Cathedral to resume public Masses on Wednesday, June 10 at 6:30 a.m.
A message from Monsignor Rupert
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:1-2
My Dear Friends,
On behalf of Bishop Bambera, Monsignor Muldowney, Father Walsh, and the Cathedral staff, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you home to your Cathedral! Even though we have been apart for over ten weeks, our Cathedral family was in my thoughts and prayers each day, especially during the holy sacrifice of the Mass. I continue to beseech Our Lord to protect and watch over all of you, most especially those whose physical and emotional health has been negatively impacted by the pandemic.
I thank in a special way all those faithful parishioners and friends who have continued to support financially our Cathedral. Your generous monetary contributions have allowed us to meet payroll commitments for staff members who have continued to work to ensure the daily operations of the Cathedral and to pay utility and other monthly bills. For this, I am truly grateful.
As the global community grapples with the coronavirus and all that it entails, we continue to be called upon to make changes, adjustments, and sacrifices to maintain the health and wellbeing of ourselves and one another. I ask for your patience and understanding as we gradually reopen our Cathedral and move forward in the safest way possible.
To that end, I offer the following updates:
· The Cathedral Church will close at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 4 and will remain closed to the public until Wednesday, June 10. During this time, the interior will be professionally cleaned and sanitized and Cathedral Staff will prepare the church for reopening.
· The Cathedral will resume public Masses beginning on Wednesday, June 10 at 6:30 a.m.
· The Cathedral has adjusted its Mass and confession schedule to allow
adequate time for the cleaning and disinfecting of the church following each gathering. (This is subject to change moving forward as the health crisis evolves)
The new schedule is:
o Daily Mass Monday to Friday: 6:30 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. (The 12:10 p.m. Mass will also be live streamed across our social media channels, made available on our website, and broadcast on CTV)
o Daily Mass Saturday: 6:30 a.m.
o Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 p.m. (The 4:00 p.m. Mass will also be live streamed across our social media channels, made available on our website, and broadcast on CTV)
o Sunday Mass: 11:00 a.m.
o Confession will be heard on Saturday, June 13 and Saturday, June 20 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Additional Saturday dates will be announced in the coming weeks)
· Attendance at any Mass requires a reservation.
o Reservations may be made by contacting the Parish Office at 570.344.7231, ext. 101 or via the online reservation system on www.stpeterscathedral.org.
o When contacting the Parish Office by phone, the automated voice messaging system will answer your call. Please leave your name, the names of those in your household who will attend Mass with you (if applicable), and your contact information.
o All reservations made by phone or via the website will be confirmed by a member of the Cathedral Parish Staff.
o Attendance at weekend Mass is limited to once per month for each individual or household unit.
o Attendance at daily Mass is not limited to once per month at this time.
The Church will open 30 minutes before Mass and 10 minutes before confession.
· To maintain proper social distancing standards (6ft. apart), the Cathedral Church has reduced its maximum capacity to 70 persons.
o Social distancing must be maintained by everyone when present in the Church. Ministers of Hospitality will be available should you need assistance but they will be practicing social distancing as well.
o Remain attentive to the social distancing floor markers as well as other signage which will direct you in your actions while in the Church.
· A face mask or covering is required to be worn when you are in the church. The mask may be removed only for the consumption of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
· The dispensation to attend Mass continues. You are encouraged to watch the Mass from the safety of your home, especially if you are in an increased age group (60+), have an illness which increases your risk, or have symptoms of the virus.
In the Pastoral Letter I issued in March, I implored you to cling to the love that God has for each of us. The radiance of God’s love is stronger and more life-giving than anything our earthly existence will ever experience. I once again ask for your patience as we continue to navigate this uncharted territory.
Stay tuned to our social media channels and website for updated information. Please do not hesitate to contact the Parish Office with any questions or concerns you may have. I assure you of my prayers for you, your family and loved ones, and our beloved Cathedral.
With every blessing,
Monsignor Dale R. Rupert
Pastor, Cathedral of Saint Peter