COVID-19 and Ste. Gen

June 4, 2020

Greetings Ste. Gen Parishioners,

(Click Here – Picture courtesy of Deacon Matt Witte)

Pull up a seat, there’s plenty of room (6 ft. apart of course)! It is wonderful to see our parishioners celebrating Mass together again.   A few things you may want to place in your car before attending Mass at the outdoor chapel: a towel to dry the seat and sit on, your own chair and an umbrella…thank you.

Below you will find all Parish guidelines and at the end of this message, you will find all guidelines from the Archdiocese.  It is our main priority to maintain the safety and well-being of our parishioners.  Please also click here for a letter from Archbishop Robert Carlson on racism, peace and justice.

Guidelines to follow for Mass attendance at Ste. Gen:
What we are doing…

• For now and weather permitting, all Masses will be held at the outdoor chapel, in case of rain we will move to the Church.
• We have used markings with blue tape indicating safe seating and standing to maintain proper social distance.
• Additional seating for the outdoor chapel:  bring your own chairs, blankets or feel free to sit in your car.
• Hand sanitizer will be available in church but we suggest that you bring your own.
• We will clean and sanitize after each Mass.

What we ask of you…

• If you are in a high-risk category according to the CDC (over the age of 65; are immunocompromised; have underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, serious heart conditions etc), please stay home.  The Archdiocese recommends those over the age of 60 and those with underlying health complications are encouraged to participate in Masses via live-stream only.
• All Catholics are still granted dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation.  Dispensation means that not attending Mass is NOT A SIN.
• Bring and wear your own mask.
• For one person, sit where the blue tape marks the seat.
• For members of households, there should be 6ft of distance between members of one household and members of another.
• Altar Servers- for their safety, servers will not be used at this time.
• Eucharistic Ministers-only one needed per Mass (volunteer please). Hands must be thoroughly sanitized and masks must be worn.

New Mass Schedule:

• All Masses (including weekend Masses) will be held at the outdoor chapel, weather permitting, in case of rain we will move to the Church.
• Weekday Mass Time, Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. (one daily Mass).
• No Saturday morning Mass, until further notice.
• Saturday Evening Mass, 4:30 p.m. with Confessions offered in the cry room from 3:30-4:15 p.m.
• Sunday Masses:  7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m. (not 9:30 a.m.), 11:00 a.m. (this will give us time to sanitize between Masses).

Please come early, as we may have to turn people away due to limited seating.  We are grateful for our parishioners and look forward to seeing you soon.

Many of the precautions to follow safety requirements will be labor intensive.  If you can help in any way please contact Deacon Matt Witte at 314-374-4044. Thank you

***We would like to thank all of our parishioners who have volunteered to help with traffic flow and sanitizing keeping us all safe and healthy!

One of our dear parishioners, John Donnelly, has moved to Our Lady of Life Apartments, an Independent Living Community.  Thank you, John, for your support and devotion to Ste. Genevieve du Bois Parish for these many years.  We wish you well and look forward to seeing you at Mass!  Our Lady of Life Apartments is located at 7655 Watson Road, St. Louis, MO  63119.

Spiritual Reflection from Msgr. Daniel Mosley, June 7, The Most Holy Trinity-
As we come into the Church we were taught as children to sign ourselves in the name of the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Throughout the millennia philosophers and theologians have attempted to understand and explain this mystery.  Whether it be St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine or St. Patrick with his image of a shamrock, three leaves and yet one shamrock.  Never the less, the more they attempt to explain the more difficult it becomes to understand.  Why is that we search for such profound and intellectually difficult explanations when the reality is so simple?  The mystery of the Trinity can be found in the everyday experience of life and living.  It is the mystery of personhood; it is the mystery of relationship.  The mystery of the Trinity is best appreciated as we celebrate life, in each morning, in each evening, in each flower, in each blade of grass, in each breath we take we see God as creator and Father.
Mystery of the Son especially today, can be understood in our need to extend and accept forgiveness.  To recognize the face of God in each person, to see the challenges of being able to live not just for ourselves.
The Holy Spirit is that invitation to re-interpret the present times without the template of faith.
The Mystery of the Holy Spirit is that reality and challenge that to be willing to change might open ourselves to grace and salvation.
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit is much more than the theological abstraction, it is a way of living, a way of appreciating each day, each relationship, each person as God’s gift to us.

Music Ministry Updates from Laura Stoessel:
I hope you have been able to find some comfort during these trying times and I hope this musical selection helps to lift your spirits as it did for me.  Here is my music reflection this week:  https://youtu.be/tQUTvMtUhw4  “This interpretation of The Doxology offers such beautiful and unique harmonies. I pray that it connects us more deeply to Trinity Sunday.”

Blessings,
Laura

 Parish Office Updates from Bridget Davis:

Offertory Collection	May 31, 2020
Offertory	$5,420
Electronic Giving	$2,560
Total Collection	$7,980

Adoration is back!
On Wednesday’s Adoration hours will be 7:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
We welcome back our regular Adorers along with parishioners who would like to sit alone with Jesus.
In an apparition to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Jesus spoke these beautiful words:  “I have a burning thirst to be honored by men and women in the Blessed Sacrament”. 
Jesus desires to be with you, to have you gaze upon Him as He so lovingly gazes upon you.

Mass Intention Rescheduling:
Because of the many Masses that must be rescheduled, we apologize that we cannot accommodate all requested dates and times.  Intentions will now be posted in our newsletter.

Intentions for the sick:
Please remember the sick of the parish especially, Michael Pollock and Bill Pohrer.
Email us your special intentions so that we can continue to pray together for physical, spiritual and emotional healing.

Intentions for the Departed:
We would like to pray for the deceased and their families who have had to endure very unusual funerals.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithfully departed rest in peace:
Your special intention for the dearly departed.

Mass Cards are available and can be mailed directly to you or your loved one.  Each Mass is $10.00.

Marriage Bann
There is a promise of marriage between Melissa Ann Roth, daughter of Dale and Jane (Naeger) Roth-AND-Anthony Christopher Augustine, son of Michael and Lenore (Voll) Augustine.

School Updates from Anthony Van Gessel
Ste. Gen Parishioners,
The initial stage of the re-purposing of the rectory basement into a PreK 3 classroom has been completed. I want to thank all of those who participated in the success of the Ste. Gen auction.  Proceeds from the auction made this project possible. We welcome any donations of children’s toys or furniture for the classroom.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

PSR Updates from Kathy Fleming: 
Please turn in PSR registrations as soon as possible in order to plan for the upcoming school year.
I will be sending an email next week regarding book and assignment drop off at Ste. Gen….stay tuned.
Please use my new email address:  kfleming@stegenchurch.org or you can call the parish office at 314-966-3780 if you have questions concerning PSR.
God bless, Kathy Fleming CRE

Thank you all for your dedication and unwavering faith.  Please continue to support one another, and to unite with all of our faithful in prayer to the Blessed Mother to intercede in healing us—body and spirit—and providing strength for those on the front lines fighting this virus and serving the needs of our community.
Yours in Christ,
Msgr. Daniel Mosley, Msgr. John Unger, Deacon Matt Witte, Kathy Fleming, Anthony Van Gessel

Reopening Guidelines and Restrictions from the Archdiocese

• ​Policies for Mass – for Priests
• Policies for Mass – FAQ
• Church Poster – Condensed Highlights for Parishioners and Mass Attendees
• Church Poster – Highlighting CDC Guidelines