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July 24, 2020Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
We search for the ‘kingdom of heaven’ by seeking more for our lives than what human gratification gives. We sacrifice for the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ by emptying ourselves for the good of others. We are called to pray for others. What the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ is really like is the action response of a person who finds a treasure. We empty ourselves so that the life that God gives is ours forever.
We have just completed the ‘Parishioner Call Project’ a few weeks ago. This project consisted of the Staff of St. Hyacinth calling and contacting every parishioner in our community to check the wellbeing of everyone during our time of disruption and change in our community and country. We have some interesting results. We were able to contact and talk to a number of parishioner in our parish. Yet, we have number of our parishioners who we were not able to contact to due to disconnected, changed, or obsolete phone numbers. If you did not receive a call from St. Hyacinth over the last few weeks, please call and let us know that you are doing ok and to update your contact information. You can update your information on our website on the parishioner update form.
Open our Hearts: a Pastoral letter on racism was released in 2018 by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. The USCCB describes this letter as “But racism still profoundly affects our culture, and it has no place in the Christian heart. This evil causes great harm to its victims, and it corrupts the souls of those who harbor racist or prejudicial thoughts. The persistence of the evil of racism is why we are writing this letter now.” I am challenging every one of our parish to go download this letter and review it. You can go to Sthyacinth.org and click directly on the banner/ tile named “Open our Hearts” and it will take you to the pastoral letter.
The Coronavirus has affected every aspect of ministry here at St. Hyacinth. 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 https://membership.faithdirect.net/TX526 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.
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
Religious Education and Faith Formation classes will be starting up at the end of September, and now is the time to start thinking about the upcoming religious Education school year. Due to the current environment with social distancing and COVID – 19, Faith Formation will be a bit different for all of us at the start of the Religious Education year. All classes for all grades will be offered online. Families will be able to work at their own pace as they follow the online home study material that will be provided. Registration will start in a few weeks. Once when we are able to ascertain the number of students and educational needs, we will be providing families with books, lesson guides, calendar and access codes. Thank you for your patience as we seek the best ways to serve the young people of our parish
The celebration of the sacraments, with a congregation, has resumed. Weekend Masses times: Saturday 5:00pm, Sunday 8:00am, 10:00am and 12:00 Noon.
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