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 return to physically 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; well under 50% of the approved capacity. Our daily Masses also provide an opportunity to attend Mass with fewer participants.
Reminder to all the faithful of the Archdiocese of Galveston/Houston, no one is obligated by church law to attend Mass during this time. Please stay home if you feel ill and if you are in the high-risk category.
The following points outline your opportunities to view and/or attend Masses at SVdP:
We are celebrating Mass publicly seven days a week.
6:45 am and 12:10 pm Monday through Friday
7:00 pm Tuesday – not on the 1st Tuesday
8:15 am Saturday and 5:00 pm Anticipatory Mass Saturday
We are live streaming, via our YouTube Channel, St Vincent de Paul Houston, TX, the following Masses:
5:00 pm Mass on Saturday
12:10 am Mass Monday through Friday
11:00 am Mass on Sunday
The parish is taking these steps to ensure the church is cleaned between Masses:
We are following capacity limits and holding admittance to under 275 persons at a Mass.
We have purchased a fogger. We are using the recommended chemicals and disinfecting the interior of the church after every Mass.
To achieve the goal of offering celebration of the Mass within the guidelines provided by local authorities we need your help in the following areas.
What we ask of each person attending Mass:
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.
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.
You may wear gloves; they must be removed to receive the Eucharist in the hand.
Use the hand sanitizer provided for you as you enter the gathering space.
Seating:
Please cooperate with the ushers.
Members of the same family may sit together in the usual manner.
Please maintain proper distance.
Reception of Holy Communion:
The Most Holy Eucharist will be distributed only by the priests, deacons, or acolytes.
Reception on the hand has been 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.