I would like to announce to the entire community that Bishop Olmsted has authorized the celebration of public Masses in the Diocese of Phoenix. The first thing I want to ask is that you give thanks to God, through the intercession of Saint Joseph, because finally the doors of the churches will be opened so that the faithful can actively participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The Diocese in cooperation with the civil authorities has mandated a safe distance of 6 feet between persons who participate at the Holy Mass. As you can imagine, this reduces the capacity of our church considerably. Even though we have such a large church, there is only room for approximately 250 people based on this requirement.

On Thursday of this week, I will address you again to let you know how we are planning to organize the weekend Masses of May 16th and 17th.

For the daily Masses, Monday through Friday, we ask everyone to cooperate in the following ways:

- We ask you to be seated in any of the marked pews that are free upon your arrival, maintaining all safety protocols.

- The pews in the church have been marked to indicate the places where those who participate in person at the Holy Mass should sit. Attendees will sit in such a way that there is always an empty pew in front of them and one behind them. The pews are marked to accommodate individuals, but families in the same household may sit next to one another, taking the appropriate number of marked spaces needed for their family. Please remember to maintain 6ft safe distancing between your family and the next..

I also want to announce that beginning on Monday, May 18th, Masses will be added at 7 am on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays in English and on Wednesdays and Fridays according to the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite (Tridentine Mass). The hours for confessions will be from 8:30 am to 11:30 am Monday through Friday. Please see the parish website for the full schedule of Masses and Confessions.

The speed with which information is updated and, above all, the reduction of the capacity of our church to (10 - 25)% poses limitations that will inevitably affect our way of life at Saint Anne and the ways in which we utilize our parish campus. I beg of you all the same patience, understanding, and cooperation that you have admirably demonstrated so far. This situation will demand from everyone a spirit of flexibility and a willingness to change certain habits and to acquire new ones. We are all in this together.

Thank you all for everything.
FIAT VOLUNTAS TUA.
God bless you,
Father Sergio

Published May 12, 2020 , Holy Communion, Eucharist, Mass