I’d like to update everyone as to what has happened within the three parishes in our Grouping and where we are headed over the next two months.  Since Bishop Zubik closed our buildings to the public back in March, and with associated significant drop in revenue, I was forced to lay off most of our staff, while continuing to pay their benefits, while I applied for a PPP Loan through the Small Business Administration for each of our three parishes.  While our parishes are in good shape when the cash is flowing, when the cash doesn’t flow everything becomes an expense.  I want to thank you, who, over the past six weeks, have been able to continue to contribute financially to the parish, whether through online giving or by mailing in or dropping off your envelopes.  Through your generosity we have been able to continue to pay our bills such as utilities as well as the benefits for our employees.
 
Over the past week, we have learned, one by one, the good news that each of our PPP Loans have been approved.  As a result, beginning Monday, May 11, our employees will be brought back to full employment for the next 60 days, with the loans paying their salaries.  During the next 60 days, it will be great to be fully staffed again.  While some will be able to work from home, Faith Formation, for example, will be working on lesson plans for the Fall, and maintenance department will be cleaning and repairing our buildings so that everything will be ready when we are able to gather again.
 
One thing that continues is the timeline for the merger of our three parishes into one new parish at the beginning of July.  We were fortunate to have been able to conduct the three public assemblies at each of our parishes in early March.  These assemblies allowed us—primarily me and the members of the interim Pastoral Council—to communicate with you our vision for the future of our three parishes, as well as solicit your feedback.  Over the past six weeks, I have been able to complete the documents needed to continue the merger process.  One of the documents that I sent to the bishop contained the top five names which you voted on in late January.  You might remember the results were: 

1. Christ, the Divine Healer
2. John XXIII,
3. St. Faustina,
4. St. Veronica, and
5. St. Rose of Lima

On the weekend of May 30-31, Bishop Zubik will formally announce the merger of our three parishes into one new parish as well as the new name (which he will likely choose from our list) and the number of clergy that will be assigned to the new parish.  From that announcement we will be able to finalize the number of Masses we will celebrate as well as the staffing requirements which we will need.  The new parish will begin to operate in July.
 
At this time it’s impossible to know when we will be able to open for public Masses again.  We fall under the governor’s orders for public gatherings, which currently stands at 10 people or less.  Moving to the yellow phase would mean being able to have gatherings of 25 people or less.  Your safety is our number one priority in re-opening.  At the present time the diocese is developing a cleaning protocol for our buildings, which we will follow when we are able to open again.
 
Again, I thank you for your continued support of our parishes through these very trying times.