I have received questions lately about access to sacraments during this time of pandemic. Here are some reminders: Baptisms are still being offered. We schedule one family at a time and clean the church before and after. But Baptisms are most certainly being done.
Confirmations are being scheduled for the fall. These will be done in small groups so that at least some limited family can attend. Those scheduled to be confirmed have received emails this past week. First Communions are also being scheduled; you should have received notification this past week as well.
Mass is being offered daily, and at all scheduled service times on the weekends. Some of you are coming to daily Mass, some to weekend Mass, and some are making choices to pause their attendance for now. Whatever decision you are making, it is yours to make, and we respect it. We have paused our homebound visits, in deference to the health of those we visit, and those who are visiting. If you know of someone who needs communion at home, please call and we will arrange a visit by our clergy.
Confessions (Sacrament of Reconciliation) are regularly offered on Saturday, from 3:30 to 4:30 PM at Saint Agnes Church, and on Monday, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at Saint Mary Church.
For those in need of the Sacrament of the Sick (anointing) we ask that you call the rectory to arrange for someone who is at home. If someone is in the hospital or nursing home, please have the hospital or nursing home call the rectory, as they need to know we are coming, and arrange for our visit. We cannot just arrive at the hospital or nursing home at this time and expect admittance. And yes, we are doing weddings!
All that we are doing requires thought, and preparation, and sensitivity so that all are safe, and helped to be at ease with all we are doing, and how we are doing it. Be assured no place is cleaner than our two churches, but we may be wearing the finish off the pews from the constant cleaning.
One final note, you may begin to hear about the upcoming merger of Christ the Redeemer Parish into Precious Blood Parish. Scheduled to happen in April of 2021, a committee from Precious Blood Parish and from Christ the Redeemer Parish will begin meeting soon to plan details of how this will be accomplished.