Over these last weeks and months, the virus has turned life in our three parishes topsy turvy. As we have begun to open, we are taking deliberate steps to make sure that we are as safe as possible by requiring face masks (for safety) and reservations at all Masses (to manage limited capacity), sanitizing our spaces after each Mass, and limiting occupancy to 25 percent. It has been a step-by-step process, and we will continue to evaluate our Mass schedule, numbers of people, and the reservation system week-to-week according to what we need. We will also continue to live stream both a weekend Mass and a weekday Mass for those unable to gather at this time.
In addition, as we become St. John XXIII Parish on July 1, we will do so with two priests. As I mentioned in each of our parish assemblies in March, going from three priests to two priests would mean changes to our schedule—namely, that we would no longer be able to celebrate regularly scheduled Masses at St. Isaac, which will be the case. St. Isaac will remain open to celebrate weddings and funerals.
Also, at the parish assemblies I gave my word that we would continue to minister to St. Isaac parishioners, regardless of whether there were regularly scheduled Masses at St. Isaac. Fr. Bud and I are committed to continuing to do this, and we will continue to evaluate how we do this with our Pastoral Council. With this in mind I would like to gather St. Isaac Parishioners for a Mass in the St. Isaac parking lot on Saturday, July 18, at 6:00 pm, which is the closest weekend to the anniversary of the dedication of St. Isaac church building on July 20, 1950. While we won’t be able to celebrate together with food, like I had originally hoped, we will be able to gather to share the most important food, Jesus’ Eucharist, which gives us strength on our journey.