Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we continue to navigate the resumption of public Masses, we in the office at St. Pius are doing our best to communicate clearly and effectively. We use a database of emails that have either been on file with us since you registered as parishioners, or that you have provided to us through Flocknote. Email is the most efficient and cost-effective way for us to communicate. Sometimes, those email addresses are inaccurate or defunct. Unfortunately, we cannot know if an email address is no longer extant, or if it was entered incorrectly, or if someone has changed their preferred email account. With over 2300 families included in our database, we only know of contact information changes if the family notifies us directly. If you do not receive emails about events and sign-ups from St. Pius, please go to spxffld.flocknote.com or text SPXFFLD to 84576 to be added to our distribution lists. Sometimes, emails we send end up being sent to a spam folder. Please check to see if our communications have unintentionally been quarantined by your email server. We are all dealing with a situation not of our making, and we are all trying to respond to the best of our ability. There are bumps in the road, and with you, we are learning as we go. Your understanding and patience make a difference.
For the weekends of June 20-21 and June 27-28, there will be two Masses with open registrations – 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM on Sunday. Our other Masses on those weekends are for our First Communion students and their immediate families. We are required to limit the number of attendees at each Mass. In order to help our children receive the sacraments while observing all necessary health precautions, we have set aside time for them to come to Mass. We thank you for your understanding and for your prayers for our students. In July, we will be able to open all our weekend Masses for advance registration.
Please remember that the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday is suspended for the time being, meaning that you do not commit a sin by not attending Mass. This is a pastoral consideration extended by Bishop Caggiano due to the grave concern for the health and safety of all. Staying home, especially if you are more at-risk, is a good thing.
Please remember that we wear masks to protect one another, and we limit attendance both out of concern for safe social distancing and in obedience to our Diocesan guidelines. Those same Diocesan guidelines stipulate that the procession not come up the center aisle, that we suspend congregational singing, and that the priests may not greet people after Mass. Our health and safety precautions are taken so that everyone who comes to Mass can feel safe and confident. We know it is an odd experience, but following these guidelines is an act of charity toward our fellow parishioners.
Please remember that we continue to live-stream all of our Masses on our parish Facebook page and on our parish YouTube channel. Our chapel is open every day for prayer.
Peace,
Fr. Sam
