Masses will resume on May 30, 2020

Dear Holy Ghost Parishioners,
 
I am writing to inform you that we are planning to begin offering public Masses here at Holy Ghost on Pentecost – the Parish Feast of the Holy Ghost  Saturday, May 30.  Our parish staff 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. 
 
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.
 
Weekend Mass Schedule Beginning May 30, the weekend Mass schedule will be as follows with  ALL MASSES at Holy Ghost Church (  St. Francis de Sales Chapel will remain closed at this time): 
 

•  Saturday at 5:00 p.m. – New Time!!
•  Sunday at 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.  

 
 
Weekday Masses 
Beginning June 1, the weekday Masses will be offered at 8:30 a.m. 
 
Confessions
Confessions will be heard ½ hour before the 5:00 p.m. and 10:30 a.m. Mass where social distancing can be maintained in the cry room.
 
Face  Masks Requirements
You are required to wear face masks (please bring a mask with you) for the entirety of Mass.  If you choose to wear protective gloves, they must be removed prior to receiving Communion on the hand.  We will also ask everyone to use hand sanitizer prior to entering the church, so please bring some with you.
 
Liturgical Ministers
Only the priests and deacon will be in the sanctuary and serving during Mass.  No altar servers will be serving Mass at this time.
 
Missalettes All Hymnals and Missalettes 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 only able to accommodate roughly 60 parishioners per Mass.  We may reevaluate how many Masses we can offer based on response.
 
When arriving at church, please keep socially distanced from other households as you enter.   Please allow extra time to be seated and please understand that attendees will not choose where they sit.  Please remain in your vehicles until the doors open to enter the church and please do not congregate by the entrance before or after Masses.
 
Communion
All Catholics present who are in a state of grace are invited to receive Communion at this time.
 
Those who have health concerns and do not wish to receive sacramental Communion may make an Act of Spiritual Communion which will be led after the distribution of Communion.
 
Those who will not receive communion should not come forward with hands crossed for a blessing; there is a blessing for everyone at the end of Mass.
 
Children who will not receive communion but who are old enough to remain quietly in their seat should do so, and not get in the line for Communion.
 
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 he shows the Host and says, 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 minister accidentally touches anyone’s hand, he will immediately disinfect his 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.  Although each person retains the right to receive on the tongue, the Centers for Disease Control have recommended against it; 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 minister will immediately disinfect his hands after each communicant who receives on the tongue, even if no physical contact is made.
 
Offertory Collection The Offertory collection baskets will not be passed but will be available for contributions in vestibule.   Online Giving is another option available by logging on to our website at  www.holyghostissue.org  and clicking of the Donation/Online Giving tab.  Contributions can be done on as a one-time donation or scheduled for weekly or monthly automatic donations. 
 
Dismissal
At the conclusion of Mass, the ushers will dismiss rows beginning from the back to the front of the church. As you go to your car, please keep socially distanced from other households as you leave.  After the dismissal of the last pew, 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 Christ be with you!
 
In Christ,
Rev Robert W. Golas
Pastor

 

ONLINE GIVING NOW AVAILABLE

Online Giving can be done as a one time payment or set up to continue payments either once a week, once a month, etc. 

 

• ONLINE GIVING IS A WAY TO USE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT, DEBIT CARD OR CREDIT CARD TO MAKE DONATIONS/CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CHURCH OVER THE WEBSITE.
• ALL CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE CREDITED TO YOUR YEAR END STATEMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS.
• YOU WILL RECEIVE A RECEIPT BY EMAIL, ONCE YOU MAKE A DONATION. 
• THE CHURCH ALSO RECEIVES NOTIFICATION EACH TIME A DONATION IS MADE. 
• PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT ALL DONATIONS ARE DONE SAFELY.
• YOU MAY CLICK THE LINK BELOW OR GO TO DONATE AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE.

 
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED GENEROSITY TO HOLY GHOST CHURCH!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW

We invite you to visit these pages and share the resources provided to pray for each other and stay connected to our faith during this time of social distancing.

https://catholiccurrent.org/covid19/

http://www.usccb.org/about/communications/usccb-president-reflection-and-prayer-during-coronavirus.cfm