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Dear Parishioners,
I am writing to let you know our plans in response to Governor Abbotts announcement regarding restrictions and guidelines with COVID 19. While I am pleased, we are seeing some hope in lifting some restrictions, at this time St. Vincent de Paul parish will continue with our current guidelines and precincts. We will wait for the Cardinal’s direction and will not make changes until we are guided by him.
The clergy and staff of SVdP are committed to offering an inviting and clean environment in which we celebrate the most Sacred Liturgy. If you have not yet done so, we encourage you to join us at church for Mass where you can again receive the Most Holy Eucharist. We gain peace and strength from the reception of Holy Communion and we encourage you to physically return to celebrate with us.
If you are looking for a less populated Mass, the Saturday 5:00 pm and Sunday 7:00 am and 1:00 pm Masses have consistently had lighter attendance. With the beginning of Lent we opened overflow Masses in Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel every Sunday at 11:15 am and 5:15 pm. When the congregation reaches capacity in the church at the 11:00 am and the 5:00 pm Masses the ushers begin directing participants to Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel. As the capacity reaches our current limits consistently at other Masses, we will do the same and offer more overflow Masses. Our daily Masses also provide an opportunity to attend Mass with fewer participants.
We are celebrating Mass publicly seven days a week at 6:45 am and 12:10 pm Monday through Friday and at 7:00 pm Tuesday, except not on the 1st Tuesday. Saturday Masses are at 8:15 am and 5:00 pm, which is the Anticipatory Mass. Our Sunday schedule is 7:00 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 11:15 am (overflow), 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm (Spanish), 5:00 pm, and 5:15 pm (overflow).
Please stay home if you feel ill or if you are in the high-risk category. You can join us at our live streamed Masses, via our YouTube Channel at the 5:00 pm Mass on Saturday, 11:00 am Mass on Sunday and 12:10 am Mass Monday through Friday.
We will continue taking steps to ensure the church is cleaned between Masses and Services. We are following capacity limits and holding admittance to 275 persons at a Mass. We are fogging the church and using the recommended chemicals and disinfecting the interior of the church after every Mass.
We are still asking everyone to enter the church via the west side (large parking lot) narthex doors, i.e. the gathering space. All other doors will be locked from the outside. All doors may be used for exiting. Also all participants are required to wear masks in the church. All clergy and liturgical ministers will wear masks throughout the Mass, except when lectors are proclaiming the Word, the deacon or priest proclaims the Gospel, and the priest delivers the Homily.
Please cooperate with the ushers regarding seating. Members of the same family may sit together in the usual manner. Please maintain proper distance.
The Most Holy Eucharist will be distributed only by the priests, deacons, or acolytes. Reception on the hand is still mandated by our Cardinal. Maintain social distance of 6 feet while in the procession to receive Holy Communion. Approach the priest or deacon with your arms extended and your hands open providing a flat surface on which the most precious Body of Christ will be placed. Say, “Amen,” when the priest proclaims, “The Body of Christ.” Keep your mask on while you receive the Eucharist. After reception, step to the side, carefully lower your mask, careful not to drop our Eucharistic Lord, consume the Host, replace your mask, and then return to your pew. Be sure to consume the Host in the sight of the priest, deacon, or acolyte. Do not return to your pew without consumption.
Pace Bene,
Msgr. Bill
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* For informaiton on the COVID-19 Protocals for Faith Formation, click here.
* Houston Methodist is a State of Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Hub. The hospital system has launched an online scheduling link for the public. Anyone 16 years of age and older can access the appointment schedule by clicking here.