St. Helen Roman Catholic Parish

Returning to Parish Life
-- The general dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation continues; you are not required to attend a Mass in person.
        + Be Healthy: Public places on our parish campus are frequently cleaned and sanitized. These are precautionary measures but the risk of coming into contact with the virus remains. It is important for individuals and families to take personal responsibility to protect themselves.
        + Be Smart: Physical distancing and spacing must be practiced by all individuals on parish properties. All are strongly encouraged to follow CDC guidelines for hand-washing and hand sanitizer use, as well as recommendations regarding the use of masks or cloth face coverings while in public.
        + Be Holy: Remember to be patient and kind. 

What will be different at St. Helen Catholic Parish?
-- Our seating capacity inside the church is limited and restricted to about 150 plus or minus. The staff and volunteers of St. Helen Catholic Parish will ensure we reach our maximum capacity. Once the church is full, ushers will direct parishioners to the social center where seating is also limited and restricted to about 100 plus or minus.  We thank you for your patience with us.
        + Families and households are permitted to sit close to each other
              -- If you have been visiting regularly with close friend(s) and are healthy enough to be near each other, you may sit closer than six feet. This will allow us to reach a greater capacity. 
        + Ushers may ask you to sit in a particular section to keep people physically distant.
-- We are live-streaming the Sunday Mass at 9:00am, May 24, if you prefer to stay at home. 
         + For those who watch the live-stream, Sunday, 9:00am Mass, at home, we will distribute Holy Communion. The priest celebrating Mass will give directives during the live-stream on how to do so.  Also, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion will remain for 30 minutes to distribute Holy Communion to the parish faithful after the live-stream ends & the Sunday, 9:00am Mass has concluded.  

Receiving Holy Communion
-- Physical distancing and spacing of 6 feet must be observed in the Communion line.
-- The preferred method to receive Holy Communion during this time is in the hand.  It is safer for you, for the priests, and for everyone receiving Holy Communion.
-- There will be no distribution of the Precious Blood.

Should I Come To Mass?
-- Each person must make the decision of what is best for themselves and their families.
          Please Stay Home If:
          + You are feeling sick or have a fever.
          + You have a sick family member at home or have been recently exposed to someone who may be sick.
          + You are a primary caretaker of a vulnerable person.
          + You have been traveling or in large crowds.
          + You are at risk because of pre-existing conditions or age. 

Our Weekend Public Mass Schedule - Saturday Vigil & Sunday
-- Saturday, May 23, 2020 - Vigil Mass at 4:30pm 
-- Sunday, May 24, 2020 - Mass at 9:00am [the 9:00 am Mass will also be live-streamed on Facebook]
-- Sunday, May 24, 2020 - Mass at 11:00am

Daily Weekday Public Mass schedule - Monday-Friday & Saturday morning
-- Our Weekday Masses will only take place in the main church. Daily Weekday Masses will not be live-streamed.  The week of May 17-23, daily weekday Masses [Monday-Friday & Saturday morning] will take place at 7:30am only.  Continue to follow all of the directives, and please do not remove the tape on the pews.

If you have further questions, please call the parish office - 623-979-4202.