COVID-19 Pandemic

On March 25th, the Diocese of Worcester issued further directives in following the norms established by the Governor of Massachusetts in limiting gathering to no more than 10 people.  The following is a summary of these directives:

• All public celebrations of the Mass are suspended and with it the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and any holy days of obligation until further notice.
• Religious Education classes are cancelled until further notice.
• In keeping with government restrictions, funerals are limited to immediate family and no more than 6 people to allow for funeral staff and liturgical ministers to not exceed the maximum allowance of 10 people.
• In keeping with government restrictions, weddings and baptisms are limited to immediate family of 10 guests.
• Families may opt for burial rites only in the cemetery and choose to celebrate a Funeral Mass once restrictions are lifted.  The parish will offer a private Mass in the parish the same day as the burial.
• With the suspension of person-to-person contact, the Sacrament of Penance is not available except to the most seriously ill.  Provisions have made here in our parish to hear confessions in the parking lot at 2 PM.  Please the driveway behind the church and wait at the corner of the center to drive forward to the waiting priest confessor.  Please be alone in your car and remain in your car.  Turn off your engine during the confession.  When you have received absolution, exit onto Winter St.).
• The diocese will delegate priests in each region to be trained to take proper precautions to safeguard their health who will be responsible for administering rites to the gravely ill and dying.  Pastoral visitation in private homes is suspended to prevent any spread of the disease to priests or through them to the faithful.
• Pastors are encouraged to have their churches open and available for prayer.  Here at Saint Mary's in Milford, the lower chapel of our church is open every day between 8 AM and 2 PM.
• Our parish offices are closed to public visitors.  Our staff is present during regular working hours to answer phone calls and respond to emails. They will also work to produce a bulletin each week to provide communication and contact as long as we are able. It will be available in the vestibule of the lower church and on line.
• Mass intentions for specific days are still being honored and will be remembered in the private Mass celebrated in our Center every day.  This Mass is not allowed to be open to the public, but will be live streamed through our parish Facebook page and posted on the parish website as well.  On the weekend, Masses will be live streamed in English at 4 PM on Saturday, 7 PM on Saturday in Portuguese and at 12 Noon on Sunday in Spanish.  These are the usual hours of our Masses, but the faithful may view them at their convenience during the weekend.
• The faithful are encouraged to make full use of the advantages of social media.  Follow this link to the diocesan website and their guidelines for the Pandemic.
• Our local schools are continuing to provide meals for whoever has a need.  Adults, even those without school age children, are welcome to stop by a local school and receive a free meal to take home for their nourishment.  Our Food with Friends volunteers will provide box lunches each Thursday between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm at the door to the lower hall.
• Lastly, be sure to be a good neighbor.  Please keep in contact with family, friends, and others in your area to be sure that they have what they need.  If they are in a high risk group and need assistance with errands, please offer to help if you are able to keep them safe and healthy.

On March 3rd, the Diocese of Worcester issued directives for the well-being and health maintenance of parishioners who attend our weekend Masses and other liturgies.  These documents can be retreived below, a letter from Bishop McManus and a fact sheet on the flu and liturgy.  

In quick summary, the following will be our practice here at Saint Mary's Parish, until the diocese lifts these restrictions:

• No taking of the Precious Blood from the cup at communion during Mass
• Elimination of the Sign of Peace during Mass
• Empyting of any standing water, in particular holy water fonts
• Limited handshaking at the end of Mass
• Extra effort to clean pew back, door handles, and other places where pathogens can make a home in our worship space.

Communicants are encouraged to receive communion in their hand rather than on the tongue to limit the contact between communion ministers and those receiving communion.  This is not a local mandate, but one that is strongly encouraged by all who take communion. 

Those who have flu or cold symptoms are encouraged to stay home and avoid the gathering of the faithful for Mass without the penalty of sin.  Rather, if one is experiencing these symptoms, his or her absence is considered an act of charity on behalf of the other parishioners.