January 8th 2021

Dear Friends,
For the last year we have all been through a lot as we struggled to overcome Covid-19  For a period in the fall it looked like we were heading out of the worse of the crisis but alas that did not prove to be the case.  After Thanksgiving and continuing on through the Christmas holidays we have seen a dramatic surge in cases and deaths.  This week Bishop Weisenburger, in consultation with his council made the difficult decision that we will need to be more restrictive in our operations in order to protect each other while still providing basic services.  Luckily for us, many of his directives are already in effect at MHT.

Bishop Weisenburger has directed that for the next four weeks there will be no in door liturgies.  This means all services and masses will be celebrated outside as we are already doing.  Therefore we will continue to offer masses in our present structure at the front of the church.   He is also requiring that Eucharist be served after mass outside as we are already doing.  Therefore we will continue to still offer communion from 10:30 am until 12:30 am each Sunday at the front of the church.  We will continue to offer our popular on line mass that you can celebrate at home.  The big changes are as follows:

Music groups will again be banned for the next month.  Sadly this means that the mariachi group will be suspended for a month.  This will alter our mass schedule as follows.  We will continue to celebrate with the following schedule:
 3 pm on Saturday,          
9 am on Sunday
1 pm on Sunday.  
The Sunday 3 pm mass will be suspended at this time until mid February.
 
As has been our practice you will still need to register to attend these masses.  Please remember, if you are not feeling well, stay home and protect your parish family.   Bishop Weisenburger reminds us once again that you are dispensed from attending mass during this crisis.  He especially urges vulnerable populations to please refrain from attending liturgies and instead watch the liturgies from the safety of your home.
 
The bishop has ordered all parish offices closed until at least mid February.  This means that staff will be working from home whenever they can.   We can still be reached by office phone and messages.   Happily for us, we implemented some of these protocols after we saw the Thanksgiving surge so our routine will still be basically the same.  The biggest effect of the directive will be on office operations and the mariachi mass.
 
As always I want to thank you once again for your patience and understanding as we go through these trying times.   We all now know friends and loved ones who are suffering or have died from Covid-19.  We all understand how serious this situation is.  This parish has been blessed by your support and generosity during this time.   I have also been deeply impressed how you have supported each other through your prayers and actions.  This will be always remembered in our parish history as our greatest moment as a community.   

 Yours in the Savior,
Fr. Tom