EveryBody Together FAQ
EveryBody Together
As I mentioned at Mass a few weeks ago, and wrote about in the bulletin this past weekend, Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski announced that he will be lifting the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days for the faithful of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis beginning on July 1. While we can certainly look at that from a technical side of things - the obligation is restored - I think it’s even more important that we understand the wider and more spiritual reason for this. As the world moves forward on a path of healing, we desire healing for our own community, our own Body of Christ here at St. Michael and in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. And part of that is being together - not just virtually and spiritually, but in person together, united as one around the Altar of the Lord.
Of course, all of us want to feel safe and welcome in returning to Mass, and so our parish will continue to carry out many of the same protocols as before, but with a few changes. For all of us, it will be important to remember that we are in many different places in how we address this worldwide challenge, and we need to respect that. Some may feel comfortable doing one thing, and others not so much. But the more we allow these approaches to divide us, the less we are able to realize the Body of Christ at St. Michael.
I’ve gathered a few frequently-asked questions to help address the changes beginning July 1, and I hope they will be helpful to you!
Frequently-Asked Questions
Which safety precautions are continuing?
As stated before, following the updated CDC guidance, the Archdiocesan mask mandate now only applies to those faithful who have not received vaccination against COVID-19. Masks are optional for those who are fully vaccinated, although if you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, please feel free to do so. It may even be encouraged to wear a mask during those more crowded Masses, such as the 10:00 am on Sunday.
We will continue to disinfect the pews after each Mass for the time being, and ask people to use the hand sanitizer available in the pews. We will also continue to leave the baskets for the offertory collection on the tables near the entrances of the church. The collection and offertory procession may return in the near future, but will remain as they are for the time being. The distribution of the Precious Blood during Holy Communion also remains prohibited by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops until further notice.
Will anything be changing?
Of course the biggest change beginning on July 1 will be the restoration of the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days, but there will be a few other changes based on updated CDC guidance and permission from the Archbishop.
We will continue to offer the Sign of Peace (albeit in a non-contact way), as we have for the last few weeks. Holy Water will be restored to the fonts at the entrances to the church for parishioners to bless themselves in remembrance of their baptism. We will also be returning our hymnals to the pews to assist parishioners in worship, although given the amount of books we sold during the pandemic, we may have to order more to stock the whole church! Please continue to bring your hymnals if you wish.
What about seating in the church?
One of the biggest changes will be the use of the social distancing markers in the pews. Beginning on July 1, we will be removing the markers from the center sections of the church, allowing all the pews to be used. The side sections of the church will remain as they are, with every other pew closed. The reason for this is that while we should continue to socially distance as has been recommended, it is perhaps possible that we can make more efficient use of our space than we have been. In the side sections, this is not as possible, so the markers will remain in place. Anyone is welcome to sit where they choose in the church - there are no “vaccinated/unvaccinated” sections or “mask/no mask” sections. However, some may feel more comfortable in the side sections. If you prefer this, please keep in mind that these will fill up quicker, so please arrive early to get the seat you wish. We will be evaluating how this works and make adjustments from there.
What if I’m not comfortable coming back to Mass? What if I have health concerns or am concerned for the health of my family members?
This past year has been a pretty intense one for many of us, and perhaps one of the scariest has been what we don’t know. All of us want to feel safe as we return to Sunday Mass, and we want to make every effort to provide an environment in which everyone feels safe. Those who are sick, homebound, immunocompromised, and gravely concerned for their health and the health of their family are still exempt from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, as stated in the Archbishop’s announcement. Actually, this has always been the case, even in more normal times! It is, however, important to be sincere and intellectually honest with ourselves, and if we don’t really fall into the categories described above, we should do our best to return to Mass. If you have questions, or are unsure of some of the safety measures in place at St. Michael, please feel free to ask. It’s always important to remember, Jesus understands our circumstances and knows our hearts.
What if I’m uncomfortable going to communion?
Even as some measures begin to loosen, our parish continues to observe several protocols around Holy Communion. Of course, the chalice of Precious Blood is still suspended for the time being. Additionally, all Eucharistic Ministers continue to sanitize their hands before distributing communion, and will continue to wear masks for the time being. Eucharistic Ministers will also use a small cloth dipped in isopropyl alcohol to sanitize their hands if contact is made with a communicant. The Communion Hosts in the ciboria remain covered during the consecration at the altar. If you are still uncomfortable receiving Communion, the parish offers the prayer for Spiritual Communion after the distribution of Communion in solidarity with those unable to receive for one reason or another, and I encourage you to pray along with us, asking Jesus for graces he wishes to give you.
Do I really have to go to Mass? Is it a sin to miss Mass?
We frequently talk about the Church as being a family, but what does that mean? When you become part of a family, you receive the many benefits that come with that, but you also receive some of the responsibility and family obligations. The same is true for the family of the Church. At baptism, when we were received into the family of the Church, we opened the doors to receiving the many spiritual gifts, forever belonging to that family, and entering the everlasting life of heaven. But we also received some responsibilities and obligations as well. It’s important to keep in mind - these are not obligations born out of a desire to fill seats, increase offertory, or waste time. These are the same kind of obligations as being a member of a family, and they are given by a God and our family, the Church, who loves us and wants us to be happy.
Of course, the obligation has been there for a long time. Even in the Book of Exodus, the Ten Commandments remind us to keep the Sabbath Day holy and dedicated to God. As Christians, we now celebrate the Sabbath on the day of the Lord’s Resurrection. This is now, both on the calendar and in the practice of our faith, the “first day of the week,” the day of new creation. The Catechism tells us very frankly, “The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.” (CCC 2181) Of course, Mass is so much more than an obligation - it’s an incredible gift, the gift of Jesus himself!
What about when I’m traveling?
Summer is busy time with vacationing, visiting with friends and family, and enjoying some relaxation out of town, which are all good things, but they don’t change our identity as members of the universal Church. We may be away from our parish, but in a world where the Church stretches from sea to shining sea and is present on every continent (even Antarctica, believe it or not!), the Mass is almost always accessible. One great resource for this is www.masstimes.org, which allows you to see the available Masses in the vicinity of any given area! Of course, if Mass is physically impossible and there’s nothing we can do, this wouldn’t be considered sinful, but it’s important to give it a good faith effort and plan it into our travel.
What about virtual Mass? I feel like I worship better from home.
One of the unique struggles in the return to normalcy is the movement from virtual back to in-person, whether for meetings, family gatherings, and even worship. St. Michael the Archangel was blessed to be ready with virtual Mass on YouTube on the first day of the shutdown. Many people were very grateful for the opportunity to “be at Mass” even if they couldn’t be there physically, and it was a consolation in an otherwise turbulent time. Our parish will continue to stream our Masses live for those who are homebound, in the hospital, or who cannot join us in person for the reasons stated above. At the same time, the streaming Mass is not a substitute for the Sunday Mass celebrated within a parish community. If we’re physically able to attend Mass in-person, we should try our utmost to do so.
