COVID-19 Update

March 17, 2020 Dear Parish Family, A great deal has happened in the past week. All local schools have closed at least through the end of March. Rehabilitation centers, retirement communities, nursing homes, and hospitals have ceased allowing pastoral care visits. Restaurants are closing their dining rooms. All of this is part of the attempt to flatten the epidemiological curve that we have seen in China and Italy; a curve that is well underway here in America. As you are aware, the president has advised that the public not gather in groups larger than 10 persons. Therefore, under the direction of Bishop Joel Konzen, Archdiocesan Administrator, in a memo dated March 16, 2020, we are suspending all Masses effective Wednesday, March 18 through the weekend of April 4-5. This is subject to change in the coming weeks. (You can read Bishop Joel’s memo by clicking here.) Reconciliation will be by appointment only. Please contact Nimi Wani in the parish office at nwani@olachurch.org to make an appointment. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will continue on Wednesdays from 8am – 6pm. We will move into the church to provide adequate space for social distancing. You are welcome to join us for 15 minutes or an hour, whatever you are moved to do. I ask that you prayerfully consider signing up for an hour of adoration during this time of crisis, especially as the senior members of our community should remain home for their well-being. You can sign up through our ministry leader, Betsie Greiff, at bvgreiff@gmail.com. All other classes, meetings, and events are cancelled through the April 4-5 weekend as well. As your pastor I want to respect the abovementioned closings and work with you toward keeping our community both healthy and connected. My staff will continue to work – either in the parish office or remotely – and be available to assist you.  Clergy will be offering care via phone calls as needed. Father Joel and I will remain available for urgent pastoral care matters, but we will honor the rules and restrictions of health care institutions. Our goal is not to become “carriers.” As we put these protections in place and as we all seek to honor social distancing, I ask you to pay attention to the danger of social isolation. No one is meant to be alone. Call and email one another. Pray for one another. Care for one another. If you need help, reach out. Parish clergy and staff are available by phone and email as are our outreach ministries. We will continue to work to stay connected to one another. We will update you on future COVID-19 related changes in parish schedules through our parish website (www.olachurch.org/COVID-19), e-news, and social media. While we may gather less, think of the opportunities for reflection and devotion. How might this “pause” present us with an opportunity for personal, spiritual growth? Why not carve out 10-15 minutes a day to read a Bible devotion, come to Adoration, explore new spiritual practices, read a spiritual classic, and pray? Focus on your Lenten Twenty in 20. I ask you to remember to continue providing financial support to the parish. In times like these, our financial demands remain steady rather than decrease. We encourage you to give online or mail in your offertory donations. You can sign up for online giving at www.olachurch.org/online-giving. Finally, let me say thank you to my fellow clergy and staff (both parish and schools) who are seeking to have faithful and healthy responses to this moment of challenge. Thank you. Yours in Mary, Our Mother, Father Jim