Archbishop Schnurr and the Ohio Bishops Conference announced on Monday March 16 that effective immediately, all parishes are to cease the public celebration of all Masses and liturgies. A dispensation from the Sunday obligation has been granted through Easter Sunday. There is no doubt that this decision was not taken lightly and speaks to the seriousness of the current COVID-19, Corona-virus outbreak. My heart breaks at the thought of not celebrating Holy Week and Easter together. However, I am writing to let you know how we are going to attempt to meet your spiritual needs during this trying period.
Holy Mass will be live streamed each day on the Saints Peter and Paul Facebook account from Mary Our Mother Chapel in the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish Center. There are two ways to access the streamed Mass. If you have a Facebook account, log in and “LIKE” the Sts Peter and Paul Facebook page. Click on the live stream and when prompted, accept the prompt for notifications of live feeds on the page. If you do not have an account, simply go to the front page of the parish website (www.olshcatholic.church or www.ssppcatholic.church) or click here for instructions on how to access and watch Mass live streams. The streamed Mass schedule will be as follows:
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Streamed Weekend Masses
Saturday 4:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am
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Streamed Weekday Masses
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday 8:30 am
Thursday 6:00 pm
Friday 12 Noon
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To help with the celebration of Mass from home, we are creating a worship aid that will include music and prayers for Mass. Mass Worship Aides can be picked up beginning at noon on Thursday at the following locations:
| Sts Peter and Paul Locations
· Under courtyard shelter
· Outside office door during office hours |
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
· Under canopy of the main school entrance
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Booklets will be available 9 am – 8 pm. If you are home bound or are of a high-risk category, please call the parish office and we will send you a copy by mail.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered Saturday following the streamed 8:30 am Mass and on Thursday evening following the 6:00 pm Mass. Confessions will be heard drive up style in order to comply with the “social distance” regulation. The location will be at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and will be near the Main school entrance under the canopy. If multiple parishioners want to receive the sacrament, we will do a walking Confession to maintain confidentiality. Look for the cones guiding the flow of traffic and maintain distance to ensure a confidential atmosphere.
The Sacrament of the Sick or Anointing of the Sick will only be offered to any who are in critical need. For example, in hospital, serious surgery, or end of life situations. Once the outbreak is subsided, we will schedule a healing Mass. All other Sacraments are cancelled until further notice, unless a serious circumstance arises.
The St John Paul II Biblical Stations of the Cross will be streamed online each Friday at 7:00 pm. In conjunction with “Virtual Adoration.” Booklets will be available for you to pick up along with the Mass Worship Aides.
In an effort to protect our staff and comply with the State of Ohio’s recommendations, the office will be closed to walk-in traffic, but will still answer phones and emails. Beginning the week of Monday March 23, the office will also be closed on Tuesday and Thursday until further notice. Office hours beginning March 23 are: Monday and Wednesday, 9 am – 4 pm and Friday, 9 am – 12 Noon with limited staff.
Our Saint Vincent de Paul Society will still be working on a limited basis as we move through the next month. If you are one of the many who will not be able to work or will be limited in the number of hours due to the outbreak and you are in need of assistance, please feel free to call. SVdP is here for circumstances such as these.
Finally, further information will be shared through the website and Facebook as we get more direction from the Archbishop. Know that I will be praying for all of you and please pray for me as we journey through this spiritual desert. I look forward to the day when we are together again praising and singing the glory of God. Until then, let this moment as a spiritual reawakening to the power of the Eucharist and may our hearts be ever united with the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Saints Peter and Paul and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart…pray for us.
Sincerely Yours in Christ Jesus,
Reverend Matthew J. Robben
