CORONAVIRUS UPDATE FOR NOVEMBER 11, 2020

At his weekly press conference of November 11, 2020, Gov. Holcomb declared that Indiana is no longer in Stage 5 of "Back On Track Indiana". Covid-19 cases have risen alarmingly all over Indiana for the last seven weeks. The governor has issued a decision limiting indoor gathering to 25 people in counties coded red, and 50 in counties coded orange. As of Nov. 11, Steuben Co. was coded orange.

The new policy explicitly exempts churches (and other categories of buildings that are built to handle larger groups). In keeping with the guidelines of the Roman Catholic Bishops of Indiana, our restrictions remain, therefore, unchanged. Here is a summary of our current protocols:

• Limit of 215 for Mass at St. Anthony's
• Limit of 100 for Mass at St. Paul's Chapel
  
• Masks must be worn
  
• Public books (hymnals, missalettes) have been removed
  
• The holy water containers and baptismal font are dry
  
• There is no congregational singing
  
• The congregation does not bring up the gifts at the offertory
  
• The ushers are not taking up the collection
  
• We will not shake hands or hug during the sign of peace
  
• We will not hold hands during the Our Father
  
• Communion is offered only in the form of the host, and only in the hand
  
• We clean the church after each liturgy, and once a week a professional company fumigates
  
• The bishops have extended the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass indefinitely
  

Thank you for your continued cooperation! Together, we can come through this time of trial to a time of rejoicing. Blessings!


Peace and all good,
friar Bob Showers OFM Conv.

PARISH RESPONSE TO COVID-19