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June 20, 2020Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
At the beginning of our Gospel this week, the twelve apostles are sent out on a mission from Jesus. They have been told by Jesus not to fear. In the time of the COVID – 19, we continue to live in fear. Only Jesus can give us peace. The challenge for us is to go to the prince of peace when we face fear in our lives. This is the time to exercise our faith, in the midst of fear.
There will be several capital repair and improvement projects that are currently on the schedule at STHY this summer. First, we have are the repairing HVAC AC Unit system to the Guyot Hall Kitchen at a cost of $6429.69 Next, there is a plan to seal coat the “P” Street parking lot at a cost of $10,700. Next, we have to replace the several of the lighting fixtures the due to electrical shorting and arcing in the Religious Education building and Guyot Hall classrooms at a cost of $6500. Next we have to repair the Guyot Hall freezer for a cost of $1000. Finally, as you know, the boiler to the Church is no longer working and we have been advised that it is not able to be repaired due to its age. We are exploring several avenues to provide heat to the Church and classrooms for the winter. We have received one proposal for a Church heating system at the cost of $30,000. We will keep you informed of the progress on this proposal.
One of our major goals for our parish is to increase the number of people using our electronic formats for the dissemination of information from our parish. We have our website: Sthyaicnth.org, which is updated almost daily with information about the activities that go on in the parish. There is Flocknotes, which is our information delivery service for the parish, in which we email and or text information about the activities of the parish. Go to Flocknote.com/sthyhouston and join the group “Parishioners”. We are on Facebook, go and ‘like’ our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StHyacinthchurch
With the Coronavirus affected every aspect of the Church I want to challenge everyone to continue to support the Church during this time. I ask the faithful to continue to support the St Hyacinth community through on-line giving or by mail. This will ensure that our parish will be able to meet payrolls and pay monthly bills. Go to online giving tab at Sthyacinth.org and either enroll online at www.faithdirect.net and our Church Code is TX526, or give online through PayPal, Text to Give, or simply mail in your contribution into the Church with the address being 2921 Center Street. Thank you for your support.
Finally, let’s congratulate the young people who celebrated their first Eucharist in our community last weekend. This is the first of several first communion masses that will be held over the next few weeks. Please keep the young people of our parish in your prayers.
The celebration of the sacraments, with a congregation, has now resumed. In keeping with the directives issued by Cardinal DiNardo, and in accordance with national, state and local mandates, St. Hyacinth has resumed liturgical celebrations in the following manner:- Dispensation from Sunday obligation to attend in person is extended until further notice, especially with respect to people who may be considered physically well to attend yet believe it best to stay at home.
- The at-risk populations are encouraged to continue participating by tuning in to the YouTube livestreamed Mass on our parish website Sthyacinth.org, from their homes and avoid attending Mass in person. At-risk population is defined as those who are 65 years or older, those with chronic lung disease; moderate to severe asthma; chronic heart disease; severe obesity; diabetes; chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis; or weakened immune system.
- Parishioners are asked to take their temperatures before coming to Mass and should not attend, if exhibiting any signs of illness or an elevated body temperature.
- In order to accommodate social distancing protocols, and to abide by Phase One state regulations, no more than 25% of the mandated fire code seating capacity of the building is allowed. Therefore, each Mass at St. Hyacinth will be limited to no more than 125 people.
- Church doors will be open for 15 minutes before Mass is to begin. Church doors will open Saturday 4:45 pm, Sunday 7:45 am, 9:45 am and 11:45 am. Please stay in your cars until the doors are open for the Church.
- The Church Narthex will serve as the ONLY entrance to the Church. Enter Narthex doors from either the Center Street parking lot or the P street parking lot.
- Parishioners are required to wear masks, upon entering the church and throughout the celebration of the Mass.
- For the safety of all, the Holy Water fonts and Holy Water tank will remain empty, the exchange of the Sign of Peace, the distribution of the Precious Blood and the offertory procession will be omitted and missalettes and hymnals will not be available.
- Parishioners should be careful not to gather too closely when entering or leaving the church.
- Hand sanitizers will be available and easily visible at the church entrances.
- Social distancing will be practiced and enforced.
- Parishioners will be seated in every other pew.
- Those of the same household can be seated in the same pew.
- Priests and Deacons will wear masks during the distribution of Holy Communion.
- The congregation will remain in their pews for the distribution of Holy Communion, which prevents the formation of a Communion line.
- For health and safety reasons, parishioners are asked to receive Holy Communion in the hand.
- The church will be closed for sanitation between Masses. Pews and bathrooms will be sanitized thoroughly between Masses.
God Bless,
Fr. Reginald Samuels