St. Patrick Catholic Church

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Welcome back! We resumed offering public Masses here at Saint Patrick Church on Monday, June 22, 2020. Washington, D.C.
moved to Phase 2 on Monday, June 22, allowing 100 people in places of worship. Our parish staff, leaders of ministries and volunteers have been working very hard to establish a plan that does everything we reasonably can to make this a safe reopening for those who are able to attend. We are very excited about coming together again in person as a faith community and we look forward to seeing you.

The seriousness of this pandemic dictates that we follow the guidelines and safety measures given by State and Local authorities and health officials, and the Archdiocese of Washington. Therefore, please understand that the logistics and schedule required to offer public Masses and liturgies under these guidelines will be very different than the last time you attended Mass.

Please read the following carefully to facilitate a smooth reopening.

Mass Obligation Dispensed
The dispensation from the Sunday and Holy Day obligation remains in effect and you may have to make the difficult decision to remain at home even as we offer public Masses. This would include those with COVID-19 or exposed to it, as well as those with upper respiratory or flu like symptoms or underlying medical conditions, the sick, the elderly, those who are living with or in the presence of any individual at risk, or those that still do not feel comfortable being in a public setting. When in doubt, out of charity for others, please stay home.

Weekday Masses
Beginning Monday, June 22, the weekday Mass will be offered at 12:10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The 7:30 a.m. Mass is suspended for July and August and will return in the Fall. Please note that all Novenas after the daily Masses are suspended, to encourage people not to congregate 
for longer than is necessary.

Weekend Mass Schedule
Beginning Saturday, June 27, the Sunday Mass schedule will be as follows:
•     Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
•     Sunday at 8:00 a.m.; 10:00 a.m.; and 12:00 p.m.

Confessions
Confessions will be heard Monday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Confessions may be heard up near the altar where physical distancing can be maintained, instead of in the confessional.

Face Masks Requirements
You are required to wear face masks for the entirety of Mass. If you choose to wear protective gloves, they must be removed prior to receiving Communion on the hand. Also, we will ask everyone to use hand sanitizer prior to entering the church. Dispensers are at the entrance to the church.

Liturgical Ministers
Only the priest, lectors/readers, Eucharistic minister and an altar server will be in the sanctuary and serving during Mass.  Singing will be temporarily suspended at this time, as singing can increase the risk of the spread of the virus. We will only have one cantor and the Director of Music will play organ music during the liturgy. There will be no choir at the present time.

Hymnals
All Hymnals have been removed from the pews. Sunday Readings can be found at www.usccb.org. You may use your electronic device to access during Mass.

Seating
Given the new occupancy restrictions, we are able to accommodate 100 parishioners per Mass. You do not need to sign up to come to Mass. You may just show up at the Mass you wish to attend. We do not anticipate having more than 100 people attend any one of the scheduled Masses.

When arriving at church, please keep physically distanced from other households as you enter. Please allow extra time to be seated. We have blocked off every other pew and have marked the pews with tape to indicate 6 feet of distance. Families may sit together in a single pew. Please do not congregate by the entrance before or after Masses. Priests and lay ministers will be available to 
greet you after Mass outside of the church, weather permitting.

Communion
All Catholics present who are in a state of grace are invited to receive Communion.

Those who have health concerns and do not wish to receive sacramental Communion may make an  Act  of  Spiritual  Communion.*  Even  if  you  are  not  receiving  Communion,  you  may  come forward to receive a blessing, to avoid having other people in the pew climb over you to get out. There will be two ministers in the center aisle distributing the host. There will not be ministers distributing the host at the side aisles, and we will not distribute the chalice with the Precious Blood.

When you approach for Communion, please remain six feet from others in the line and from the minister. When it is your time to receive, keep your mask on and remain six feet away from the minister  while  they  show  the  Host  and  say,  The  Body  of  Christ.  After  you  respond,  
Amen, approach the minister.

Place one hand under the other while keeping  your fingers together, making “a throne for the King,” as St. Cyril of Jerusalem says. Receive the Host in your hand, then step six feet away from the minister. Then carefully loosen your facial covering (or mask by an ear loop), consume the
Host, and replace the facial covering. If the ministers accidentally touch anyone’s hand, they will immediately disinfect their own hands.

Those  who  wish  to  receive  Communion  on  the  tongue  are  asked  to  wait  until  the  end  of Communion  to  help  us  accommodate  this  preference.  The  Centers  for  Disease  Control  have recommended against receiving on the tongue; but more importantly, out of love for our 
brothers and sisters, and out of kind concern for the vulnerable and our sacred ministers, those who normally receive  on  the  tongue  are  respectfully asked  to  consider  receiving in  the  hand  as  a  temporary measure. It is a legitimate practice attested to in our Catholic Tradition 
since the ancient Church. The ministers will immediately disinfect their hands after each communicant who receives on the tongue, even if no physical contact is made.

Collection
Collection baskets on long handles will be passed by the ushers as usual. Please avoid touching the basket when you make your offering. We encourage you to sign up for online giving at Faith Direct by visiting faith.direct/DC90  or texting “Enroll” or a dollar amount to 703-936-2788.

Dismissal
At the conclusion of Mass, please keep physically distanced from other households as you leave. After everyone has exited the church, we will be sanitizing all the pews and seating areas, common area surfaces and restroom common surface areas.

Please be patient with us in implementing this plan and understand that we will make any changes deemed necessary to assure the safety of those attending, while also recognizing the importance of making the sacraments available.

May the peace of the Risen Lord be with you!

God bless,

Reverend Monsignor Charles V. Antonicelli
Pastor

*Act of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at 
least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if you were already there, and I unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
(Saint Alphonsus Liguori)

To keep up with the latest COVID-19 resources and information from the Archdiocese of Washington, click here.


PASTOR'S NOTE

July 12, 2020
 
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
 
In the Gospel for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Matthew 13:1-23), Jesus speaks of the sower and the seeds. The sower, who is God, generously spreads the seed, the word of God, and it falls on different types of ground. Jesus explains to his disciples the meaning of this parable: “The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” At different times in our lives we might experience each one of these types of “grounds” on which the word of God falls. The challenge for each of us is to cultivate our lives so that we become the “rich soil” to receive God’s word and bear fruit. Please know of my prayers for you and your loved ones. I look forward to seeing you when you are able to return to church. In the meantime, stay safe.
 
God bless,
Father Charles


MARYLAND'S CATHOLIC BISHOPS ISSUE LETTER ON RACIAL JUSTICE
To read the letter issued by Maryland's Catholic Bishops, click here.


ST. PATRICK FELLOWSHIP GROUP

The St. Patrick Fellowship Group now meets online and by phone for scripture discussion, group prayer and social events. We would love to have you join us! For more information, please email stpatsfellowshipdc@gmail.com. All are welcome.