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Dear Parishioners,
The Parish Council is developing plans to safely re-open our churches, in compliance with Sonoma County Health Department and Santa Rosa Diocese guidelines, and we need your input to finalize our efforts. First, we will need to limit attendance to 25% building capacity, or about 30 members at each service. It is important to assess how many parishioners would be returning to masses at this time, since many of our members are in the "at risk" group. Some estimate will help us to plan a Mass schedule. Second, volunteers will be needed to assist by screening attendees, monitoring social distancing, and disinfecting the church after each service. To meet these needs training and supplies will be provided. Two to three volunteers will be needed for each Mass. For our re-opening plans to proceed, it is important that you respond at your earliest convenience, preferably by Monday, June 15. Please respond to the survey by clicking the button below or you can email your responses to the Parish Office (philip.teresa@yahoo.com) or leave a messsage for the Office at (707)-408-2650. Thank you for your assistance in this important project. Parish Council Below is the latest installment in our continuing series of insightful reflections by Pat Griffith.
 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We will not reopen our churches unless and until we are prepared and do all the needed things. We are to follow the protocols to be in place before reopening. We will continue to do either streaming or video recording Sunday/Solemnity/Holy Day Masses. With prayerful wishes and blessings, Father Bala 5/31/2020 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I am eagerly waiting for the day our churches will reopen and will be able to resume all our Services/Events both religious and social. Following the Nation, the State, the County, and the Diocese guidelines and regulations, our parishes and institutions are working together mostly in a harmonious way with regard to religious and social services and events. Bishop Vasa has been communicating with us the priests through his bulletins, zoom meetings, mails etc in this most difficult time created by COVID-19. I too am trying my best to be in touch with all of you through Sunday Masses and Devotions on our parish website via Face Book. I have been sharing also with you Messages and Appeals from time to time through the Bulletins, Website and through E-Mail list available. Depending on the phone calls and messages, I have been hearing Confessions, giving some Spiritual Counsel, anointing the Sick, and administering the Last Rites. Soon I hope to ask someone to invite the members of the Pastoral Council, the Liturgy Committee, the Guilds, the Office Staff and others to discuss about the possibility of some religious services, like the Adoration to the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions at both our churches. Please read the following excerpts from the recent Bulletin of Bishop Vasa: “ZOOM CALL: Thank you for your participation in the Zoom Calls this week. I found the Deanery exchanges to be informative and edifying and look forward to our next live interaction. COVID-19 UPDATE: Governor Newsom Guidance on Faith-Based Office Workspace & Counseling Services:Governor Gavin Newsom announced that as of May 18,2020, faith-based office workspaces and faith-based counseling services can reopen under certain guidelines. Please take time to review the guidance on office workspaces and limited services at the weblinks below. Guidance on Office Workspaces:https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-officeworkspaces.pdf Guidance of Limited Services:https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-limitedservices.pdf At the same time the Governor expressed gratitude to churches for providing emotional and spiritual support to the communities we serve. While the gratitude is appreciated, we all feel that some additional mode of respect for pastors and the faith communities which they serve would be better. Nonetheless, this recognition does show there is awareness of the need to address the church situation at the State level. COUNTY / CITY DETERMINATIONS: While we are still bound by divergent County Regulations, the State ‘guidance’ noted above does open for us the increased possibility of opening our offices and even churches for limited services. As I noted on the Zoom Call, schedules for Confessions should be able to be posted, our offices should be able to open with staff as needed and to the extent that you and your staff are comfortable. This is a little step but it is a step in the right direction!“ With prayerful wishes and blessings, Father Bala. Below is Sunday Mass for May 24, 2020 recorded at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Bodega. This was filmed in compliance with the Sonoma County order to limit gatherings and maintain physical distance. |
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P.O. Box 339 Occidental, CA 95465 Office Hours voicemail and email reviewed on weekdays (closed holidays and weekends) (707) 408-2650 voicemail |