Indiana Bishops Extend Mass Dispensation
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church,
Peace be with you! I first want to thank all those who have not been able to return to Mass due to being vulnerable in their health, age or circumstances of life and yet have been live streaming with us over the past several months! Each time I set up the livestream, I think of you and the challenges of not being able to attend Mass in person, missing the gathering of the faithful and not being able to receive the Eucharist. Our prayers are with you! Please let me know if you would like the Eucharist brought to you by myself, Deacon Dave or an Extraordinary Minister.
I would also like to thank all those who have been able to return to daily and Sunday Mass and have been a bright light in the midst of the pandemic challenges. As our pews have filled back up (with social distancing), it has been very life giving for us all to gather and celebrate the Holy Mass as a community of faith. For some of you, this has been a tough discernment. Thank you for trusting Our Lord and for trusting us as we seek to provide a safe, clean and healthy environment for worship.
For those who may be discerning whether it's time to come back to Mass and/or Confession, please be assured of our prayers for you as you make this decision. As I have been out in the community over the past months, it seems to me that our church is one of the safest places one can be as we are sanitizing every place that people have sat or touched after each Mass, masks are available and worn and we are doing a good job of social distancing in pews, the communion line and entering and exiting Mass. I have heard some concern about the end of Mass exiting and people sometimes gathering closer than 6 foot distance. For those who are concerned about this, please feel free to stay after a few minutes to pray and let the crowds thin out before you leave. This will give you more space and comfort.
Since we are continuing to receive people back to Mass, we are filling up the church, with social distancing. I would ask that if you are living life together within families or friendships that you sit together so we can fill in more closely in those pews. Also, the 8 am Mass is a bit lighter as is the 7 pm Mass... you may consider these Masses. If you are uncomfortable with attending a Sunday Mass due to the number of people, perhaps you can join us for a weekday 12:10 pm Mass, where we have plenty of space for more people, we are only at one quarter or less capacity for daily Masses.
Finally, if you have just slipped into the habit of not going to Mass and are not in a vulnerable circumstance, please come join us this Sunday! We welcome you back with open arms.... or at least open smiles! We all need the grace of the Eucharist and Reconciliation to sustain us, fortify us and bind us closer to Jesus Christ. May God bless us all in this time of trial, especially those who are suffering from isolation, fear or illness of mind body or spirit.
Read the Indiana Bishop's Statement here: archindy.org/criterion/local/2020/10-23/dispensation.html
With a Father's Love,
Father Rick Nagel
Peace be with you! I first want to thank all those who have not been able to return to Mass due to being vulnerable in their health, age or circumstances of life and yet have been live streaming with us over the past several months! Each time I set up the livestream, I think of you and the challenges of not being able to attend Mass in person, missing the gathering of the faithful and not being able to receive the Eucharist. Our prayers are with you! Please let me know if you would like the Eucharist brought to you by myself, Deacon Dave or an Extraordinary Minister.
I would also like to thank all those who have been able to return to daily and Sunday Mass and have been a bright light in the midst of the pandemic challenges. As our pews have filled back up (with social distancing), it has been very life giving for us all to gather and celebrate the Holy Mass as a community of faith. For some of you, this has been a tough discernment. Thank you for trusting Our Lord and for trusting us as we seek to provide a safe, clean and healthy environment for worship.
For those who may be discerning whether it's time to come back to Mass and/or Confession, please be assured of our prayers for you as you make this decision. As I have been out in the community over the past months, it seems to me that our church is one of the safest places one can be as we are sanitizing every place that people have sat or touched after each Mass, masks are available and worn and we are doing a good job of social distancing in pews, the communion line and entering and exiting Mass. I have heard some concern about the end of Mass exiting and people sometimes gathering closer than 6 foot distance. For those who are concerned about this, please feel free to stay after a few minutes to pray and let the crowds thin out before you leave. This will give you more space and comfort.
Since we are continuing to receive people back to Mass, we are filling up the church, with social distancing. I would ask that if you are living life together within families or friendships that you sit together so we can fill in more closely in those pews. Also, the 8 am Mass is a bit lighter as is the 7 pm Mass... you may consider these Masses. If you are uncomfortable with attending a Sunday Mass due to the number of people, perhaps you can join us for a weekday 12:10 pm Mass, where we have plenty of space for more people, we are only at one quarter or less capacity for daily Masses.
Finally, if you have just slipped into the habit of not going to Mass and are not in a vulnerable circumstance, please come join us this Sunday! We welcome you back with open arms.... or at least open smiles! We all need the grace of the Eucharist and Reconciliation to sustain us, fortify us and bind us closer to Jesus Christ. May God bless us all in this time of trial, especially those who are suffering from isolation, fear or illness of mind body or spirit.
Read the Indiana Bishop's Statement here: archindy.org/criterion/local/2020/10-23/dispensation.html
With a Father's Love,
Father Rick Nagel