Changes to Weekend Masses

May 6th, 2021

Dear Parishioners at Most Precious Blood,

So as most of you are aware, the Archdiocese is putting the canonical obligation to go to Sunday mass back into place on Pentecost, which is May 23 this year. I want to start doing a few things differently next weekend (May 15 and 16) to help us transition to what mass may begin to look like over the summer. For this reason I am not doing a video this week but simply wanted to put out some information.

First, I want to acknowledge that many people will still not be able to come back to mass on a regular basis. This may be due to being unvaccinated, being at higher risk for Covid, or even taking care of others who are at higher risk. Many may not be able to come back because of space restrictions that don’t allow for everyone to come every week. However, we want to start offering more chances for people to come. You will see our numbers increase at mass and this too may be part of your decision making process as you go forward.

While the general obligation is back in place, the Archdiocese has made it clear that we are each called to exhibit responsible behavior with regard to our own health as well as the health of others. If you’re not feeling well, have symptoms (of any communicable disease), or are aware that you have been exposed recently to Covid, it is still expected that you stay home for the appropriate amount of time.

Beginning May 15 & 16, we will be moving away from the need to sign up for the 7:30 AM and 10:45 AM masses on Sunday mornings. We will be seating in the church and use the Parish Center Great Hall for overflow for these masses, (we have seen no indication as yet that there will not be enough room for those able to come back). As for the 4:30pm Saturday, and 9am Sunday masses, we will continue sign-ups, but will allow people to sign up every week. We will welcome “standbys” at all masses and will seat as many as possible. We do ask that you do not sign up if you are not actually able to come. Taking space to keep one’s options open until the last moment would be really disrespectful to the rest of the community at this point, and while this has really not been very much of an issue, I do want to stress that space is still an issue.

I will explain some of our changes that will occur during mass as we go, but again, beginning on the weekend of the 15 and 16 you will see some things done differently. We will return to kneeling from just after the Sanctus (“Holy, Holy”) until after the Great Amen. While we will still ask everyone in the pew to wear masks, the readers and the celebrating priest will take their masks off while at the ambo (the “pulpit”). As well the celebrant will not be masked during the homily. We have gotten comments that it is hard for many people to hear, and given that the homilist is always 15 feet or more from everyone else we feel we can allow this at this time. The celebrant will keep a mask on during the Eucharistic prayer, because of his proximity to the gifts of bread that are to be distributed.

We sincerely hope this does not become an invitation for others to stop wearing their mask. We are trying our best to keep everyone safe while not staying unnecessarily “shut down.“ Our desire to return to larger numbers with the ability to have singers, we hope, makes keeping our masks in place seem like a small price to pay.

We will continue to not distribute the cup at mass and we will ask that people, for now, continue to receive the body of Christ in the hand. Please know that the staff and I keep all of your health and safety in prayer as we navigate opening back up into a fuller experience of community. Please be patient as we continue to also exercise due concern.

God Bless and be well,

Fr. Pat

No reading this week.

No reflection this week.

No song this week.

SIGN UP FOR MASS THIS WEEKEND!

In-Person Masses

We now have daily mass, Wednesday through Friday, at 8:30am for “at risk” parishioners who wish to come back to mass but are not quite ready for the larger group. Masses will be capped at 25 per celebration, and sign up will be through the website or by calling the office. At least one of these masses each week will be a school mass (most often, Thursdays), and so sign-ups will not be available for that mass.

At this time, we can accommodate 160 (100 in the church, 60 in the Parish Hall) registered parishioners at our 4:30pm Saturday and 7:30, 9:00 and 10:45am Sunday Masses. A sign-up is required by calling the office or clicking the button below,

no later than 6:00pm Thursday.

IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PARISHIONERS
ATTENDANCE AT LIVE MASS IS CURRENTLY LIMITED
TO ONCE EVERY OTHER WEEK

Virtual Mass Viewing Options

You are invited to view Mass on our website:

LIVE at https://mpbdenver.org/live on Saturdays at 4:30pm or Sunday at 7:30, 9:00 and 10:45am

Please read the detailed information about signing up and safety guidelines and confirmations on our Virtual Worship page. If you have any questions, please contact the Parish office at (303) 756-3083.

For more information on Mass options, check out our Virtual Worship page.

Sign up for Live Mass

MPB Bulletin

Our bulletin is alive and well on our website. Be sure to check it out!

Faith Direct remains our approved partner so that parishioners can give electronically. You can securely register or update via this link. Thank you MPB for your continued generous support of the parish and our many ministries.

Please share with friends and family.

If you wish to subscribe for news and updates from Most Precious Blood, click here.