With great joy and an abundance of caution Our Lady of Mercy reopens for the public celebration of Mass and the worship of God this weekend. Here are the rules to ensure the safety of all:
Mass Schedule:
Masses will be celebrated Saturday at 5:00pm; Sunday at 7:30am and 10:30am only. There will be no 9:00am Sunday Mass until further notice in order to clean and sanitize the church.
Beginning Monday, June 1st, daily Mass will resume in the church. The same guidelines for weekend Masses are applicable.
Until further notice live streaming Mass will only be for the 10:30am Sunday Mass.
Saturday Confessions at 4:00pm will be suspended until further notice in order to clean the church. Confessions continue to be heard on Mondays at 6:00pm.
Entrance:
Entry into the church is only through the front entrance.
Front Doors will open 15 minutes before the scheduled Mass.
Seating is limited to 25% of total occupancy. Persons/households will be admitted on a first come basis. No reservations or sign-ups.
Social distance should be maintained while waiting to enter the church.
Masks:
We respectively ask that anyone attending Mass wear a mask and keep the mask on for the duration of the Mass.
Hand Sanitizer:
Parishioners are encouraged to bring hand sanitizer to Mass. Dispensing stations will be available if needed at the entrance to the church.
Collection:
Budget envelopes should be placed in the safe in the front vestibule or in the baskets at the exits at the end of the Mass.
No collection will be taken up during the Mass.
As recommended by the CDC we encourage all parishioners to please donate electronically using Parish Giving which is found on our parish website: www.olmparish.org
Restrooms:
Restrooms are open for emergency use only during Mass.
Music:
Missalettes and hymnals have been removed from the church. We discourage singing during the Mass to minimize risk.
Seating:
The pews are sectioned off to ensure that there is a minimum of six feet distance between individuals or households. Please sit only in designated pews.
Households may sit together in a single pew. Seating per pew for Households will be a maximum occupancy of 8 persons.
Once seated for Mass please remain in your pew unless going to Holy Communion or to use the bathroom.
We respectively ask that if you want to light a candle, you do so outside of Mass hours.
Holy Communion:
Instructions for receiving Holy Communion will be provided during the Mass. The church is divided into four sections. Sections will be called up in an orderly fashion. Please wait until you are directed to come forward.
If you are uncomfortable receiving Holy Communion at this time, or are spiritually unprepared, you need not receive Holy Communion and instead please make a spiritual communion.
For those parishioners who wish to receive Holy Communion we encourage you to receive the Eucharist in the hand.
Please do not wear gloves to receive the Eucharist.
Exiting the Church:
You are asked to leave the church at the conclusion of Mass while maintaining social distance. Due to church cleaning we ask that you do not remain in church for devotions or private prayer.
There should be no social gathering on church premises. Please return directly to your vehicle.
All doors may be used to exit the church.
Thank you for your patience and charity as we reopen for Mass.