Friends,
We joyfully open our church to the public for Pentecost weekend! (May 30/31)
Please familiarize yourself with these new guidelines:

*Weekend and weekday Mass schedule remains the same.

*To allow everyone an opportunity to go to Mass, please attend ANY Mass offered during the week. (Remember, a weekday Mass will fulfill your Sunday obligation, so you can choose to only attend a weekday Mass.)

*Singles & couples: Enter the church through the Family Center doors.

*Families: enter through the front entrance. Those living in the same household will be seated together (families, housemates, etc).

*Mask/face coverings are required by all members of the faithful who are two years of age and older. (Parents, please just do your best with your kids.)

*If possible, bring your own mask and hand sanitizer to be used as you enter. (We will have both available.)

*Church will be cleaned and disinfected before and after every Mass.

*If you consider yourself highly vulnerable, please remember that all Catholics in the Diocese of GR have been granted a dispensation from their obligation of attending Sunday Mass through June 30th.

*Before each weekend Mass, I will offer a few more words about the flow of the liturgy.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We look forward to seeing you soon! 

Current Status of Masses and Events
at  St Bartholomew and St Joseph

 

The Diocese of Grand Rapids announced the date for resuming
public Masses and all other liturgical and devotional services,
May 29, 2020

All Catholics within the territory of the Diocese of Grand Rapids are granted a dispensation from their
obligation of attending Sunday Mass through July 31. We recommend people stay at home if they are
considered vulnerable due to age (over 60) or underlying health conditions. If you are sick, please stay home.
Though the dispensation remains, our obligation to keep holy the Lord’s Day is of utmost importance to our
continued faith life. Mass will continue to be televised at 10 a.m. Sunday on FOX 17 and livestreamed on the
diocesan website (grdiocese.org) and Facebook page (Diocese of Grand Rapids).

Full Document from the Bishop May 19th
Documento completo del obispo 19 de mayo

(en Español)

PARISHIONER GUIDELINES FOR RETURNING TO PUBLIC MASSES

• ATTENDANCE WILL BE LIMITED
  Churches will reopen at a 25% seating capacity. With fewer
  people at each Mass, it may not be possible for you to attend
  with regularity for the first few weeks, or even to attend on
  Sunday.
• SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL BE PRACTICED
  Pews will be taped off to achieve proper social distancing.
  Individuals who are not members of the same household will
  need to sit at least 6 feet away in all directions from others.
• MASKS/FACE COVERINGS WILL BE REQUIRED
  All members of the faithful who are two years of age and older
  will need to bring and wear their own appropriate face covering
  to attend Mass. Parents, we know this may be hard with young
  children, please just try your best. Holy Communion may not be
  received in the hand if you are wearing gloves.
• MASS WILL LOOK DIFFERENT
  Among a few of the changes: physical greetings will be omitted;
  the temporary suspension of the distribution of the Precious
  Blood remains in effect; collection baskets will not be passed, you
  are encouraged to give online or in a common basket upon your
  arrival or departure from Mass.
• EXTRA SANITIZATION WILL BE IN PLACE
  Ushers or a group of volunteers will be wiping down frequently
  touched surfaces between Masses. Parishioners are
  encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizer.

For Frequently Asked Questions
Preguntas Frecuentes Sobre

 

 

At Home Resources for Prayer and Worship

en casa recursos para oración y adoración

 

Stay Connected to our Parish:

1. Facebook:
Saint Joseph Catholic Church
St Bartholomew Church

2. My Parish App

3. Sign up for Email List

4. Online Bulletin