St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish

Process for Re-Opening of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish
For Public Celebrations of the Eucharist

Effective June 1, 2020

See this link:  https://www.facebook.com/481290575406498/videos/257751682101603/


 

July 10, 2020

Dear parishioners
 
For the past few weeks, under the guidance and direction of our Bishop, the CDC, and our governor, diocesan leaders, our parish staff and I have been discerning our process for re-opening of our parish churches, starting June 1st. 
 
At the present time, our parish office is still closed to visitors, but our staff is here to serve, so just give us a call if you have a particular need or request and we will do our best to help you.  Our office number is 454-0680.  To reach my direct line, press extension 2.  To make an appointment or for an emergency need, please call me at that number.
 
We understand that some will not feel comfortable returning to Church at the present time, but many are looking forward to doing so as well.    
 
We will offer the following Mass schedule for St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish.  Please note that this schedule and process will remain in effect until further notice and could be subject to change in light of new information from the CDC and the Bishop's office.  To accommodate people for different times, there are four weekend Masses and four weekday Masses.  For those who are unable to attend Mass in person, three Masses (from Calais) will continue to be offered LIVE-stream on our parish Facebook page, and after Mass uploaded to our parish website – www.sktparish.org.
 
SATURDAY

• 4:00pm Mass at St. James in Baileyville

• 8:00am Mass at Immaculate Conception in Calais (this will also be aired LIVE-stream on Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish Facebook page)
• 10:30am Mass at St. Joseph in Eastport
• 5:00pm Mass at Immaculate Conception in Calais (this will also be aired LIVE-stream on Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish Facebook page)

• 5:30pm Mass at St. James in Baileyville

• 5:30pm Mass at St. Joseph in Eastport

• 5:30pm Mass at St. Anne, Peter Dana Point (limit of 13 persons – Tribal members/residents only)

• 5:30pm Mass at Immaculate Conception in Calais (this will also be aired LIVE-stream on Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish Facebook page)

1. As each Mass a maximum of 50 people (including the priest, lector, musicians) will be able to attend.
2. All who desire to participate in the celebration of the Mass will be asked to register for each celebration each week by contacting our parish office 48 hours in advance by phone (207) 454-0680 or email: kevin.martin@portlanddiocese.org before the scheduled celebration.
3. No more than 50 people will be permitted to gather for any one celebration, so it is best to come to Mass early.  Churches will be open one hour prior to the starting time of Mass.
4. Governor Mills announced on June 8^th that out-of-state visitors will no longer have to self-quarantine in Maine for 14-days before enjoying a visit to Vacationland. Visitors now have the option of either certifying that they had a negative coronavirus test within 72-hours of coming to Maine, quarantining in Maine while awaiting coronavirus test results, or self quarantining in Maine for 14-days upon entering the state. New Hampshire and Vermont residents can be exempted.  
5. All who come to Mass are asked to wear a face covering/mask to Church keeping in mind our need to respect the health and safety of all the people who are there to worship with us. 
6. When you arrive for Mass, only one entrance to the building will be used.  Please maintain 6 feet between you and the people around you as you enter the church.
   1. Immaculate Conception in Calais – the Main Entrance will be used
   2. St. James in Baileyville – the Side Entrance / Ramp will be used
   3. St. Joseph in Eastport – the Main Entrance (Washington Street) will be used – note, there is also a ramp walkway adjacent to the steps which can be used.
   4. St. Anne in Peter Dana Point – 12 persons allowed for Mass, and only tribal members/residents from Indian Township will be permitted to come.
7. There will a greeter at each Mass to count the number of persons attending, someone will check off/register your name, and two people will also guide each person inside to their pew for Mass. 
8. You will be seated in the church by one of our parish leaders, and please follow their direction for seating.  We will be filling the church from the front to the back, every other pew.
9. A hand sanitizer station will be in the gathering area of the church, but people are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizers to church with them.
10.   All print materials and hymnals have been removed from the church until further notice, as it is difficult to sanitize them after each use.  Musicians will be asked to choose music that we can sing.  If you have a Mass booklet (i.e. The Word Among Us, Our Daily Bread, Magnificat) and would like to bring your personal copy to use, that is encouraged. 
11. Since we need to sanitize and clean the building before and after each celebration, each person who comes to Mass will be asked to sit in a certain area, every other pew, with social distancing (6 feet) between each household.  People from the same household may sit together. 
12. People will wear face coverings/masks in church, but will be asked to remove their mask to receive Communion.  Communion will be distributed by the priest, and all are asked to receive Communion in the hand.  For Communion, an Usher will invite people attending to form a line row by row, and people will maintain a 6 foot distance in the Communion line.
13. It is recommended that people not convene or gather in church or around the Church after Mass, but to leave the Church after Mass is finished, again, keeping in mind the need for social-distancing, 6 feet apart as you go back to your car.

 
These protocols are in effect until further notice, and they are subject to change, as we will be monitoring closely the guidance from the CDC and the Bishop's office.  
 
I realize that these protocols may seem challenging and difficult for some, but we are very grateful for the opportunity to gather together and celebrate our faith again.  Please be patient and kind to one another, especially as we reconvene for the celebration of the Eucharist.
 
Please pray for me, the members of our parish community, and our extended community as we continue to look forward and look ahead with Hope!
 
Thank you for your financial support!
On behalf of our staff, parish Finance Council and I, thank you for remembering your sacrificial offering to our parish, both to those who have used We-share electronic transfer and those who have sent in your offerings to us in the mail.  For those who wish to send a check (including those who use budget envelopes) please send one check and make it payable to: SKT Parish, P.O. Box 898, Calais, ME  04619.  You can also send a note indicating what the date is, the name of the collection and the amount you choose to give for that date.  There is no need to send your budget envelopes in the mail, just make the check and send a note along with it.  Thank you very much!

2020 Catholic Appeal - Walk Daily With Jesus - “This is our joy: to walk with Jesus.” - Pope Francis
Daily, we are called to renew our commitment to walk with Jesus and our Church. As a community of faith, we journey together to discover, follow, and share Jesus with each person we encounter along the way. In both word and action, we are called to share our faith to make Jesus present to those who need to hear and see him the most. As a community of faith, we are called to be witnesses to the Gospel, changing individual hearts one at a time and transforming the communities where we live. This is our work, the work of our Church, made possible through your support.   Please look into your heart and step out in faith by prayerfully considering a gift in support of the 2020 Catholic Appeal.  Our goal as a parish this year is $37,134.00.  After six weeks, to date (as of June 28) our parish has already pledged 68 gifts with a total of $24,075.00, which is 65% of our parish goal.  Thank you for your consideration and support of the Catholic Appeal.  FMI, visit:  https://portlanddiocese.org/Appeal
 
May God Bless you and your loved ones with His Peace!