• The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains in place until further notice. This means that although Sunday Mass is available once again, the dispensation remains for all Catholics throughout the diocese. If you do not attend Sunday Mass, it is not a sin.
• Vulnerable, at risk, or otherwise concerned persons are encouraged to remain at home.
• Anyone who has even the slightest symptoms or feelings of sickness must remain at home.
We have now had public Masses for 4 weekends. If you have not yet chosen to attend, here’s a little summary of what the experience is like coming to Mass now:
*Arriving at St. Thomas More, people notice that the grounds are beautiful, as always. It looks like the “pre-Covid” world! They also notice that the lower parking lot is closed; entrance for Mass is restricted to main doors of the church building.
*As you approach the church, you notice that these are not normal times. Everyone is wearing a face mask, during the entire time they are here. . People who don’t have a face mask can pick on up at the door to make their own. The only exception is for the brief moment at Communion when people approach the priest or deacon, receive the Body of Christ in their hands, step aside, use 1 hand to remove their face mask, consume the consecrated host, and replace their face mask
*People are entering through a designated door. All doors in the building are open; there are no books or anything else in the pew racks. The desire is that the only thing a person touch during their time at Mass is the Body of Christ. People are touching the pews, however- to aid in standing up, or while kneeling. After Mass, all the pews are sanitized by a group of generous people.
*People are picking up a worship aid as they enter, and are directed by an usher to a place to sit that is at least 6 feet from other individuals/households. If their name was not taken as they entered, they fill out an “Attendance Card,” which is securely stored for 1 month and then destroyed (the first batch are being destroyed this week). Ushers take these cards and the pens from people- the pens are sanitized before re-use. This list is just in case a positive Covid-19 test surfaces from someone who attended a Mass here, so others at that Mass could be notified.
*People notice that there is blue tape everywhere—blocking off access to every other pew and marking the floors in 6-foot increments to help with distancing, and also marking the location for the reception of the Body of Christ.
*There is a directive that the Mass be shorter than usual, to limit our time gathered together to reduce the risk of passing on Covid-19. So there is minimal singing, a shorter homily (funny, no one has complained about this yet!), no Sign of Peace and no distribution of the Precious Blood.
*People leave after Mass being attentive to maintaining the “6-foot” rule as they make their way out of the church and back to their vehicles.
* This week’s liturgies:
Confessions: Saturday, 8-9 am, in the PACC.
Sunday Mass:
Saturday, 4:30 pm
Sunday: 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 am
*Daily Masses at 7:30 am; please do not arrive before 7:15 am.
Adoration: Monday-Friday, 8 am- 1 pm.
As of this past weekend, we are now allowed to have a congregation of up to 25% of building capacity for Mass, or about 100 people, here at STM. This is good news for us! This increased permissiveness for congregation-size is not a license to set aside our commitment to one another’s health and well-being by becoming lackadaisical in our observance of protocol: we still are required to wear facemasks at Mass, and to maintain social distancing between households. Depending on the availability of priests, if there are more than 100 people at any given time of Mass, there will be another Mass celebrated in the PACC at the same time. Thank you for your patience and understanding with this good but less-than-ideal situation.
**Thanks for your on-going financial donations to the parish! Please consider giving on-line (see the parish website) if you are not already doing so.
*Summer Office Hours: The Parish Office will be open Mondays and Thursdays only, 8 am-12 noon.
*Summer Faith Camp has been cancelled this year. Look forward to returning next summer!
Good News! Indoor worship spaces are now allowed to go up to 25% of normal capacity, while maintaining the 6' social distance rules. This means that we can have up to 125 people (depending on family sizes) at Mass.
* This coming weekend’s liturgies:
Confessions: Saturday, 8-9 am, in the PACC.
Mass:
Saturday, 4:30 pm
Sunday: 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 am
*Daily Masses next week at 7:30 am; please do not arrive before 7:15 am.
Adoration: Monday-Friday, 8 am- 1 pm.
Up to 100 people can be accommodated at each time, with 1 Mass in the Church (50 people) and another at the same time in the PACC if needed (up to 50 people), depending on the availability of priests. If there are more than 100 at any given time, those “over 100th place in line” will need to wait outside until the next Mass. It may be that, if only 1 priest is available, Masses might be at 7:30 in the Church, 8:15 in the PACC, 9:00 in the Church, etc. until all who come are able to participate in Mass. Thank you for your patience and understanding with this good but less-than-ideal situation.
**Thanks for your on-going financial donations to the parish! Please consider giving on-line (see the parish website) if you are not already doing so.
*Excerpts from the Washington State Catholic Conference (the 5 bishops of the state) statement on the reopening of Churches for public Masses:
“Obligation • The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains in place until further notice. This means that although Sunday Mass is available once again, the dispensation remains for all Catholics throughout the diocese. If you do not attend Sunday Mass, it is not a sin. • Vulnerable, at risk, or otherwise concerned persons must remain at home. • Anyone who has even the slightest symptoms or feelings of sickness must remain at home.
Occupancy • Parishes are permitted to offer Mass for up to 50 people. • A distance of no less than 6 feet must be maintained between households. • Pastors must devise a system to collect the names and contact information of those attending Mass and to keep this record on file for 30 days. • Please do not congregate before or after Mass. Face coverings must be worn at Mass.”
*Office Hours: The Parish Office will be open Mondays and Thursdays only, 8 am-12 noon.
*Summer Faith Camp has been cancelled this year. Look forward to returning next summer!
From Fr. Pat:
“To gather to praise God and celebrate the Mass is a special grace for the parish. With the safety protocols, it is challenging; hopefully, with more time, the special things we need to do will become somewhat “normal” and not be distractions to our praise of God. I’m grateful to those who have stepped forward to assist with “hospitality” at Masses- serving as ushers, congregation movement, attendance, cleaning, etc. We will need 4 or 5 people to help with this at each Mass for the foreseeable future; if you are willing to help, please call the office and leave a message (466-3811) or email Fr. Pat, through the “Welcome/Staff” drop-down on the parish website (thomasmorespokane.org). Almost everyone was compliant with the requirement to wear face-coverings last week and the “6-fee” distancing directive. Thank you!
*As we now have public Masses, there will no longer be Masses from STM available for viewing on the website. For those who are not able to come to Mass, you are referred to the many Sunday Masses shown on television, or the 9:00 am Mass from our Cathedral that is livestreamed (see dioceseofspokane.org or spokanecathedral.com)
Petitions:
We collected 197 signatures for the R-90 petition, hoping to have put up for vote a repeal of the new Sex Education curriculum mandate for public schools.
Our bishops are promoting the collection of signatures on a petition for Initiative 1698: The Heartbeat Initiative
Summary: I-1698 is a pro-life initiative requiring that an ultrasound be performed prior to an abortion. Abortions will prohibited if a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Support: The bishops of Washington state support I1698 and encourage parishioners to gather petition signatures. Signatures may be gathered at churches with the expressed approval of the pastor.
Petition Deadline: June 24, 2020. Organizers ask that petitions be postmarked and mailed to them by this date so that petitions can be counted and prepared for submission to the Secretary of State.
Detail: I-1698 is an initiative to the people that requires an ultrasound of a fetus be performed no less than 24 hours prior to an abortion. If a heartbeat is detected, it will be unlawful for an abortion to be performed. (See full text at: https://www.sos.wa.gov/_assets/elections/initiatives/finaltext_1793.pdf)
Details from the Secretary of State website: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/initiatives.aspx?y=2020&t=p
** There are copies of the petition if you wish to sign in the Narthex of the Church. Please bring your own pen, or sanitize a pen you find in the Narthex before and after using it.
Added this week in our gradual re-opening:
Mass, Saturday, 4:30 pm
Adoration, Mon-Fri., 8 am- 1 pm
*Excerpts from the Washington State Catholic Conference (the 5 bishops of the state) statement on the reopening of Churches for public Masses:
“Obligation • The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains in place until further notice. This means that although Sunday Mass is available once again, the dispensation remains for all Catholics throughout the diocese. If you do not attend Sunday Mass, it is not a sin. • Vulnerable, at risk, or otherwise concerned persons must remain at home. • Anyone who has even the slightest symptoms or feelings of sickness must remain at home.
Occupancy • Parishes are permitted to offer Mass up to 25% of possible building occupancy or up to 50, whichever is less. • A distance of no less than 6 feet must be maintained between households. Churches should be physically arranged or marked to facilitate the maintenance of physical distancing between households. • Pastors must devise a system to collect the names and contact information of those attending Mass and to keep this record on file for 30 days. • Please do not congregate before or after Mass.”
* This coming weekend’s liturgies:
Confessions: Saturday, 8-9 am, in the PACC.
Mass:
Saturday, 4:30 pm
Sunday: 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 am
Up to 100 people can be accommodated at each time, with 1 Mass in the Church (50 people) and another at the same time in the PACC if needed (up to 50 people), depending on the availability of priests. If there are more than 100 at any given time, those “over 100th place in line” will need to wait outside until the next Mass. It may be that, if only 1 priest is available, Masses might be at 7:30 in the Church, 8:15 in the PACC, 9:00 in the Church, etc. until all who come are able to participate in Mass. Please be patient and understanding.
*Daily Masses next week at 7:30 am; please do not arrive before 7:15 am.
**Thanks for your on-going financial donations to the parish! Please consider giving on-line (see the parish website) if you are not already doing so
From Fr. Pat:
“To gather to praise God and celebrate the Mass is a special grace for the parish. With the safety protocols, it is challenging; hopefully, with more time, the special things we need to do will become somewhat “normal” and not be distractions to our praise of God. I’m grateful to those who have stepped forward to assist with “hospitality” at Masses- serving as ushers, congregation movement, attendance, cleaning, etc. We will need 4 or 5 people to help with this at each Mass for the foreseeable future; if you are willing to help, please call the office and leave a message (466-3811) or email Fr. Pat, through the “Welcome/Staff” drop-down on the parish website (thomasmorespokane.org). Almost everyone was compliant with the requirement to wear face-coverings last week. Dealing with the reception of Communion while negotiating a face-covering is challenging, but we’ll keep working on it. We did better with the 6-foot social distance requirement for non-family members this past Sudnay. It’s hard for us, who are so accustomed to physical contact, close proximity while visiting with others, etc. to stay six feet away from non-family members and communicate, but we need to keep attending carefully to this. I’ve heard key words with this are “proximity” and “duration” to keep our contacts as safe as possible. That’s at the heart of the “6 feet” rule, and why at this time we are trying to keep Masses shorter in duration (so, for now, no congregational singing, shorter homilies, shortest of the Eucharistic Prayers, etc.). Again, thanks to all for your patience and understanding as we do the best we can making these adjustments.”
*As we now have public Masses, there will no longer be Masses from STM available for viewing on the website. For those who are not able to come to Mass, you are referred to the many Sunday Masses shown on television, or the 9:00 am Mass from our Cathedral that is livestreamed (see dioceseofspokane.org or spokanecathedral.com)
*Office Hours: Beginning next week, the Parish Office will be open
Mondays and Thursdays only, 8 am-12 noon.
*Summer Faith Camp has been cancelled this year. Look forward to returning next summer!
Petitions:
We collected 197 signatures for the R-90 petition, hoping to have put up for vote a repeal of the new Sex Education curriculum mandate for public schools.
Our bishops are promoting the collection of signatures on a petition for Initiative 1698: The Heartbeat Initiative
Summary: I-1698 is a pro-life initiative requiring that an ultrasound be performed prior to an abortion. Abortions will prohibited if a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Support: The bishops of Washington state support I1698 and encourage parishioners to gather petition signatures. Signatures may be gathered at churches with the expressed approval of the pastor.
Petition Deadline: June 24, 2020. Organizers ask that petitions be postmarked and mailed to them by this date so that petitions can be counted and prepared for submission to the Secretary of State.
Detail: I-1698 is an initiative to the people that requires an ultrasound of a fetus be performed no less than 24 hours prior to an abortion. If a heartbeat is detected, it will be unlawful for an abortion to be performed. (See full text at: https://www.sos.wa.gov/_assets/elections/initiatives/finaltext_1793.pdf)
Details from the Secretary of State website: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/initiatives.aspx?y=2020&t=p
** There are copies of the petition if you wish to sign in the Narthex of the Church. Please bring your own pen, or sanitize a pen you find in the Narthex before and after using it.
Excerpts from the Washington State Catholic Conference (the 5 bishops of the state) statement on the reopening of Churches for public Masses:
“Obligation • The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains in place until further notice. This means that although Sunday Mass is available once again, the dispensation remains for all Catholics throughout the diocese. If you do not attend Sunday Mass, it is not a sin. • Vulnerable, at risk, or otherwise concerned persons must remain at home. • Anyone who has even the slightest symptoms or feelings of sickness must remain at home.
Occupancy • Parishes are permitted to offer Mass up to 25% of possible building occupancy or up to 50, whichever is less. • A distance of no less than 6 feet must be maintained between households. Churches should be physically arranged or marked to facilitate the maintenance of physical distancing between households. • Pastors must devise a system to collect the names and contact information of those attending Mass and to keep this record on file for 30 days. • Please do not congregate before or after Mass.”
From Fr. Pat:
“To gather to praise God and celebrate the Mass is a special grace for the parish. With the safety protocols, it is challenging; hopefully, with more time, the special things we need to do will become somewhat “normal” and not be distractions to our praise of God. We did pretty well with observance of guidelines, and we learned much. I’m grateful to those who stepped forward to assist with “hospitality” at Masses- serving as ushers and crowd-management. Everyone was compliant with the requirement to wear face-coverings. Dealing with the reception of Communion while negotiating a face-covering is challenging, but we’ll keep working on it. We will need to do better with the 6-foot social distance requirement for non-family members. It’s hard for us, who are so accustomed to physical contact, close proximity while visiting with others, etc. to stay six feet away from non-family members and communicate, but we need to keep attending carefully to this. I’ve heard key words with this are “proximity” and “duration” to keep our contacts as safe as possible. That’s at the heart of the “6 feet” rule, and why at this time we are trying to keep Masses shorter in duration (so, for now, no congregational singing, shorter homilies, shortest of the Eucharistic Prayers, etc.). Again, thanks to all for your patience and understanding as we do the best we can making these adjustments.”
* This coming weekend’s liturgies:
Confessions: Saturday, 8:00 am until finished, in the PACC.
Mass, Sunday: 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 am (up to 100 people can be accommodated at each time-
with 1 Mass in the Church and another at the same time in the PACC if needed, with Fr. Pat and Fr. Ed available)
**Thanks for your on-going financial donations to the parish!
*Daily Masses next week at 7:30 am; please do not arrive before 7:15 am.
*The Church will be open for your visits next week for prayer from Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., and Saturday from 8-9 a.m.
*As we now have public Masses, there will no longer be Masses from STM available for viewing on the website. For those who are not able to come to Mass, you are referred to the many Sunday Masses shown on television, or the 9:00 am Mass from our Cathedral that is livestreamed (see dioceseofspokane.org or spokanecathedral.com)
*Office Hours: Beginning next week, the Parish Office will be open
Mondays and Thursdays only, 8 am-12 noon.
*Summer Faith Camp has been cancelled this year. Look forward to returning next summer!
Petitions:
We collected 197 signatures for the R-90 petition, hoping to have put up for vote a repeal of the new Sex Education curriculum mandate for public schools.
Our bishops are promoting the collection of signatures on a petition for Initiative 1698: The Heartbeat Initiative
Summary: I-1698 is a pro-life initiative requiring that an ultrasound be performed prior to an abortion. Abortions will prohibited if a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Support: The bishops of Washington state support I1698 and encourage parishioners to gather petition signatures. Signatures may be gathered at churches with the expressed approval of the pastor.
Petition Deadline: June 24, 2020. Organizers ask that petitions be postmarked and mailed to them by this date so that petitions can be counted and prepared for submission to the Secretary of State.
Detail: I-1698 is an initiative to the people that requires an ultrasound of a fetus be performed no less than 24 hours prior to an abortion. If a heartbeat is detected, it will be unlawful for an abortion to be performed. (See full text at: https://www.sos.wa.gov/_assets/elections/initiatives/finaltext_1793.pdf)
Details from the Secretary of State website: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/initiatives.aspx?y=2020&t=p
** There are copies of the petition if you wish to sign in the Narthex of the Church. Please bring your own pen, or sanitize a pen you find in the Narthex before and after using it.
What a blessing it was to be able to reopen for public Masses this past Sunday! To gather to praise God and celebrate the Mass is a special grace for the parish. With the safety protocols, it is challenging; hopefully, with more time, the special things we need to do will become somewhat “normal” and not be distractions to our praise of God. We did pretty well with observance of guidelines, and we learned much. I’m grateful to those who stepped forward to assist with “hospitality” at Masses- serving as ushers and crowd-management. Everyone was compliant with the requirement to wear face-coverings. Dealing with the reception of Communion while negotiating a face-covering is challenging, but we’ll keep working on it. We will need to do better with the 6-foot social distance requirement for non-family members. It’s hard for us, who are so accustomed to physical contact, close proximity while visiting with others, etc. to stay six feet away from non-family members and communicate, but we need to keep attending carefully to this. I’ve heard key words with this are “proximity” and “duration” to keep our contacts as safe as possible. That’s at the heart of the “6 feet” rule, and why at this time we are trying to keep Masses shorter in duration (so, for now, no congregational singing, shorter homilies, shortest of the Eucharistic Prayers, etc.). Again, thanks to all for your patience and understanding as we do the best we can making these adjustments.
* This coming weekend’s liturgies:
Confessions: Saturday, 8:00 am (until finished: no sooner than 9 am)
Mass, Sunday: 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 am
*The Dispensation from the Obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains in effect until further notice
**Thanks for your on-going financial donations to the parish!
*As we now have public Masses, there will no longer be Masses from STM available for viewing on the website. For those who are not able to come to Mass, you are referred to the many Sunday Masses shown on television, or the 9:00 am Mass from our Cathedral that is livestreamed (see dioceseofspokane.org or spokanecathedral.com)
*Daily Masses next week at 7:30 am; please do not arrive before 7:15 am.
*The church will be open for your visits next week for prayer from Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., and Saturday from 8-9 a.m.
*We continue to pray for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic:
On Fridays, we are invited to join Bishop Daly in fasting.
Daily Prayer to the Sacred Heart- daily until June 19, the Feast of the Sacred Heart
Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
In new and painful ways, the pandemic has challenged each of us individually, and all of us together as a diocesan family, to maintain and deepen our faith, hope, and love for the Lord and the Church. In many ways, this time of testing has broken our hearts. Bishop Daly has asked us to pray together that we reopen our hearts. We are asked to allow the grace of Christ to enter us through our wounded hearts just as it poured out into the world through the wounded Sacred Heart of Christ.
To that end, he proposes that we pray the attached prayer to the Sacred Heart beginning today until the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart on June 19.
Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory be to the Father…Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender mother and ours. Hail, Holy Queen… Saint Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us. Amen
*To contact Gov. Inslee, to express sentiments of the importance of the public practice of our faith and/or gratitude for his allowance of limited liturgical gatherings now:
https://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/contact/send-gov-inslee-e-message
Or write:
Governor Jay Inslee
Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002