Parish Updates due to COVID-19

My name is Mike Stuedemann and I am a trustee here at St. Katharine Drexel.  I am speaking to you this afternoon / morning to provide you with an update on COVID at SKD and make you aware of recent developments in regards to the disease.  

Over the past week, a number of the households in our Community have been impacted by the virus.  We want to offer our continued prayers for a complete recovery to all of those impacted.  While we cannot share the names of those impacted due to privacy reasons and we don’t know the total number of people involved, the prevalence of these reports warranted this update.  

While we are not changing any of our COVID precautions at this time, we are asking that you continue to focus on your health and safety by washing hands, wearing masks, and engaging in activities based on your own level of personal comfort.  We also want to remind everyone of the area designated by the blue chairs where masks are required and of the option to participate via Livestream if you are unable to attend Mass.  

We will continue to monitor conditions and adjust protocols as appropriate.  Our goal remains to be transparent with the community while ensuring that everyone feels welcome at SKD.  

Please contact Fr. Paul or either of the Trustees with any related questions or concerns.  Thank you, in advance, for your understanding.    

Dear Members of St. Katharine Drexel Parish,

Late last week we received word from the Archdiocese that parishes
are now free to remove many of the COVID restrictions that have been in place
for the last two years.  The Archbishop indicated that each parish should use their own discretion about what this would look like going forward, at the same time he cautioned that should COVID variants demand it there could be a return
to some necessary restrictions.

What this means for us here at St. Katharine Drexel is as follows, beginning the weekend of April 2/3:

• Facemasks remain an option for those who choose to wear them, but are no longer required.
• We do, however, ask that Eucharistic Ministers and Hospitality Volunteers still wear a facemask when distributing because of their close proximity to others.
• The Blue Chair section near the Blessed Mary altar will still be for those who wish to remain masked and who feel more comfortable in a section reserved for them.
• Social Distance of six feet or more between persons is no longer required
• We will return to passing the collection baskets and I will continue the practice of holding a basket for children’s contributions.
• On Stewardship Sunday, once a month, we will have our regular collection for the various Food Shelves we support.
  Cash/checks, or food items should be brought to the Altar during the
  collection time.
• Shaking of Hands at the Sign of Peace is again permitted, however, we are asked to respect the level of comfort of those who prefer not to touch.
• We will continue to refrain from drinking from the Common Chalice at Communion with the exception of those who wish to do so on Holy Thursday.  We hope to return to the regular use of the Common Chalice, as an option, starting with Corpus Christi Sunday.
• For the time being, the Choir/Cantors will remain at usually 4-5 individuals but this will be re-evaluated after Easter.
• There will be a return to a number of usual liturgical practices that take place during Holy Week but those will be explained at the time.

We appreciate your patience and graceful cooperation with the restrictions that were in place these last couple of years, and it is our hope that with these changes we can return to a more normal approach to our worship together and our life as a parish community.

Should you have particular questions or concerns please feel free to address those to me or anyone else on our parish Staff.

Thank you and God Bless!
Father Paul