Dear Members of Saint Katharine Drexel:

Greetings to you all!  We have been open for both Daily Mass and Weekend Mass for a couple of months now and while very different from the past it is going quite well given the precautions and protocols we now need to follow because of COVID-19.
  I want everyone in the parish to know that despite having to limit the numbers in attendance for Masses – everyone who wants to participate is welcome to sign up to register yourself or your family to come for Mass.  There has been some confusion for those members of the parish who are 65 or older, some read the caution directed at people in that “vulnerable” category as a prohibition of them attending Mass.   That was never our intention. The caution was based on what the CDC, the MN Department of Public Health, our Governor and our Archbishop had articulated about COVID-19 for people in that age range.   Bottom line, anyone who wants to participate is welcome to do so. You need only use your own discretion in making that decision.
   Because current guidelines still limit the number who can be present based on both the size of our worship space and social distancing protocols, we do have to ask people to register for Mass.  To do so, please just go to our parish website: www.stkdcc.org and on the left hand side of the front page, upper corner you will see the Sunday Mass times listed.   Simply click on either the 4:30 pm (for the Saturday afternoon Mass of Anticipation) or the 10:00 am (for the Sunday morning Mass) and you will be taken directly to the Mass registration page.   Simply follow the instructions there.  If you wish to attend one of the Daily Masses in the week, again on the upper left of the page click on the words “Join us for Daily Mass” and you will be taken to the page for Daily Mass registration.
Moving ahead there will be more information coming out about our reopening for Faith Formation classes and other parish events. Just this week (August 11, 2020) we received from the Archdiocese the new guidelines for opening for Parish Faith Formation.   Once we have a better idea what is being called for with those guidelines we will communicate that to everyone in the parish.If you have questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me directly at either pjaroszeski@stkdcc.org or 763-323-7044.

Blessings to you all, and know that you are daily in my prayers!  
Father Paul

St. Katharine Drexel Mass COVID-19 Protocol
St. Katharine Drexel has reinstated out public Daily & Weekend Masses since mid-June, and continue to update the protocols used, with your spiritual and physical health in mind. You can find out more about these alterations and new protocols below. Please check back frequently as information is subject to change.
Mass Sign-Up and Size Restrictions

• We will only be allowing 60 individuals in the worship space, and 20 individuals in the overflow space in the Hospitality room.
• The dispensation from Sunday Mass by Archbishop Hebda remains in effect.
• If you are over the age of 65, at risk, or lodging with someone at risk, you are welcome at Mass; you need only use your own discretion in making that decision.
• You MUST sign up each member of your family ahead of time individually via the link provided on our parish website, Facebook page, weekly email, or stop by the Parish office during the week and a staff member will assist you with registering for Mass. You can email Troy if you have questions or need assistance: tbauer@stkdcc.org 763-843-6454
• If all 60 spots in the worship space and all 20 spots in the overflow space are assigned, you can add yourself and your family to the waiting list. If an individual or family can no longer attend and removes themselves from their scheduled Mass time, you may be contacted and added to the current list for that weekend.

• After you have successfully registered yourself and/or your family for Mass, please arrive to the Church 15-30 minutes before Mass begins (so not everyone is rushing in at the same time, just before Mass begins).
• Please wash/sanitize your hands, and use the restroom before arriving at SKD.
• Please do not come if you are displaying symptoms or living with someone that is displaying any symptoms of any illness.
• Parishioners may only enter through the main front doors of the Parish.
• Upon entering the Church doors, you will be directed to a table where you will check-in yourself and/or your family with a volunteer or staff member and pick up your pre-printed nametag.
• Masks WILL be required to participate. If you do not have a mask, or forget to bring one, we will have masks on site for you to grab at the check-in table.
• There will be a hand sanitizer station after your check-in you will use prior to entering the worship space doors, and throughout the worship space.
• As you enter the worship space please follow the direction of our usher teams.
  • An usher will direct you to where to sit
  • There will be a four chair gap between each individual/family.
• We will NOT be taking up a collection during the liturgy. There will be a collection basket you can drop of your contributions into located inside the worship space doors.
  • You are encouraged to continue to give online or via text.

• We have installed large projection screens above the half wall space both to the left and right side of the Altar.
  • This removes the need for continual usage of worship aids and hymnals and the potential spreading of germs.
• Masks are to be worn by the congregation at all times, including while singing. Therefore, music selection may include less congregational responses than normal.
• The singer(s) will have masks on at all times except for when leading in song. They will have protective coverings between themselves and the congregation and they will be socially distanced from one another.

• Volunteers will sanitize the hands of each individual before they receive Communion
• Eucharistic Ministers will sanitize their hands before they receive Communion, and again after (the second time to sanitize before they distribute to the congregation)
• The Eucharistic Minister will have a mask on while distributing Communion.
• You will extend your hands out as far in front of you as possible, keep your mask on while you receive by hand and say “Amen”. Once the Eucharistic Minister has moved past you, you may pull your mask down, consume the Eucharist, and put your mask back on.
• We will have a gluten-intolerant Eucharistic Minister Station near the Baptismal font which is now to the left side of the sanctuary as you face the altar.
• Mass continues as usual.

• After the final procession, congregation leaves in an orderly fashion and/or ushers will direct you to the exits.
• The chairs, door handles, Ambo, bathrooms, Choir area, etc. will all be sanitized after each Mass.
  • We will need teams of 4-8 to help with this cleaning process after Mass
• Cloth masks taken from the entryway are yours to keep.
• Lastly, we respectfully request that you not congregate and socialize in groups outside the Church or in the parking lot. We look forward to a normal Hospitality and community gathering in the future.

• We will have daily Mass Wednesday-Friday at 9:30 am.
• Up to 20 people can sign-up for each daily Mass with sign up link posted on the Parish website.
• If you are unable or uncomfortable attending Mass, we will continue to stream the 10am Mass live to our website and YouTube page.