Mass Information Update

This weekend the Bishop has given permission for masses to be celebrated in those churches who have met the diocesan requirements. Our parish staffs have met and should have completed the necessary paperwork for us to reopen this coming weekend, June 6-7. This will not be church as we knew it. Seating capacity is limited to no more than 25% of the church’s capacity and the social distancing requirement of 6′. This will give us approximately 64 spaces at St. Mary, 68 spaces at St. Rita’s (using the hall), and 62 spaces at Holy Trinity. Seating will be on a first come first serve basis. The ushers will be counting as you enter the church and they will seat you in a pew (it may not be your favorite pew). The pews will be marked (6′ spacing) as to where you are to sit. A family can sit together since you have been sheltered in place at home. Everyone should enter through the main doors of the church. There will be a basket in the churches to place your contribution since ushers will not be taking up during the collection time. The wearing of a mask is REQUIRED for entrance. We are required to remove all the Breaking Bread books from the pews.

Please note that there will be 3 weekend masses at this time because we are required to disinfect the church after each mass. The mass schedule will be: 4:00 pm – Saturday – St Rita. 9:00 am – Holy Trinity, 11:00 am – St. Mary. There will NOT be a 6:00pm Mass on Saturday night at St. Mary. We do not have the staff to disinfect the church as required in order to open for the 11:00am on Sunday. As in the past few weeks, Holy Communion will be available at the end of Mass for those who wish to receive. Let those attending Mass leave the church before entering for the reception of Holy Communion. Please follow the distancing lines on the floor of the Church. There will be NO communion service at 9:00am at St. Mary.

Weekday masses will resume on Tuesday June 9 as follows:
St. Mary Church – Tuesday through Friday – 7:30am
St. Rita – Tuesday, Thursday – 8:00am
Holy Trinity – Wednesday, Friday – 9:00am

Masks will be required for daily mass as well as social distancing in the pews and communion lines.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE DISPENSATION FROM THE OBLIGATION TO ATTEND MASS ON SUNDAYS AND HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION REMAINS IN EFFECT. It is best and wise that if you are in a high risk group, have underlying medical conditions, not feeling well, or have any anxiety about attending that you stay home and watch mass via technology.

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The diocese of Springfield has created a unique solution to provide parishes an online giving tool for the offertory collection. No parish website is required and every parish is given a unique web link to their own donation page. There is NO cost for the parish to enroll in utilizing this benefit and ALL funds will be directed to each parish, as designated. Each parish will receive the online gifts contributed to their donation page and we will receive the names of the generous stewards who are offering their support.

The benefits to the donor are many: provides the comfort knowing you are helping support the parish during this challenging time, offers flexible donation options, data is fully protected and secure through the diocese, all information remains secure and private, NO cost to enroll, and 100% of your contributions stays with our parish. You can access our parish page at:
https://parishgiving.dio.org/stmarytaylorville

Notice: Please see Dio.org website for diocesan coronavirus (covid-19) updates.
Also, please note that all public celebrations of weekday and weekend masses have been suspended until further notice.

As you can imagine, the cancellation of all public masses greatly affects the finances of our three parishes. To go without weekly parish collections will greatly impact our ability to meet ongoing financial obligations. We still have payroll for our employees and bills to pay. PLEASE send in your weekly contributions to the parish via mail, stopping by the office or by using ACH.

If you have not signed up for ACH you can do so by calling the parish office or school office. ACH allows your bank to issue your parish contribution electronically. These are very difficult times for all of us. Let us continue to be united in prayer.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!

O Mary,
you always brighten our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the Cross, took part in Jesus’ pain while remaining steadfast in faith.
O loving Mother,
you know what we need,
and we are confident you will provide for us as at Cana in Galilee.
Intercede for us with your Son Jesus,
the Divine Physician,
for those who have fallen ill,
for those who are vulnerable,
and for those who have died. Intercede also for those charged with protecting the health and safety of others and for those who are tending to the sick and seeking a cure.
Help us, O Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who took upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows,
so as to lead us, through the Cross,
to the glory of the Resurrection. Amen.
Under thy protection we seek refuge, O Holy Mother of God.
In our needs, despise not our petitions, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.