Happy, almost, Ascension!  

Following Guidelines for the Reopening of Masses with a Congregation by Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, St. Joseph the Worker Parish is preparing a cautious and gradual return of public Mass and other activities.  We are striving not to be the first parish reopened, but the safest when we do.  We intend to observe and to learn from the experience of parishes who are reopening sooner.  Starting on Sunday, June 7, 2020, a maximum of 50 healthy, pre-registered, individuals will be able to participate, in person, at select St. Joe’s Masses.  

Livestreams

Peripheries take precedence!  Ensuring that those who are sick, elderly or infirmed, young, caring for others, that those who cannot fit within numerical limits, as well as those curiously searching for faith online, have a joyful encounter with the Mass from home remains the priority.  Livestream Masses (Saturdays @5:30 p.m., and Sundays @9:30 a.m.) will continue! 

Volunteers

In order to reopen, we need volunteers.  If you are willing, in good health, and available, to assist with the sanitization of the church, which must occur after every Mass, on Sundays please contact Laura Carandang: pa.stjw@rcav.org

Who can attend?

Before registering yourself or your family, please be aware of the following directives by Archbishop Michael:  

    All those attending Mass do so at their own risk.  It is important for individuals 

    and families to take responsibility for protecting themselves and others.

a) The following must stay home for the sake of the wider community: 

• People with COVID-19 or who live with someone with COVID-19. 
• People who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. 
• The sick, including those with even the slightest symptoms or feelings of sickness, especially if with upper respiratory or flu-like symptoms. 
• Those who have recently travelled outside of Canada. 

b) The following are encouraged to stay home for the sake of the wider community: 

• People who live with someone with upper respiratory or flu-like symptoms.
• People, especially the elderly, with underlying or comprised medical conditions. 
• Family members who live with elderly people or those who are at risk
• Please be aware that church washrooms will be closed.  For this and other reasons, it is equally advisable that small children remain at home.

What will happen at Mass?

COVID-19 Masses with people will be brief and quiet.  With congregational singing discouraged, for fear of spreading droplets, there will be no music.  Families will be ushered to their pews, to the reception of communion, and to exit doors afterwards. All are invited to wear masks.  

Register

All are welcome to register for one Mass.  Once these spots have been filled, more Masses will be made available.  Priority placing will be given to those who have not had the opportunity to attend.   

Weekday Masses

Plans for the resumption of weekday Masses are developing.  Anticipate an announcement soon.  

Baptisms

Infant Baptisms outside of Mass resume in June.  Every effort will be made to ensure that baptisms are carried out in a safe manner.  The number of baptisms on a particular day, and witnesses, will be limited.  

Group Activities

Due to the need to ensure clean and sterile facilities, group activities and events may not resume for some time.  With St. Joseph the Worker School reopening, and that a safe and sanitized environment for children must be guaranteed, on June 1, the Parish Centre will be inaccessible to the Parish until July.     

Always with Us

On Ascension Sunday, Jesus says: “I am with you always”.  Christ is present to the lonely, to the anxious, and to the frustrated at home.  When measures to keep us apart appear difficult or unreasonable, our faith says God is near.   

I assure you that God has been preciously near to me, to the friars, and to our Parish staff throughout this pandemic.  Trusting the wisdom of competent authorities, especially in the Holy Spirit at work within institutional structures, we have deliberated and discerned with hope.  

I thank our Parish Pastoral Council, our Parish Finance Council, our Parish Liturgy Committee, and our Parish Education Committee, for the extra time and invaluable input that these bodies have given over the last two months.  And I could never thank you, the Parishioner, enough for the support and encouragement you have provided during this extraordinary period.  

May we, as a Parish community, always reach outward-first.  Let us proclaim the Gospel to all!  

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pierre Ducharme, OFM
Pastor