Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we approach the fall season and our work and school obligations start to ramp up, I want to remind the parish that we will return to our usual 8 am and 10 am Mass schedule beginning Sunday, September 12th.

Parish leadership is aware that even as we resume some of our pre-pandemic routines and programs we are faced with the continuing threat of the Delta variant.

Consequently, beginning on Sunday, September 5th all persons attending indoor functions will be required to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status. If you forget your mask, one will be provided for you. This is for the safety of all as we navigate through the current Delta variant outbreak which is highly contagious and transmissible.

We expect this to be a temporary situation and the mask requirement will be lifted as soon as conditions permit. Our goal is to move carefully and deliberately through this current stage of the pandemic and into the autumn.

As we go forward, please be mindful that while we are grateful for vaccines and the overall improvements in our situation, many people continue to suffer. Let us be gentle with ourselves and one another as we realize these are baffling, changing, and disconcerting times. And finally, remember now more than ever how important it is for us to forgive one another and ourselves when we are confused, tired, or exasperated.

In closing, I leave you with this paraphrase of Jesus’ words from Matthew 6:34:

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and do not be anxious about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you overcome whatever hard things arise when the time comes.”

Yours in Christ the Great Physician,

Fr. Keene