Combined Meeting of Liturgy Committee and PPC
May 12, 2020
Members in Attendance- Adam Beeken, Jenna Canning, Dc. Bill, Frances Southwood, Laura Garcia, Jim Obert, Susan Lancho, Annette Hamlin, Jennie Hayes, Scott King, Fr. Aldrin, John Hayes, Cara Johnson, Linda Frazer, Bernie Fritz, Fr. Dan, Chris Gilligan, Yuri Guizar , Pat VanMeter, Angelina Ramos, Norma Flores, Alegria Framing, Lucia Geronimo, Fr. Carlos, Carl Nathe, Suzy Wells
1.Does anyone have clarifying questions about the material I sent out? We will follow the directives and best practices. After the first weekend we will reassess what we are doing.
2.How do we encourage people over 65 and people with vulnerable health situation s and people who aren’t comfortable being with many other people to participate in the life-streamed Masses instead of coming to the Sunday Mass? Would it be helpful to have Sunday masses on two weekdays, with smaller attendance, so that those who decide to go to Sunday Mass might want to choose an option that seems safer?
Staff communication committee is in charge of notifying parishioners of changes. This committee has worked very hard to communicate with parishioners in a variety of ways and continues to research how to best reach people , The committee has developed a survey that will be sent out this week to get a better idea of what Mass times would work well and to offer feedback about what has been done so far, committee doesn’t have access to everyone, will need help from ministry heads
Concern- some of the older parishioners and most vulnerable will still come to Mass even though it may not be in their best interest. should we offer a special Mass for them? Have special reserved seats? Consensus of the group is that we encourage most vulnerable to stay home and attend Mass virtually.
3. ON MARCH 15, THE LAST SUNDAY WE HAD PUBLIC MASSES, WHILE BEING DISPENSED FROM THE OBLIGATION OF ATTENDING MASS, 800 PEOPLE CAME TO MASS ½ TO SPANISH MASSES AND ½ TO ENGLISH MASSES What % or # of parishioners will return to Sunday Mass on Saturday night or Sunday when allowed?
How many people do we think will come that first weekend? (May 30 &31) Hard to accurately predict, hopefully the survey will give us a rough idea of how many to expect and what times to plan for
We all gave our best guess in regards to number that may attend
Will continue to stream one English, 1 Spanish Mass and encourage most vulnerable to stay home, maybe shouldn’t have a separate Mass for the most vulnerable it would be better to encourage most vulnerable to stay home, let them know it’s OK to stay home,
With appropriate social distancing we can have 144 in the gym and 40 in the cafeteria for a maximum total of 184
4. WHAT DO WE DO IF MORE THAN 184 PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR A MASS? WHAT CAN WE DO TO TRY TO KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING?
Scheduling parishioners by: sign-up through a website? Alphabetically by household name?
Spanish speaking as well as English speaking parishioners
Discussion-How do we limit the number of people who show up. Fewer Spanish speaking parishioners use e-mail. Do we sign up ahead of time online? Overflow in the parking lot? Controlling the numbers is a real challenge, don’t want to turn people away, If don’t sign up, can participate in their cars, Maybe just have a drive in Mass, We will learn a lot from the first weekend- maybe try to have Mass in the gym and the overflow can have Mass outside, Cafeteria may not be a good spot for overflow- very confined and low ceiling, After first weekend will have a better idea how this will go. Father does not want to turn anyone away, Can transmit sound from the gym to the sanctuary, Need to continue to encourage vulnerable population to stay home and attend Mass virtually,
Recommendation- For the first weekend- Set up gym, maybe use cafeteria, set up speakers in the parking lot for overflow. No online sign ups, Let’s just see who shows up, survey may give us some idea of how many to expect Communicate Mass times and let people know how many can come inside and overflow will have to stay outside in their cars and listen to Mass on outdoor speakers, Cannot use car radios to hear Mass (have already researched) or second live Mass could take place in the sanctuary, people could stand, this will help with weather/sound issues
Any chance we could use the gym at Lexington Catholic?
5. How many Sunday Masses are needed and at what times? Saturday evening Mass?
English - Spanish
Should we celebrate the Sunday Mass on two other weekdays to see how it goes?
A Sunday English and Spanish Mass will continue to be live streamed
Recommended Mass times:
Need to clean between, Estimate Mass to take 45 minutes , 3 English and 3 Spanish Masses the first weekend, Best guess 400 English, 400 Spanish will attend, times to be determined
Maybe 2 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday
Communicated our ideas in the chat, Mass times will be decided on by Father Dan and will be included in the survey
How to recruit the needed personnel --- liturgical ministers (ESPECIALLY USHERS AND GREETERS) and clean-up personnel:
We’ve got to have enough people committed to helping to make any of this possible.
No public ministers over the age or 65 per Father Dan, they can participate behind the scenes with things like set up or clean up
Email names to Dc. Bill of greeters and ushers that can help with these Masses, need 8 ministers per Mass , need commitments
Need 2 lectors per Mass
No choir- only a cantor , very limited music
Everyone must wear masks except for when a minister is singing or speaking
Need to have a live training in the gym
Next meeting- Tuesday, May 26th at 7:00