Update for Reopening

Dear Parishioners:

Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, has granted us permission to begin the gradual re-opening of public masses! For now, masses will be limited to 25% capacity across the archdiocese for each parish.

However, there is no obligation to attend Sunday mass or holy days in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston at this time. You are reminded to follow CDC recommendations regarding your own health. If you fall into an "at risk" category, or you are uncomfortable being in public please stay home and join us for mass by Live Stream. 

The first public mass at St. Michael the Archangel will be the 5:00 PM vigil mass, on Saturday, May 9th and will be open to those parishioners who are 65 years and older.  We have had many requests to offer a mass for this age group who fear that they are most “at risk.”  Our Sunday schedule for masses will begin on May 10th, “Mother’s Day,” with 8:00am and 11:00am masses. 

Our Live Stream will remain available at 5:00pm Saturday and 8:00am on Sunday. Daily mass begins on Monday, May 11th and will be offered “ONLY” at 8:15 am, Monday-Friday.

Confessions will be available in the main sanctuary of the church on Saturday, 8:45am – 10:00am and on Tuesday evening 6:00pm – 7:00pm.  You must wear a mask and gloves.  Confession areas will be set up for social distancing. Your confession should not be over 10 minutes so we can clean the church.

Private prayer in the church will be available Monday – Friday from 12:00pm – 2:00pm. Social distancing will be required.

This is part of Phase 1 of our parish re-opening and we will have many new protocols that all parishioners must follow to attend mass. These procedures will be re-evaluated weekly. If you would like to attend mass, please read through these instructions thoroughly from our web site and Flock notes. 

Before You Arrive

• Wash your hands. 
• Face masks and gloves are required on our campus and for the duration of mass. The use of gloves will serve dual purposes as they will be a good reminder to refrain from touching  faces, eyes, hair etc., or added protection against coughing or sneezing and will help to keep surfaces clean. 
• The cry rooms, nursery, votive candles and meeting rooms are closed.
• The sacristies are not open to visitors at any time.
• Bring your own hand sanitizer.
• Please do not bring items that contain bleach into the sanctuary as this will damage the pews.

Arrival Procedures

• Masks and gloves should be worn as soon as you exit your vehicle.
• The church doors will be opened 30 minutes before mass.
• There will be no admittance in the church once mass begins.
• Everyone coming to mass must enter through the narthex glass doors and submit to a non-contact temperature check by a staff or team member.
• Social distancing and gathering in the narthex and church will be monitored.
• After your temperature check our parish staff will seat you similar to boarding an airplane. 
• The church will be seated to fill the open pews from front to back. 
• Every pew will be marked for seating with an “X” with blue tape and in-between the pews for social distancing. (6ft)
• You may share a pew with your household, but social distance is required between households (6ft). 
• There will be no seating or standing in the narthex, gathering space, aisles or cry room.
• Only one person will be allowed in each restroom at a time. Wash hands for 20 seconds before returning to your seat.
• The holy water fonts will remain empty.
• Devotional candles will not be available at this time.

Mass Procedures

• Masses will be conducted as you have seen on the Live Stream.
• There will be no altar servers, acolytes or choir.
• Parish staff will serve as ushers until further notice. 
• Please keep your face mask and gloves on for the duration of mass. 
• Communion will be distributed by priests only
• There is to be no physical contact at the sign of peace or hand holding during the Lord's Prayer.
• The gifts of Bread and Wine will not be processed.
• Baskets will not be passed during the offertory. You will be able to place your weekly gift in a basket in the Narthex before or after the Mass. We strongly encourage that you continue online giving through “Parish Soft.”
• Song sheets will be available for Mass. Pick one up as you enter the church and please bring the song sheet with you when you exit and place it in the designated box. 

Communion Procedures

• Cardinal DiNardo has mandated that Holy Communion not be offered on the tongue under any circumstance for the time being. 
• The Precious Blood will not be offered to the congregation.
• The clergy will wash their hands and use sanitizer before distributing Holy Communion.
• There will be a single Communion line in the center of each main aisle.
• The procedure for the procession to receive Communion will abide by the 6ft distancing between each person in line. . Parish staff will assist in ushering the pews in each section. 
• Facial masks and gloves must be worn in the Communion line.  The priests will not wear gloves to give Communion. It is very important that they do not touch the hands of the person receiving Communion. Wearing gloves will protect the priest and you.
• After the priest gives you Communion in your gloved hand please step to the side, remove your mask, consume the Eucharist, and then re-mask as you return to your pew.

Departure Procedures 

• You may not leave mass early or exit the church until after the final blessing.
• After the final blessing, parishioners must remain in their pew. 
• Pews will be dismissed in an orderly fashion starting in the rear of the church and then moving forward – much like exiting an airplane. 
• You must exit your pew when prompted. Private prayer is not available after masses to allow the church to be sanitized for the next mass. 
• Only the main narthex glass doors may be used for exiting after mass.
• You can drop your weekly offertory as you enter or depart. 
• Clergy will not greet or shake hands in the narthex.
• Please do not congregate outside but head directly to your vehicle to allow the next mass to start on time. Please dispose of your mask and gloves in the garbage at home.

Church Cleaning Procedures

• We will continue to implement cleanliness and sanitization practices, including disinfecting pews between every mass.
• Disinfecting bathrooms, door handles, and other frequently touched surfaces occur throughout the day and after each mass. 
• Parish staff will be required to wear facial masks, wash hands, and will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms.

The parish office will be open Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 12:00pm. All meetings, as well as organizational and ministerial activities remain suspended until further notice. 

 

Weddings and funerals will be scheduled as needed and must adhere to the above protocol. 

 

Additional information will be forthcoming on a weekly basis as well as plans for the celebration of allsacraments:  ie… Weddings, Baptisms, First Communions and Confirmations.) Please note that as we go forward, we will be announcing any changes that occur through our Live Stream and Flock Note. If you do not receive Flock Note please register through the website.

 

We are deeply grateful for your patience and cooperation as we begin these first steps of gathering for prayer and worship as family.  May God grant us His loving protection during this time of healing and transition.

St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us.

Fr. Wayne Wilkerson
Pastor