Dear Parishioners,
School begins for Stella Maris students next Tuesday, September 8. The weekly school Mass at the Cathedral for Holy Rosary campus students will begin Wednesday, September 16 at 8 AM. Mass will continue to be held Wednesdays at 8 AM whenever school is in session.
You will notice some things will be different about the school Mass from years past and there are a few things we are asking our parishioners to do to maintain distance between students and parishioners. When entering the Cathedral for the school Mass, please use only the main doors. The Tower entrance doors will be reserved specifically for the use of students and teachers for Wednesday morning Mass. Secondly, we are asking parishioners to sit in the last 10 pews only. There will be signs that clearly mark where students sit and where parishioners sit. Additionally, students will leave via the Tower door immediately after they have received Holy Communion. Finally, you will notice that there will be less students present at Mass each Wednesday. Students at the Holy Rosary campus are being grouped in different cohorts and they will not be spending time or sharing space with students from the other cohorts. In case of an unfortunate instance of someone from the school community being diagnosed with coronavirus, this greatly minimizes the number of others in the school being exposed and needing to quarantine.
As with all Masses, we ask that everyone continue to wear a face mask, maintain a distance of 6 feet from those not in your own household, sanitize your hands frequently (including immediately before taking communion), and stay home if you are ill.
Amidst recent turmoil, we rejoice that school can begin again, knowing the importance of community in all of our lives, especially for our students. Thank you for exemplifying Christian generosity, for we as Catholics know the importance of embracing changes for the sake of our neighbor.
-Fr. Tony