The Basilica of 

the  Sacred Heart of Jesus

O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you and with a lively sorrow for my sins, I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure, and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, good Jesus that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions; give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessings on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Within your heart I place my every care. In every need let me come to you with humble trust saying, Heart of Jesus, help me. Amen.

1. Beginning next Saturday, July 4, confessions will be heard beginning at 4 pm. A portable confessional will be set up at the entrance that you used for Mass. The line will form outside and you can see through the glass door, whether the confessional is occupied or available.
2. Beginning next Sunday, July 5, the 7:30 am, Mass will return and will be here in the hall.
3. Beginning Monday, June 29, the church will be open from Noon-5 pm. The flat entrance to the Blessed Mother’s Altar will be the only door that is unlocked and you will notice that access is limited to that wing. The limited access and the shortened hours are due to the required cleaning and sanitizing that must be done after any public access and before re-opening.  Park in the upper lot (handicapped lot) by that wing.
4. The picnic will not be held at its usual time in July. It takes a good three months to plan it out and that couldn’t happen this year. There is a possibility that something on a reduced scale can be done in the fall and that depends on how the virus is trending—something that I won’t know until Labor Day or beyond. I have to consider more than the parish’s enthusiasm, but also the threat to parish and public health.

These are the advantages for having Mass in the Parish Hall:

1. One entrance only.
2. The entrance has a ramp for those who need it.
3. Restrooms are available.
4. The seats may be set up at the proper distance in advance.
5. The hall has air conditioning and a sound system.
6. No kneelers therefore less to clean.
7. 90 seats are available in the hall while only 72 seats would be available in the church.

The hall will be open 30 minutes before Mass and be closed 5 minutes after the distribution of Holy Communion. Seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Masks are required. No missalettes will be available; people will be encouraged to bring what they have at home such as Magnificat or the Word Among Us.

There will be a basket set up at the entrance/exit for any envelopes and offerings. Holy Communion will be distributed directly after Mass once I have had a chance to sanitize and put on a mask. The faithful will be able to lower their mask only for receiving Holy Communion. There should be no socializing after Mass in either the Hall or the parking lot.

For the time being, the Church will remain closed until I can obtain the supplies that we need to limit access. The church needs to be sanitized daily after any time that it is open. The public will not have access to votive candles because the candles are lit from a common taper or book of matches. Candles will be lit upon request similar to the method for requesting Masses (candle offering envelopes have been ordered).

Since the confessionals do not allow for proper distancing and ventilation, confessions will be heard by appointment until further notice. Daily Masses will not resume right away. The parish office will remain closed; however, anything requiring attention may be communicated by telephone or placed in the box that is available on the rectory porch. Holy water will be available in a week or two (bottles are on order).

As always, thank you for your patience and let us pray for one another.

Fr. Howard

 O God, who willed that our infirmities be borne by your Only Begotten Son to show the value of human suffering, listens in kindness to our prayers for our brothers and sisters who are sick; grant that all who are oppressed by pain, distress or other afflictions may know that they are chosen among those proclaimed blessed and are united to Christ in his suffering for the salvation of the world. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.