Saint Thomas More Parish

The parish office and school will be closed Monday, September 6
in observance of Labor Day.

Many thanks to all of your for your calm and respectful return to observance of our mask-mandate at Mass and other parish activities the past couple of weeks!  It truly helps to create a peaceful environment for our communal prayer and catechetics:  “Remain calm, so you can pray”  we are reminded in the New Testament.  It not only helps  with minimizing the risk of virus-spread; it also helps us all to feel safe and more at peace in our gatherings knowing we are doing what we can to care for one another.

Start thinking about how you will take advantage of the ministries and programs at STM beginning this fall.  There are many catechetical programs available:  RCIA, Adult Bible Study, High School and Middle School Youth ministry, STM Catholic School, Children’s Religious Education Program, and the Children’s Sacramental Preparation Program.  Also there are opportunities to participate in Altar Society, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus, and other groups.

Excerpts from Bishop Daly’s recent statements regarding vaccinations and masking:
“Per the emergency proclamation issued by Governor Inslee on August 20, 2021, parishes and parish schools will follow the mask mandate…
Inoculation against COVID-19 is an important way to protect the common good, especially children and those who are most vulnerable.  I encourage the faithful of eastern Washington to join me in getting vaccinated….
I am hopeful that mask-wearing and an increase in vaccinations will help bring an end to the suffering and death caused by this pandemic.”

Pope Francis describes the reception of the Covid-19 vaccine as an “Act of love”

With the recent rapid increase in the Covid-19 infection and hospitalization rate, let us be extra-diligent in doing what we can to care for each other through our observance of the simple protocols which seem to help curb these rates.  By the directive of Bishop Daly, in accord with the state of Washington, the facemask mandate for indoor gatherings of people is back in place; everyone will be required to wear masks for Masses and other parish activities/meetings until further notice.  This is our way of showing our care and concern for one another.  We did this for a year until this past June when the mandate was lifted, and it went just fine.  It’s a minor nuisance, but if it even helps just a little to minimize the risk of transmission of the Coronavirus, for the greater value of being able to come together for Masses and other activities, it is worth the sacrifice.  We will continue to embrace this at STM not from a political-ideology point of view, but from a health, safety, and care-for-one-another point of view, as we have from the beginning.  If you are of the mind that you would not wear a mask while at STM for Mass or other parish activities, you are asked to refrain from coming; Masses will still be livestreamed (Sunday 9am.). 

We will continue to embrace the diocesan liturgical guidelines in our parish Masses:
At Mass, all who approach for Communion are asked to receive the Body of Christ in the hand; the Precious Blood will not be distributed.  There will not be the exchange of the Sign of Peace.

If you would be uncomfortable coming to Mass because of the pandemic,  please know that you may stay home and watch a Mass on TV or livestream, and come to the church at either 5:30 pm (after the 4:30 Mass) on Saturday, or 12 noon (after the 11 am Mass) on Sunday to receive Communion.  The church is still set up to accommodate those who should or want to observe physical distancing from non-household members.

The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday and Holyday Masses was removed by Bishop Daly on June 5.  However, there are still many circumstances which dispense people from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass, for instance, illness or being around ill people and anxiety about being in crowds during the pandemic.  If you choose not to attend Mass in person, please do something at home to set the day aside for the Lord in a special way:  Pray the Rosary; watch a Mass on TV/On-line and make a Spiritual Communion; read the Scripture readings for the day; etc.