Pilgrim Cluster

As previously noted, Bishop Nickless has lifted the suspension of weekend public Mass starting June 27/28. Please note all will remain dispensed from the obligation to attend Holy Mass at this time. Anyone who is not feeling well or are elderly and/or have underlying physical conditions are encouraged to not attend.  “Reopening” instructions are as follows:

Regarding ‘reopening’ for public Mass
(beginning June 27 / 28)

• Weekend Mass schedule will be: Saturday, 5 p.m. at St. Mary, Alton; Sunday, 8 a.m. at St. Joseph, Granville; Sunday, 10 a.m. at St. Mary, Alton (With Hospers ministers. Initially there won’t be a weekend Mass at Hospers.) The 5 p.m. vigil Mass will be live streamed and posted for later viewing.
• Those who hope to attend a scheduled Mass must call or email the parish office to sign up for the upcoming weekend Mass they wish to attend. You may choose either Alton or Granville location. Call the parish office (during office hours) of the parish in which you are a member, to inform the secretary of your name, Mass location, time of Mass, and the number of attendees. Deadline to sign up will be 10 a.m. on Thursday prior to the scheduled weekend Mass. Since there will be a limited capacity of 140, you may be requested to choose a different location should the location requested already be filled to capacity.
• Masks will be required. CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Please bring a mask (face covering) for yourself and your family members over two years of age. Priest will wear a mask during distribution of Holy Communion.
• Sanitization stations will be at the entrance of churches. Churches will be disinfected in between Masses / services. Bathrooms will be open but attendees are encouraged not to use if possible, in order to control the spread of COVID-19 in this highly infectious area of the church.
• Entry to the church will be restricted to the main entrance. Doors will open 30 minutes prior to Mass. Check in before being seated.
• Usher(s) will seat all who attend. Seating will start from the front pew and work to the back pew. After being seated, those who attend may be asked to move to a different spot in order to best utilize space. Please be patient with us.
• Initially priest and deacon will distribute Holy Communion at the end of Mass. Follow the directives of the ushers and priest. Those who will be receiving Holy Communion come forward single file up the center aisle and exit out the side doors of the church. It is strongly suggested that Holy Communion be received only in the hand. See protocol in next column.
• Avoid congregating in or outside of the church. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving as you exit the church building or in your vehicle.
• Collection baskets will be placed at doors to drop envelopes as you enter or exit.
• Please be patient as we make this transition. We are all in this together.

Receiving Holy Communion:
The distribution of Holy Communion occurs at the usual stations at the front of the sanctuary, particular to each parish church. As each parishioner approaches to receive communion, after the reverential bow, they should form their hands into a throne to receive the Eucharist. They then step at least six feet to the side, pull down their mask with one hand while placing the host into their mouth with the other hand. They then make the sign of the cross as they make their way towards the nearest exit of the church.
The receiving of the host on the tongue is to be discouraged. However, if a parishioner nevertheless wishes to receive on the tongue, they have the Canonical right to do so. When this happens, the priest/deacon/EMHC, before recommencing with the distribution of the Eucharist, should go to the location where they had sanitized their hands (prior to the distribution of the Eucharist) and re-sanitize their hands again.
Note Well: This is the norm only during this time of pandemic.
– adapted from Diocesan directives

Click here to read the full document for Diocesan Guidelines and Instructions for Resuming the Public Celebration of Mass.   

An Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, 
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. 
I love You above all things, 
and I desire to receive You into my soul. 
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally, 
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.  Amen.

Resources for watching/listening to Mass:
While we may not be able to gather for Mass, there are many resources available to view/listen to Mass electronically: 

• Our NEW Facebook page will stream weekend Mass with Father Dan - https://www.facebook.com/pilgrimcluster 
• EWTN online and on TV:  www.EWTN.com  --televised, radio, and online each day at 7AM, 11AM, 6PM
• Word on Fire (Bishop Barron): www.wordonfire.org/daily-mass 
• Sioux City area: 88.1 FM  www.FHCradio.com -- Mass at 9AM on Sunday
• MAGNIFICAT is now offering complimentary access to its iOS and Android Apps throughout May. To register for free access in English, visit www.magnificat.com/free. For free access in Spanish, visit and register at www.magnificat.com/gratis.

 

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