 am, 10:00 am and 12:00 noon.  Changing our mass time from 11:30 to 12:00 noon, will allow our staff  to clean the church. The church will be properly cleaned between all masses. The church will be open a half hour before Mass.
 
The doors of the church will be locked 5 minutes before Mass starts to help us control and follow all the regulations. 
 
Weekday Mass Schedule:
Daily Mass will be at 7:30 am Monday through Thursday.
The church will be open at 6:45am daily Monday through Thursday and will close at 1:00pm. Even though there is no morning mass on Friday, the church will open at 6:45am and close at 1:00pm., for personal prayer. The Church will be open daily, unless there is a funeral. This will allow our staff  time to properly clean the church every day. However, the church will open Tuesday evenings for confessions from 6:00pm to 7:00pm.
 
Masses Online will be available on St. Anna’s YouTube Channel: Subscribe at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/
St. Anna Parish  and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Stannaleominster/
 
As we gather again for the celebration of Mass, we are all asked to do our part to prevent the spread of COVID –19.  Thank you so much for your cooperation and understanding.
 Fr. Carlos