Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Holy Spirit & Sacred Heart  Covid-19 Guidelines

Dear People of God at Sutherland and Hershey,

With everyone’s safety and protection from Covid-19 a priority, the following guidelines are being

implemented beginning May 30th, 2020 by West Central District Health, The State of Nebraska, and The

Grand Island Diocese. These guidelines can be updated or changed if necessary.

Some counties in the Grand Island Diocese have experienced more Covid-19 cases than others. Therefore,

those churches in counties reporting few or no positive Covid19 cases opened churches since May 4^th and those counties that are experiencing more outbreaks are asked to wait until May 30, 2020. Holy Spirit, and Sutherland are two of those parishes that are opening only on May 30^th.

Bishop is asking people not to travel to another town to attend mass. At this time the dispensation from

the Sunday and Holy Day Obligation still remains in force.

We are all looking forward to celebrating Mass together as a community. However, the safety and health

needs of our parish family, especially those most vulnerable must be considered regarding the opening of

our doors at Holy Spirit Church. Please follow the State guidelines. If you are sick, please stay home. If

you have a health condition and have a higher risk of contracting Covid-19, please consider attending one

of the video masses from Sutherland or Holy Spirit

The following mass times will be available at Holy Spirit and Sutherland. This change is to allow travel time for the priest and allow cleaning of the church. Mass times will return to their regular schedules after the Covid-19 emergency.

Holy Spirit Church

Saturday 5:00p.m. (Livestreamed on Facebook and delayed viewing on YouTube)

Note: Once we install our video system in the church our live streaming will be available on the YouTube and the same video will be posted soon thereafter on the Facebook. We will let you know when we are there.

Sunday 7:30a.m. (no music), and 11:00a.m. (Live Streamed)

 

Sutherland masses:  Wednesday 5:15 pm, Saturday 7:00p.m. (No rosary or music, No livestream),

Sunday 9:00 a.m. (Live on Facebook)

 

Household pods (family under one roof) – Each household will need to sit together as group. This is to

assure the social distance of 6 feet between each household, every other pew will be marked with a 6-

foot spacing in the middle to separate from other households. Parishioners will be encouraged to bring

their own rosaries and song books. Members of each household are to wear mask before, during, and after mass. The young children will need to stay with their parents and are not allowed to use restroom without a parent. To help with spacing, seating will be added to the church basement or you can bring your own lawn chair and sit on the grass and participate in mass through live streams.  The Eucharist will be brought to the east parking entrance.

Eucharist– to prevent the contamination from mouth to fingers the Eucharist will only be given in the

hand. No ministering of the cup. Eucharistic ministers will follow all sanitizing measures.

Ushers: will assist in the spacing of the household pods. No collection will be done during mass.

Collection baskets will be placed on the tables in the back of church

Music ministry:  will prepare the music to project on the screens at Holy Spirit. People from Sutherland and Hershey will carry their own song books.

Alter servers: will not be used.

Cleaning team– will need to clean pews, door handles, and soon after services.

Preparation of the church

 Music books, rosary’s, and any other reading materials will be removed from the pews.

 Holy water fonts be removed or wiped dry.

Daily Mass at Holy Spirit

Monday– no mass; Tuesday– 5:15p.m; Wednesday– 7: 30a.m, Thursday– 7: 30a.m;

Friday – no mass at Centennial Park Retirement Village until the public are allowed back.

 

Confessions at Holy Spirit By appoint only until May 30th. Starting May 30th confessions Saturday 4:00 p.m. in the meeting room across the Northex and by appointments.

Confessions at Sutherland be held in the cry room before mass.

We are all anxious to worship together as a community, to greet each other with handshakes and hugs,

and to visit with friends. However, in accordance with the State and our Bishop’s guidelines, there will be

no gathering or socializing before and after mass. Please leave the building as soon as mass is over,

remembering to observe the social distancing of 6 ft. Masks are encouraged to be worn. Even with the

extra efforts to sanitize and practice social distancing, we cannot assume that there is not a risk of

contracting the coronavirus. Please be respectful in following these guidelines.

 

Weddings, Funerals, and Baptisms:

Weddings, funerals, and baptisms may be held in accordance with the State and Grand Island Diocese

guidelines long as the 6’ social distancing and sanitizing requirements can be followed.

This is a challenging time for all of us. Let us be patient and loving with each other. Through prayer and

sacrifice we will strengthen our faith and our community.

Special thank you for supporting the church financially during this pandemic. I am I sending my blessings upon you and your family and waiting to see you soon.

 

Yours in Christ

 

Fr. Vidya Sagar

Pastor