May 18, 2021
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The City of St. Louis has lifted the restrictions put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Archdiocese of St. Louis has left the responsibility to individual pastors regarding liturgical celebrations held inside their churches.
I ask that for the time being that we continue to practice social distancing and wearing masks while inside College Church. This comes after discussions with health care professionals and staff members here at the parish. As of Monday, May 17th, St. Louis City and County have a full vaccination rate of roughly 33%. The availability for children as young as 12 to receive the vaccine began around May 10th. This means a significant portion of the population is still not fully vaccinated. It seems prudent to ease our way into what we all desire: a return to normal.
I am not interested in inquiring about parishioners’ vaccine status, nor do I want us to police those coming through the doors. Going slow on lifting restrictions will enable us to lessen the risk for everyone. By the third weekend in June, children 12 and up will have had the opportunity to be fully vaccinated. The hope is that more adults will have reached that level as well. That is the tentative point when we may be able to re-evaluate our current policies.
In the meantime, we will have smaller measures scaled back to reflect the improving status. These changes will be communicated to the parish.
I want to thank you for your adaptability over the past year since we have resumed in-person liturgies. It has not been what any of us would have chosen, but your desire to celebrate together while remaining safe has been nothing short of spectacular.
God Bless and Happy Pentecost,
Fr. Dan
Directives for Liturgical Celebrations at St. Francis Xavier (College) Church
*The following are based upon the guidelines provided by Center for Disease Control and the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The directives reflect the particular needs and requirements of our parish community.
(As a reminder: we encourage anyone over 60 or with pre-existing medical conditions to continue participating via our livestream.)
Welcome Back: Help Us Keep Everyone Safe
It is wonderful for us to once again worship together as a parish community. This extended absence from gathering has been difficult for everyone. Yet this “fasting” was necessary for our good and that of the wider community. This very real sacrifice was a manifestation of our call to love God and our neighbor. We ask that this call to love remain as we slowly return to our liturgical celebrations. Please respect the guidelines as they are essential for the safety of all. This will feel strange and abnormal because it is. This is not the ideal way any of us would like to pray together. This is, however, our current situation and it will require that we be flexible and adaptable.
Before Mass
-All the entrances closest to Grand Ave will be open including the ground floor door which provides access to the elevator. The side entrance of Lindell Blvd, however, will not be open, nor will the door to the parish center.
-Parishioners are asked to follow SD as you enter the church: stay 6 ft apart & avoid congregating in the vestibule. This may require lining up on the steps/sidewalks outside of church. Entering church will function better if arrivals are staggered. Please consider coming early since last minute arrivals will not work.
-All participants will be required to wear face masks once you enter church. No one will be allowed in without one. There are no exceptions.
-Please be seated in every other pew in order to maintain social distancing.
During Mass
-We encourage everyone to participate in saying all the responses and singing the Mass parts.
-To avoid spread of the virus no hymnals will be provided. There will be bulletins to take home.
-Collection baskets will not passed among the congregation. They will be placed near the entrances to the church. Now is a good time, of course, to consider on-line giving if you do not do so already.
-For Communion, please form two lines to the front of the church, maintaining six feet between yourself and the person in front of you. Communion will be received only in the hand. We will not receive from the cup.
After Mass
-Dismissal will be staggered to respect SD. Ushers will dismiss parishioners (like a wedding). After exiting the church, please do not congregate on the steps. There can be no gatherings of any kind after Mass.
-Please know that after each and every liturgy pews and seats will be cleaned and disinfected.
