Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Parish Clergy, staff and leaders have been meeting over the past weeks and will continue to do so to plan for the reopening of our parish for Mass. We await the celebration of indoor Masses and instructions from the Archdiocese and Montgomery County.

Here are some points to keep in mind:

The dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation issued on March 12, 2020, is still in effect until further notice. Participation through live streaming of the Masses will be available during Sunday Masses at 10:00AM English and 1:00PM Spanish through Facebook.

The Church’s capacity is limited to 100 because of social distancing guidelines.

Daily Mass will be celebrated at 8:00AM and Noon in English on weekdays.

On Saturdays the Mass will be celebrated at 8:00AM

Saturday's Vigil Masses will be celebrated at 4:00PM in English and 6:00PM in Spanish.

Sunday's Masses will be celebrated at 8:00AM and 10:00AM in English. Sunday Mass will be celebrated at 1:00PM in Spanish.

This schedule is for the beginning of our reopening. Additional Masses may be added as the need arises and as priests are available.

To attend Mass, we will offer a ticketing system. You will be able to reserve your seats for yourself and family members via Sign Up Genius (signupgenius.com). When you enter, Mass please show your printed ticket or show your confirmation on your smart phone to the ushers. The link to sign up for Mass will be available once indoor Mass celebrations resume.

If you are not able to access the Internet to register on-line, you may call the rectory office at 301-589-1155 so that Carmen or Cindy can help you register (Monday-Friday from 8:30AM to 3:00PM.) You may always leave a message, and we will return your call within the next business day.  An usher or minister of hospitality will have your names on a list and let you in.
 
Everyone who attends Mass must wear a mask. The use of the mask will be required at all times during the celebration of the Mass, as well as when you enter and exit the church.   Children younger than 2 years old will not be required to wear the mask.

The Family Room will not be available in the beginning of reopening because of the difficulty of maintaining social distance. You may bring your own hand sanitizer when you attend Mass.

Our Communion procession will change. We will begin from the last pew and process towards the altar.  Please follow the ushers’ instructions as they will help guide the procession.  As always, 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, which will be led by the celebrant 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 pew should do so. 

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 mask by an ear loop, consume the Host, and replace the facial mask.

Please be patient at dismissal and follow the ushers’ instructions. We will be dismissed by rows to avoid crowding at the exits of the church.

As you begin to return to the Celebration of the Eucharist, we also invite you to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Reconciliation will continue to be celebrated on Saturdays from 2:45PM to 3:45PM. Please maintain social distance while wearing a face mask at all times.

Here are some links where examinations of conscience can be found.

Since handouts are no longer available, here are links to all of our forms.

• Please click here to register as a new parishioner
• Faith direct: Here is the link to sign up
• RCIA: Here are the links to the English and Spanish forms
• Catholic Standard: Here is the link
• El Pergonero: Here is the link
• Parish Times: Here is the link

 
Please know that you and your families are in our daily prayers, and we pray that soon we will all be together again to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries.

Monsignor Tolentino