Dear Parishioners,
In light of the Health Emergency with COVID-19, and the Governor’s restriction of gatherings to be 250 people or less we would like to inform you of the following temporary changes here at Church of the Holy Family. It is our intention to obey these restrictions as good citizens and to do our part in reducing the threat posed by COVID-19.
First, Bishop Earl Boyea has given dispensation to all Catholics within the Diocese of Lansing from the grave obligation of attending Holy Mass on a Sunday. This applies to everybody and is particularly aimed at those groups most at risk from infection, including the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
As of the evening of Friday, March 13 all Non-Sacramental events at Holy Family Church and School have been temporarily suspended until further notice.
For Sacramental events, it is our intention to function as best we can within the parameters of the law. We are asking that all of us act prudently: monitor yourself and, if you have any concern about health, please stay at home. Please be conscious of the fact that our health decisions affect everyone we come in contact with each day.
- Sunday Eucharist Our weekend Mass schedule will continue as normal, with the important note that we will have to limit attendance to 225. The remaining 25 are to accommodate those who support the Mass through various roles.
- Weekday Liturgies will be celebrated, and limited
to attendance of 225:
- Monday through Saturday 8:00am
- Wednesday 5:30pm
- LIVE STREAM MASS. We will offer a live stream Mass Daily. Monday thru Saturday from the 8:00am Mass, as well a Sunday Mass. We will alternate between the 10am and Noon Liturgy. This Sunday, March 15 we will be streaming the 10am Mass. These live streams can be found on the Holy Family Facebook page.
- Touching: It is important that we greet one another at the beginning of Liturgy in a non-physical contact manner. We have suspended the Sign of Peace during the Mass.
- Communion: We are continuing with the suspension of the distribution of the Precious Blood until this crisis subsides. When receiving the Body of Christ, we strongly encourage everyone to receive Communion in the hand. (It is often difficult for those who distribute Communion on the tongue to avoid touching the tongue, reception of the Eucharist in the hand is the better way to avoid spreading anything.)
- Please stay home if you are not feeling well.
- We are suspending the use of the Holy Water until further notice. Holy Water is available for home use. It can be obtained through a Mass Captain from the sacristy’s Holy Water Reserve by bringing your own container
- Reconciliation: The scheduled penance service for Monday,
March 23 has been cancelled. However, we
will continue to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the regularly
scheduled times of:
- Wednesday 8:30am & 5:00pm
- Saturday 8:30am
- Sunday 9:30am & 11:30am
- Parish Office will operate at its normal Hours.
- If you need a priest for communion or an anointing because of the risk of imminent death, please call this number: (810) 356-3187.
Thank you in advance for your patience and please remember that we come together as a community of believers knowing God will be our strength and our comfort. Let us pray for our world as we together deal with this situation. In God we have Faith!
Your Pastor,
fjk