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UPDATES & PROCEDURES DURING COVID 19 THREAT

July 24, 2020

Dear Fellow St. Boniface Parishioners,

As I mentioned when the bishop finally allowed public Masses to resume at 1/3 a church’s capacity in order to enable the necessary social distancing, if we consistently approach that limit, we will address that issue by adding more Masses. Thanks be to God and an increasing number of parishioners returning to Mass, we have consistently approached that limit for three weeks at the 7:30 and 10:30 Sunday Masses. Therefore, I have decided to add a Mass on Sundays. Beginning the weekend of August 8-9, we will temporarily add a 9:00 AM Mass on Sundays. This Mass will continue until the present restrictions are lifted, at which point we will return to our normal Mass schedule. Hopefully this will enable us to continue to provide public Mass for our parishioners while honoring the current restrictions. We will need to recruit liturgical ministers to serve at the new Mass, so if you are a reader or server and are able to help with that, please contact the parish office. We will also need volunteers to wipe the church down with disinfectant after that Mass, so please let us know if you can help with that.

 

  • The 7:30 AM Sunday Mass continues to be livestreamed and recorded each week for those who are unable or who choose not to return to Mass at this time. Please use the link below to livestream.

o https://zoom.us/j/95713413958

Meeting ID: 957 1341 3958
            Password: 2VU5FN!

 

  • We also continue to expand our outreach online with a new daily podcast. Tuesday through Saturday I will record my weekday Mass homilies and post them on Podbean, a free, online podcast hosting service. You can use the following link or go to our parish website under the “Mass” tab to check these short daily reflections out: http://www.stbonifaceparisherie.org/podcast.html.

 

  • The new summer raffle on August 9th fast approaches. Please stay tuned to these emails, the bulletin, the website, and follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/bonifaceparish/#) for information.

o Tickets for the summer raffle can be picked up at the church as usual. We are also offering a completely new way to participate in the raffle for those who because of COVID-19 are concerned about coming to church to get your tickets – you can purchase them online! This can be a great way too for friends and family who have moved out of the area to still participate, so please reach out and let them know about it. Please visit the website or check our Facebook page to order online.

o We are also looking for baskets for the basket auction. For those who are able, we ask you to please assemble a basket of a $40 value and bring it to the office as you normally would. Thank you to the members of the committee for their creativity, and thank you in advance to all of you for supporting our new vision for a summer festival like we have never done before.

Since there is no summer festival this year, there will be no “pie talk” or request for people to bake pies. Have no fear, though, as I have accepted the challenge to bake a pie in honor of the festival-that-is-not, and, what’s more, my baking efforts will be video recorded and posted on our website, Facebook, and Youtube pages so that you can learn from my mistakes! We will also be selling T-shirts in honor of the occasion. Order forms for the T-shirts are available in the church and through our website and Facebook page. This is a fun way to commemorate this crazy year and remember that we got through it as a parish together.

 

Thanks to everyone for their help in these uncertain and chaotic times. It does a pastor’s heart good to work with such faithful, dedicated, and caring parishioners. Hang in there, take care, and please let me know if I can be of help to you in any way.

 

God bless!

Fr. Marc




July 17, 2020

 

Dear Fellow St. Boniface Parishioners,

 

I have no new news to report on the restrictions for public Masses, and, for once, that’s actually a good thing! As you may have heard, the governor recently intensified the COVID-19 restrictions across the state. Religious organizations, however, are exempt, so Bishop Persico notified pastors yesterday that we will maintain the current restrictions on public Masses with no additions or alterations. While that is not ideal, it is better than shutting Masses down again, and so I thank the bishop for allowing us to continue to celebrate the Eucharist together. 

 

  • As per the bishop’s instructions, we have removed all hymnals and Mass aids from the church. Mercita Hodapp, our organist, has therefore graciously begun to produce song sheets with the lyrics of the hymns for Mass. If you come to the 5:00 Saturday or 10:30 Sunday Mass, please be sure to pick up your song sheet on the way into church and discard it in the trash afterwards.

 

  • The 7:30 AM Sunday Mass will be livestreamed and recorded each week for those who are unable or who choose not to return to Mass at this time. Please use the link below to livestream.

o https://zoom.us/j/95713413958

Meeting ID: 957 1341 3958
            Password: 2VU5FN!

 

  • We are pleased to introduce an exciting new faith formation opportunity for all our parishioners to enjoy from home on your favorite electronic device. We have subscribed to the online streaming resource service Formed. You can read all about it on our bulletin, website, and our Facebook page. Stay tuned for more information.

 

  • The new summer raffle fast approaches. Please stay tuned to these emails, the bulletin, the website, and follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/bonifaceparish/#) for information.

o Tickets for the summer raffle can be picked up at the church as usual. We are also offering a completely new way to participate in the raffle for those who because of COVID-19 are concerned about coming to church to get your tickets – you can purchase them online! This can be a great way too for friends and family who have moved out of the area to still participate, so please reach out and let them know about it. Please visit the website or check our Facebook page to order online.

o We are also looking for baskets for the basket auction. For those who are able, we ask you to please assemble a basket of a $40 value and bring it to the office as you normally would. Thank you to the members of the committee for their creativity, and thank you in advance to all of you for supporting our new vision for a summer festival like we have never done before.

Finally, since there is no summer festival this year, there will be no “pie talk” or request for people to bake pies. Have no fear, though, as I have accepted the challenge to bake a pie in honor of the festival-that-is-not, and, what’s more, my baking efforts will be video recorded and posted on our website, Facebook, and Youtube pages so that you can learn from my mistakes! We will also be selling T-shirts in honor of the occasion. Order forms for the T-shirts are available in the church, through our website and Facebook page, and are linked to this email. This is a fun way to commemorate this crazy year and remember that we got through it as a parish together. Thank you to Jeanne Yaple for coordinating this activity.

 

The craziness continues, but so does God’s grace and the joy that is summer. Enjoy it as best you can, and please let me know if I can be of help to you in any way.

 

God bless!

Fr. Marc





July 10, 2020

 

Dear Fellow St. Boniface Parishioners,

 The green phase for Erie County continues. Unfortunately, so do the existing restrictions for celebrating Mass. As we respect these restrictions, we need to also base any decisions we make about returning to public Mass on facts, rather than hype, hysteria, or rumors. We have seen a growing number of people returning to Mass, which is great, but I suspect many people are still delaying their return to Mass because of false information about the prevalence or possibility of contracting COVID-19. As of the time I am writing this update, there have been a total of 691 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Erie County, with a total of 15 deaths attributed to the disease. This is in a population of about 200,000 people, making the chance of even contracting the disease in our area less than 1%. As I have always said, everyone must make his or her own health decisions, but please make those decisions with prudent judgment based on facts, not fear.

 

  • As per the bishop’s instructions, we have removed all hymnals and Mass aids from the church. For those who like to follow along with the readings during Mass, as well as for assistance with the Mass parts, the phone app “Laudate” has all of that and more. For those who would like to go over the readings before Mass, usccb.org, the official website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has access to the daily Mass readings right on the front page. Mercita Hodapp, our organist, has also graciously begun to produce song sheets with the lyrics of the hymns for Mass. If you come to the 5:00 Saturday or 10:30 Sunday Mass, please be sure to pick up your song sheet on the way into church and discard it in the trash afterwards.

 

  • The 7:30 AM Sunday Mass will be live-streamed and recorded each week for those who are unable or who choose not to return to Mass at this time. Please use the link below to live-stream.

 

https://zoom.us/j/95713413958

Meeting ID: 957 1341 3958

Password: 2VU5FN!

 

  • With the green phase, regular office hours have resumed. The office is open 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM, Monday – Friday. Thank you for your patience these past months with our altered hours.

 

  • We are pleased to introduce an exciting new faith formation opportunity for all our parishioners to enjoy from home on your favorite electronic device. We have subscribed to the online streaming video service Formed. You can read all about it on our bulletin, website, and our Facebook page, and you can join us for a short Zoom session on utilizing the service on Thursday, July 16, by clinking the below link:

 

You can join this meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

https://zoom.us/j/99954507077

 

You can also dial in using your phone. US: +1 312 626 6799, +1 646 876 9923, +1 301

715 8592, +1 669 900 6833, +1 253 215 8782, +1 346 248 7799, +1 408 638 0968 Meeting ID:

999-545-07077

 

  • Plans for the summer festival have been finalized. Unfortunately, there will be no chicken dinner this year. We will still have a raffle and basket auction. Please stay tuned to these emails, the bulletin, the website, and follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/bonifaceparish/#) for more information.

 

o Tickets for the summer raffle can be picked up at the church as usual. We are also offering a completely new way to participate in the raffle for those who because of COVID-19 are concerned about coming to church to get your tickets – you can purchase them online! This can be a great way too for friends and family who have moved out of the area to still participate, so please reach out and let them know about it. More information on this exciting new option is coming soon!

 

o We are also looking for baskets for the basket auction. For those who are able, we ask you to please assemble a basket of a $40 value and bring it to the office as you normally would. Thank you to the members of the committee for their creativity, and thank you in advance to all of you for supporting our new vision for a summer festival like we have never done before.

 

Finally, since there is no dinner with our summer festival this year, there will be no “pie talk” or request for people to bake pies. Have no fear, though, as I have accepted the challenge to bake a pie in honor of the festival-that-is-not, and, what’s more, my baking efforts will be video recorded and posted on our website, Facebook, and Youtube pages so that you can learn from my mistakes! Emerald or Martha Stewart I am not, but it should be fun all the same, and we will also be selling T-shirts in honor of the occasion. Please stay tuned for more information on how to get your T-shirt for this entirely unique summer festival/raffle. Hope everyone is hanging in there as we continue to journey together through this strange time, and please let me know if I can be of help to you in any way.

 

God bless!

Fr. Marc




July 2, 2020

Dear Fellow St. Boniface Parishioners,

The green phase for Erie County continues. Unfortunately, so do the existing restrictions for celebrating Mass (1/3 church capacity, wearing masks, etc.). When and if the Bishop relaxes those restrictions, I will let you know. For now, we just need to be patient, support each other, and persevere, as we have done for these past few months.

  • As per the bishop’s instructions, we have removed all hymnals and Mass aids from the church. For those who like to follow along with the readings during Mass, as well as for assistance with the Mass parts, the phone app “Laudate” has all of that and more. For those who would like to go over the readings before Mass, usccb.org, the official website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has access to the daily Mass readings right on the front page.
  • The 7:30 AM Sunday Mass will be livestreamed and recorded each week for those who are unable or who choose not to return to Mass at this time. Please use the link below to livestream.

Meeting ID: 957 1341 3958

Password: 2VU5FN!

  • With the green phase, regular office hours have resumed. The office is open 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM, Monday – Friday. Thank you for your patience these past months with our altered hours.
  • We are pleased to introduce an exciting new faith formation opportunity for parishioners to enjoy from home on your favorite electronic device. We have subscribed to the online streaming video service Formed. You can read all about it on our bulletin, website, and our Facebook page, and you can join us for a short Zoom session on utilizing the service on Thursday, July 16, by clinking the below link:
    • You can join this meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
      https://zoom.us/j/99954507077

      You can also dial in using your phone.
      US: +1 312 626 6799, +1 646 876 9923, +1 301 715 8592, +1 669 900 6833, +1 253 215 8782, +1 346 248 7799, +1 408 638 0968
      Meeting ID: 999-545-07077
  • Plans for the summer festival have been finalized. Unfortunately, there will be no chicken dinner this year. We will still have a raffle and basket auction, the details of which can be found on the attached flyer and letter. Please stay tuned to these emails, the bulletin, the website, and follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/bonifaceparish/#) for more information.
    • Tickets for the summer raffle can be picked up at the church as usual. We are also offering a completely new way to participate in the raffle for those who because of COVID-19 are concerned about coming to church to get your tickets – you can purchase them online! This can be a great way too for friends and family who have moved out of the area to still participate, so please reach out and let them know about it. More information on this exciting new option is coming soon!
    • We are also looking for baskets for the basket auction. For those who are able, we ask you to please assemble a basket of a $40 value and bring it to the office as you normally would. Thank you to the members of the committee for their creativity, and thank you in advance to all of you for supporting our new vision for a summer festival like we have never done before.

That’s all the news for now. Hope everyone is hanging in there as we continue to journey together through this strange time, and please let me know if I can be of help to you in any way.

God bless!

Fr. Marc




June 25, 2020

Dear Fellow St. Boniface Parishioners,

The green phase for Erie County has arrived! Effective Friday, June 26, we will be in the green phase of the state’s reopening. What that means for us in unclear at this point. I am still waiting for guidance from the diocese, but, once I do hear, I will pass it on. Until then, all previous restrictions still apply.

  • The Mass schedule is our usual schedule of weekday Masses Tuesday - Saturday at 8:00 AM and weekend Masses Saturday at 5:00 PM and Sunday at 7:30 & 10:30 AM. If we find that the number of people at Mass consistently exceeds 1/3 our capacity, which is not a concern at this point, we will need to alter that schedule.
  • As per the bishop’s instructions, we have removed all hymnals and Mass aids from the church. For those who like to follow along with the readings during Mass, as well as for assistance with the Mass parts, the phone app “Laudate” has all of that and more. For those who would like to go over the readings before Mass, usccb.org, the official website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has access to the daily Mass readings right on the front page.
  • The 7:30 AM Sunday Mass will be livestreamed and recorded each week for those who are unable or who choose not to return to Mass at this time. Please use the link below to livestream.

Meeting ID: 957 1341 3958

Password: 2VU5FN!

  • With the green phase, we will resume regular office hours beginning Monday, June 29. The office will be open 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM, Monday – Friday. Thank you for your patience these past months with our altered hours.
  • The office will be closed Friday, July 3, for the national holiday.
  • We are pleased to introduce an exciting new faith formation opportunity for parishioners to enjoy from home on your favorite electronic device. We have subscribed to the online video series Formed. You can read all about it on our bulletin, website, and our Facebook page, and you can join us for a short Zoom session on utilizing the service on Thursday, July 16, by clinking the below link:
    • You can join this meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
      https://zoom.us/j/99954507077

      You can also dial in using your phone.
      US: +1 312 626 6799, +1 646 876 9923, +1 301 715 8592, +1 669 900 6833, +1 253 215 8782, +1 346 248 7799, +1 408 638 0968
      Meeting ID: 999-545-0707
  • Plans for the summer festival have been finalized. Unfortunately, there will be no chicken dinner this year. We will still have a raffle and basket auction, the details of which will be sent out shortly. The date for the drawing is Sunday, August 9. Please stay tuned to these emails, the bulletin, the website, our Facebook page, and other communications for more information. We are also looking for baskets for the basket auction. For those who are able, we ask you to please assemble a basket of a $40 value and bring it to the office as you normally would. Thank you to the members of the committee for their creativity, and thank you in advance to all of you for supporting our new vision for a summer festival like we have never done before.

 

That’s all the news for now. Thank you again for your patience and understanding. Keep praying for each other and for healing for our country, from COVID-19 and from all violence and division. God bless, and please let me know if I can be of help to you in any way.

Peace,

Fr. Marc

 

June 11, 2020

 

Dear Fellow St. Boniface Parishioners,

Public weekend Masses have resumed, and so far so good. Attendance was understandably light our first weekend, but those who did attend were very patient and conscientious about observing the safety protocols put in place by the bishop. I trust that will continue as we move forward. I want to thank in a special way the people who have volunteered to do the extra work necessary to make our return to Mass possible. We couldn’t do it without you!

  • The Mass schedule is our usual schedule of weekday Masses Tuesday - Saturday at 8:00 AM and weekend Masses Saturday at 5:00 PM and Sunday at 7:30 & 10:30 AM. If we find that the number of people at Mass consistently exceeds 1/3 our capacity, which is not a concern at this point, we will need to alter that schedule.
  • As per the bishop’s instructions, we have removed all hymnals and Mass aids from the church. For those who like to follow along with the readings during Mass, as well as for assistance with the Mass parts, the phone app “Laudate” has all of that and more. For those who would like to go over the readings before Mass, usccb.org, the official website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has access to the daily Mass readings right on the front page.
  • The 7:30 AM Sunday Mass will be livestreamed and recorded each week for those who are unable or who choose not to return to Mass at this time. Please use the link below to livestream.

Meeting ID: 957 1341 3958

Password: 2VU5FN!

 

  • We will celebrate 1st Holy Communion with the children whose families have chosen to do so at this time on June 14th at 12:15 PM. The Mass will be livestreamed and recorded for those who wish to watch it online as only the children and their families are invited to attend that Mass. Please use the link below to livestream the Mass. Please also keep all our 1st Communicants in prayer as they prepare to approach this central sacrament of our faith.

 

Password: 2VU5FN!

 

  • Sadly, nursing homes, senior living communities, and hospitals are still prohibiting visits to residents and patients, even by clergy, except in hospice situations. However, the bishop has permitted priests and deacons to resume visits to the homebound. If you are unable or choose not to return to Mass at this time for health reasons and would like to receive Holy Communion, please call the parish (825-4439) to schedule an appointment.

That’s all the news for now. Thank you again for your patience and understanding. Keep praying for each other and for healing for our country, from COVID-19 and from all violence and division. God bless, and please let me know if I can be of help to you in any way.

Peace,

Fr. Marc



June 3, 2020

 

Dear Fellow St. Boniface Parishioners,

Public Masses have finally resumed, and so far so good. People who have attended our first weekday Masses have been very patient and conscientious about observing the safety protocols put in place by the bishop, and I trust that will continue as we resume our weekend Mass schedule June 6-7. I want to thank in a special way the people who have volunteered to do the extra work necessary to make our return to Mass possible. We couldn’t do it without you!

  • The Mass schedule is our usual schedule of weekday Masses Tuesday - Saturday at 8:00 AM and weekend Masses Saturday at 5:00 PM and Sunday at 7:30 & 10:30 AM. If we find that the number of people at Mass consistently exceeds 1/3 our capacity, we will need to alter that schedule.
  • Please be patient, especially these first few weekends, as everyone adjusts to the required restrictions, which I sent out last week and ask you to review before coming to Mass. Please understand that it will likely be somewhat awkward and chaotic, and, if you are a person who cannot tolerate change or a little chaos, then you may want to stay home these first few weeks. Also, if you are among the most vulnerable populations, while it is completely up to you to make your own health decisions, you are strongly advised to stay home as well for now.
  • The 7:30 AM Sunday Mass will be livestreamed and recorded each week for those who are unable or who choose not to return to Mass at this time. Please use the link below to livestream.

Meeting ID: 957 1341 3958

Password: 2VU5FN!

 

  • We will celebrate 1st Holy Communion with the children whose families have chosen to do so at this time on June 14th at 12:15 PM. The Mass will be livestreamed and recorded for those who wish to watch it online as only the children and their families are invited to attend that Mass. Please use the link below to livestream the Mass. Please also keep all our 1st Communicants in prayer as they prepare to approach this central sacrament of our faith, either now or later.
  • https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83947329930?pwd=aksrejRaSEhkenJ5MnpjZlNQY0twQT09

    Meeting ID: 839 4732 9930

Password: 2VU5FN!

 

  • Sadly, nursing homes, senior living communities, and hospitals are still prohibiting visits to residents and patients, even by clergy, except in hospice situations. However, the bishop has permitted priests and deacons to resume visits to the homebound. If you are unable or choose not to return to Mass at this time for health reasons and would like to receive Holy Communion, please call the parish (825-4439) to schedule an appointment.
  • Many people have asked about our plans for the summer festival. Given the fact that, even when we move into the green phase of reopening the state, large recreational gatherings will still be prohibited, it is not practicable to have a concert or chicken dinner at this time. We are making plans to still have a raffle of some kind, with all tickets presold. Please stay tuned to these updates, our website, and our Facebook page for more specific information as it becomes available.

As always, thank you for your patience as the situation continues to change and our response continues to unfold. There is still much uncertainty, and that can be frustrating. I know we can and will get through this, though, with the help of our Lord who can do all things and our support for one another. Please let me know if I can be of any help to you, and God bless!

 

Peace,

Fr. Marc


May 28, 2020

Dear Fellow St. Boniface Parishioners,

Our return to public Masses draws near, thank God. I have attached below our tentative parish plan for returning to Mass with this update. Please read it over before coming to public Mass next week. This weekend remains purely online, however, and the livestream can be accessed at the link below. We will also continue to livestream and record Sunday Masses once public Masses resume for those who cannot attend Mass and for those who do not feel comfortable returning to public Mass yet. Each person must make his or her own health decisions for his or her family, and no one should feel pressured to return to public Mass until he or she is ready. Meanwhile, we continue to offer ways for people to stay connected online.

 

SUNDAY MASS - To join us live, please use the link below:

o https://zoom.us/j/95713413958

o Meeting ID: 957 1341 3958

o Password: 2VU5FN!

MASS HYMNS

  • GATHERING – Creator Spirit
  • SEQUENCE - Come O Holy Spirit
  • OFFERTORY – By the Waking of Our Hearts
  • COMMUNION – Spirit and Grace
  • RECESSIONAL – One Spirit, One Church

MASS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - In his decree permitting public Masses to resume, the bishop has established a number of requirements, one of which is that all commonly contacted surfaces must be wiped down with disinfectant after each Mass. This will require volunteers. Teams of 2 -3 people after each Mass should be able to complete this task in 10-15 minutes. A brief training meeting for this task will be held Tuesday, June 2, at 6:00 PM in the church. If you can help with this, please contact the parish office (825-4439) and let us know.

LITURGICAL MINISTERS - The bishop’s decree also requires changes to our various liturgical ministries.

  • EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS - Only priests and deacons are permitted to distribute Communion for now, so Eucharistic Ministers will not be needed until these restrictions are lifted. We thank our ministers for your valuable service and hope to get you back to work soon.
  • ALTAR SERVERS - Knowing that not all families will be comfortable returning to Mass right away, we are asking the families of altar servers who do plan to return to Mass beginning June 6-7 to please call the parish office and let us know so that Melanie can make a server schedule. Servers will not be required to wear a face mask while in the sanctuary, but they may if they wish. Thank you to our servers for the great job you do and your willingness to serve.
  • READERS - Again understanding that not all readers will return to Mass immediately, we are asking all readers who do plan to return to Mass beginning June 6-7 to please call the parish office and let us know so that Melanie can make a reader schedule. Readers will be required to wear a face mask while in the pews but not while in the sanctuary. Thank you to our readers for your able help as well.
  • CHOIR - The bishop’s decree restricts the music and music ministers, so Mercita will be the sole musician/cantor for all Masses for the time being. We thank her and the choir for their great work and hope to have the choir back soon.

PRIESTLY ORDINATION – Despite the current crisis, we have some good news in that Bishop Persico will ordain two men to the priesthood for our diocese Friday, May 29, at 4:00 PM, one of whom is a local boy many of you know, Joe Petrone. While attendance of the Mass is limited to family and a few guests, you can watch the ordination live on the diocesan website www.eriercd.org. Please keep Joe and his classmate, Kevin Holland, in prayer as they begin their priestly ministry.

FAITH FORMATION – Our last video in the “Our Church” series has been posted on our YoutTube, page. We may continue the series at a later date, but it is wrapped up for now. Thanks for checking it out, and please check out any and all the videos you haven’t seen yet. A special note to the families of our First Holy Communion class to please check your email for updates and resources from Mrs. Yaple and Mrs. Srnka regarding the retreat, rehearsal, and First Communion celebration, currently scheduled for June 14 at 12:00 PM.

That’s it for now. The light at the end of the tunnel grows brighter, but we still have miles to go. Let’s keep each other in prayer and keep supporting each other through whatever lies ahead, and please let me know if I can help you in any way.

Peace,
Fr. Marc



BONIFACE CHURCH PLAN TO RESUME PUBLIC MASSES

 

The following lists the specific protocols that we at St. Boniface will put into place until further notice in order to meet the requirements of Bishop Persico’s decree to resume public Masses in the Diocese of Erie. This list includes primarily protocols specific to St. Boniface. For a full list of the bishop’s requirements, please consult his decree.

 

  1. When public Masses will resume
    1. Public Masses will resume Tuesday, June 2, 2020.
    2. We will follow the regular weekday schedule of 8:00 AM Mass and the regular weekend schedule of 5:00 PM on Saturday and 7:30 & 10:30 AM on Sunday to start. If the number of people at Masses consistently exceeds 100 people (⅓ our church’s capacity), we will need to change the weekend Mass schedule.
    3. Persons in high risk categories are asked to stay home until these restrictions are lifted. Persons who are not feeling well should stay home at all times.
  2. Entering the church and seating
    1. Everyone entering the church will be required to wear a face mask except for persons with a medical condition prohibiting the wearing of face masks. If you do not have a mask, masks will be available at the entrance of the church. Masks must be worn the entire time you are in the church except at the moment you receive Holy Communion or, if you are a liturgical minister, when you are in the sanctuary carrying out your ministry.
    2. Everyone entering the church will be required to maintain a distance of 6 feet from anyone who is not a family member the entire time you are in the church. This includes in the gathering space and around the entrance of the church. I know we all want to greet each other and catch up after our long absence from church, but we need to suspend that for now. Once the restrictions are lifted, we can have a big group hug, but, until then, please observe the necessary social distance and avoid gathering in the gathering space and around the church entrance.
    3. Hand sanitizer is available at the entrance of the church’s worship space. Everyone is urged to use it when entering the church.
    4. The bishop’s decree limits Mass attendance to ⅓ the church’s capacity, restricting seating to every third pew. We will block off the other pews. Please do not sit in the blocked off pews. The requirement to observe social distancing also applies to seating, so please stay 6 feet from non-family members when seated. We will set chairs up in the gathering space to provide extra seating and make the necessary distancing easier. This will require most people to sit somewhere other than your usual pew; we appreciate your patience with this burden for the sake of the safety of our fellow parishioners and will get you back to your normal pew as soon as possible.
  3. During Mass
    1. Only priests and deacons are permitted to distribute Communion, so Eucharistic Ministers will not be scheduled to help until these restrictions are lifted. Thank you for your service, and we hope to get you back into service soon.
    2. Receiving Communion in the hand is strongly recommended for all people.
    3. People will process forward for Communion one pew at a time in a single-file line. People are asked to observe the 6 foot distance between non-family members in the Communion line, marked by tape on the floor. As you approach the minister, Communicants are asked to wash your hands with hand sanitizer, which will be on a table near the front of the Communion line. People should wear face masks until you approach the minister for Communion and resume wearing masks immediately after receiving Communion.
    1. The restrictions that the bishop put in place prior to suspending public Masses remain in effect, including the suspension of the holy water font, the personal exchange of the sign of peace, and receiving from the cup at Communion.
    2. As per his decree, we will also remove all hymnals and prayer cards from the pews. People are encouraged to participate in the Mass and hymns as best as able in their absence.
    3. Until further notice, there will be no collection at Mass. A basket will be placed near the entrance of the worship space where people can place your envelopes as you enter or leave the church. You can also continue to place your envelopes in the secure, black box outside of the entrance of the church, at the church office, and through online giving. As always, thank you so much for your support of our parish, especially in these difficult times.
    4. Holy Communion
  4. After Mass
    1. After the dismissal, people are asked to leave one pew at a time, as you would at a wedding, beginning with the pews closest to the church entrance. People are also asked to continue to observe the 6 foot social distance as you leave and to refrain from gathering after Mass.
    2. After each Mass, the pews and other frequently contacted surfaces will be wiped down with disinfectant.
  5. Communion for the homebound
    1. For those who are unable or unwilling to attend public Mass at this time for health reasons, Holy Communion will be made available by private appointment. Please contact the parish office (825-4439) to schedule an appointment. Please note that nursing homes and many senior living facilitates remain closed to the public so we are unable to bring Communion to them at this time.
    2. If you have a family member who is unable or unwilling to attend public Mass but would like Holy Communion and you have your own pix, you have permission to bring Holy Communion to your homebound family member after Mass. Please simply let Fr. Marc know.
  6. General Observations
    1. I know that these changes will require a lot from each of us. I ask that we all show one another the charity that is embodied in the Eucharist we gather to celebrate. Christ gives his life out of love for us, and we come to Mass to experience that love. Let us show that sacrificial love to each other by being patient and understanding with one another, by following these protocols, however burdensome or absurd we may find them, and by putting ourselves, not above others as their judge, but with Christ as the last and servants of all.
    2. Please also understand that this is uncharted territory for all of us. These protocols are our best effort to make public Mass possible at this time. Should circumstances dictate, we may need to change any or all of these at any time. I appreciate your patience as we move boldly forward together where no St. Boniface parishioners have gone before.



May 22, 2020

Dear Fellow St. Boniface Parishioners,

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)

The end of our long exile from public Mass finally has a date! Bishop Persico has permitted public Masses to resume in our diocese beginning Monday, June 1st. He has, however, placed several conditions on the celebration of public Masses. Please read the whole list, which is attached to this email, but I would like to stress a few points as we begin planning for the resumption of public Masses at St. Boniface.

The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass will remain in effect after June 1st. That means that if, in your best judgment, you cannot safely attend Sunday Mass because of concerns over either contracting or spreading COVID 19, please stay home. No one should feel compelled to come to Sunday Mass until you feel ready to do so. We will continue to livestream and record Sunday Mass for home viewing. On that front, we have put in place a temporary fix for the audio issues we’ve had and are in the process of obtaining a permanent fix, so hopefully there will be no issues moving forward. Thank you to Tara, Mike, and Gene for their work on this and to all of you for your patience.

We are in the process of planning how to best implement the protocols listed by the bishop at St. Boniface. Regardless of the final plan, which will never be perfect, it will require sacrifices on everyone’s part. We may need to change the Mass schedule, for example, or you may not be able to sit in your preferred pew. We will need to maintain social distancing and wear face masks. These and other changes like them will feel awkward and test our patience. If you find yourself becoming angry or upset about the changes or because you notice someone else not following the protocols, I ask you remember who and what Mass is really about: it is about Christ and our coming together to celebrate and grow in our communion with him and one another. With that in mind, and with ample evidence of the flexibility you have already demonstrated throughout this whole ordeal, I know that we can make this work, whatever the changes may demand of us. Please stay tuned to your email, our website and Facebook pages, and our Sunday Mass videos for more updates as our parish plan comes together, and have a blessed Memorial Day weekend.

Peace in Christ,

Fr. Marc

 

May 20, 2020

Dear Fellow St. Boniface Parishioners,

I hope that all of you and your families are doing well, or at least as well as can be expected in these strange days. Unfortunately, I have nothing new to report on the public Mass front yet. The Bishop is meeting with the Priest Council this week, so I hope he will release his plan for moving forward soon. I will keep you posted as soon as I know anything for sure. Until then, we continue to offer as many ways as we can to keep in contact with God, our church, and our neighbors.

SUNDAY MASS - Public Masses remain canceled at this time. We continue to livestream and record Sunday Masses at 9:00 AM. I apologize for the audio/video issues some have reported experiencing. Thank you for your patience as we continue to work the bugs out, and thank you to Tara, Mike, and Gene, who are working hard on the problem. To join us live, please use the link in your recent parish email.

ASCENSION THURSDAY – This Thursday, May 21, is the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, and a holy day of obligation (though the obligation to attend Mass remains suspended). We will livestream and record Mass at 6:15 PM. To join us live, please use the link in your recent parish email.

MASS HYMNS – The hymns for Masses will be as follows:

            ASCENSION THURSDAY

                        GATHERING – Hail the day that Sees Him Rise

                        OFFERTORY – We Walk by Faith

                        COMMUNION – Bread of Angels

                        RESCESSIONAL – Crown Him with Many Crowns

            SUNDAY

                        GATHERING – I Know that My Redeemer Lives

                        OFFERTORY – The Lord Is My Light

                        COMMUNION – Be Not Afraid

                        RESCESSIONAL – City of God

EUCHARISTIC HOLY HOUR – The Bishop has permitted public adoration of the Eucharist to resume. We will hold our monthly holy hour Thursday, May 28, from 6:00 – 7:00 PM. Come when you can, leave when you must. Hope to see you there!

CONFESSION – The Bishop has also permitted regularly scheduled confessions to resume. Confessions at St. Boniface are Saturdays at 4:15 PM or by personal appointment.

OFFICE HOURS – The parish office is open for walk-in business 9:00 – 11:00 AM, Monday – Friday, until further notice. Anyone entering the church or church office is required to wear a face mask and to maintain necessary social distancing. Other parish business can be conducted via phone (825-4439) or email (secretary@stbonifaceparisherie.org). Thank you again for your patience and cooperation.

MARIAN SHRINE – Thank you to Jeannie Wise and her crew for setting up a beautiful Marian shrine in the gathering space for the Marian month of May. If you stop in the church to pray, please include a prayer or two at the shrine. Also, if you raise flowers at home and would like to add to the shrine’s beauty by adding some flowers, please feel free to do so.

PRIESTLY ORDINATION – Despite the current crisis, we have some good news in that Bishop Persico will ordain two men to the priesthood for our diocese Friday, May 29, at 7:00 PM, one of whom is a local boy many of you know, Joe Petrone. While attendance of the Mass is limited to family and a few guests, you can watch the ordination live on the diocesan website www.eriercd.org. Please keep Joe and his classmate, Kevin Holland, in prayer as they begin their priestly ministry.

FAITH FORMATION – We continue to post new, original videos on our website, YouTube, and Facebook pages. Please keep checking for new videos and keep growing in your faith. A special note to the families of our First Holy Communion class to please check your email for updates and resources from Mrs. Yaple and Mrs. Srnka regarding the retreat, rehearsal, and First Communion celebration.

That’s it for now, folks. Again, I hope to have better news for you soon regarding public Masses. Meanwhile, let’s keep each other in prayer and please let me know if I can help you in any way.

Peace,

Fr. Marc




May 14, 2020

Dear Fellow St. Boniface Parishioners, 

The Yellow Phase has begun, but what exactly that means for us is still unclear, at least as far as public Mass goes. The Bishop is meeting with the deans and other diocesan leaders to formulate a plan, but, until that is released, we will continue as-is. I know that is frustrating for you, as it is for me, and I thank you for your patience and understanding. My plan for our parish is to begin public Mass as soon as the Bishop allows it. He has permitted public Eucharistic adoration, which we will resume Thursday, May 28, from 6:00 – 7:00 PM. Come when you can, leave when you must, but we hope to see you there!

  • SUNDAY MASS - Public Masses remain canceled at this time. We continue to livestream and record Sunday Masses at 9:00 AM. I apologize for the audio issues last weekend – again, it was a faulty microphone. We are attempting to correct the problem. Thank you for your patience as we continue to work the bugs out. To join us live, please check your parish email for the link.

  • MASS HYMNS – The hymns for this Sunday’s Mass will be as follows:
    • Gathering – Three Days
    • Offertory – Prayer of St. Francis
    • Communion – We Have Been Told
    • Recessional – Let There Be Peace on Earth

  • CONFESSIONS – Regularly scheduled confessions resume this Saturday, May 16, at 4:15 PM. As always, confessions also remain available by private appointment by calling 814-218-3249.

  • OFFICE HOURS – The parish office is open for walk-in business 9:00 – 11:00 AM, Monday – Friday, until further notice. Anyone entering the church or church office is required to wear a face mask and to maintain necessary social distancing. Other parish business can be conducted via phone (825-4439) or email (secretary@stbonifaceparisherie.org). Thank you again for your patience and cooperation.

  • MARIAN SHRINE – Thank you to Jeannie Wise and her crew for setting up a beautiful Marian shrine in the gathering space for the Marian month of May. If you stop in the church to pray, please include a prayer or two at the shrine. Also, if you raise flowers at home and would like to add to the shrine’s beauty by adding some flowers, please feel free to do so.

  • FAITH FORMATION – We continue to post new, original videos on our website, YouTube, and Facebook pages. Please keep checking for new videos and keep growing in your faith. A special note to the families of our First Holy Communion class to please check your email for updates and resources from Mrs. Yaple and Mrs. Srnka regarding the retreat, rehearsal, and First Communion celebration.

That’s it for now. I hope to have more information, particularly about the return of public Masses, soon. Until then, take care, God bless, and hang in there, and, as always, please let me know if there is any way we can help you through this ordeal.

Peace,

Fr. Marc




May 6, 2020

Dear Fellow St. Boniface Parishioners,

As we near the transition of our area from the “Red Phase” of COVID 19 precautions to the more relaxed “Yellow Phase”, many questions about what exactly that means for our parish life arise, most of which I unfortunately cannot answer at this time. But I can update you on some things below.

  • SUNDAY MASS - Public Masses remain canceled at this time. We continue to livestream and record Sunday Masses at 9:00 AM. I know some people experienced difficulties trying to watch the Mass live last Sunday. I apologize for any problems you may have had. Please do not attempt to join the Mass until about 8:45 AM as it will not allow you to join until we have begun the live feed. Also note that there will be several minutes of “dead air” before Mass begins; this does not mean your connection is malfunctioning – it simply means Mass has not yet started. Finally, you may have noticed the sound of static in last week’s Mass. This is probably not a problem with your audio; it is a faulty microphone on our end. We are attempting to correct the problem. Thank you for your patience as we continue to work the bugs out. To join us live, please use the link in your latest parish email update.

  • MASS HYMNS – The hymns for this Sunday’s Mass will be as follows:
    • Gathering – Morning Has Broken
    • Offertory – Where My Father Lives
    • Communion – As a Child Rests
    • Recessional – Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

  • OFFICE HOURS – Beginning Monday, May 11th, we will reopen the parish office for walk-in business on a limited basis. The office will be open from 9:00 – 11:00 AM, Monday – Friday, until further notice. Anyone entering the church or church office is required to wear a face mask and to maintain necessary social distancing. Other parish business can be conducted via phone (825-4439) or email (secretary@stbonifaceparisherie.org). Thank you again for your patience and cooperation.

  • FACE MASKS – With the requirement to wear masks while in the church or office continuing, we could always use more masks. If you make masks and have a few to spare, we would certainly appreciate it if you could drop them off in the mask box at the church entrance. Thank you for your help in making our church and office accessible!

  • MARIAN SHRINE – Thank you to Jeannie Wise and her crew for setting up a beautiful Marian shrine in the gathering space for the Marian month of May. If you stop in the church to pray, please include a prayer or two at the shrine. Also, if you raise flowers at home and would like to add to the shrine’s beauty by adding some flowers, please feel free to do so.

  • FAITH FORMATION – We continue to post new, original videos on our website, YouTube, and Facebook pages. Please keep checking for new videos and keep growing in your faith. A special note to the families of our First Holy Communion class to please check your email for updates and resources from Mrs. Yaple and Mrs. Srnka regarding the retreat, rehearsal, and First Communion celebration.

That’s it for now. I hope to have more information, particularly about the return of public Masses, next week. Until then, take care, God bless, and hang in there, and, as always, please let me know if there is any way we can help you through this ordeal.

Peace,

Fr. Marc





April 29, 2020

 

Dear Fellow St. Boniface Parishioners,

 

I write this latest parish update with some optimism that our COVID 19 exile nears its end. The governor has released his plan for reopening the state (See it here - https://www.governor.pa.gov/process-to-reopen-pennsylvania/ ), and, while no specific date has been set for when we can return to public Masses, there is at least some light at the end of the tunnel. Please pray that God guide our public and religious leaders with wisdom to get us back to Mass together quickly and safely. In the meantime, we continue to reach out with opportunities to stay connected to our faith.

  • SUNDAY MASS - We continue to livestream Mass every Sunday at 9:00 AM. We have now set it up as a recurring meeting on Zoom so that those who can join us live can simply use the same link each week. The Mass continues to be recorded as well for later viewing. Please check your parish email for details on how to join the Mass live.

                MASS HYMNS – The hymns for this Sunday’s Mass will be as follows:

    • Gathering - Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
    • Offertory - Because the Lord is My Shepherd
    • Communion - Lord, You Have Come
    • Recessional - Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord

 

  • RE-CONSECRATION TO MARY – In union with Pope Francis, who has re-consecrated the universal Church to Mary in response to the global pandemic, the bishops of the United States will hold a prayer service renewing our nation’s consecration to Mary this Friday, May 1, at 3:00 PM. Bishop Persico will hold a prayer service to do the same for our diocese on the same day at 7:00 PM. Both services will be livestreamed. Please check the linked article on the diocesan website for more information on how to participate (https://www.eriercd.org/news/CATHOLIC-HIERARCHY-TO-RENEW-NATIONS-CONSECRATION-TO-MARY-MAY-1.html ).

 

  • PARISH CONSECRATION TO MARY/VIRTUAL HAPPY HOUR – In union with his own consecration of our diocese to Mary, Bishop Persico has asked parishes to hold similar prayer services consecrating themselves to her as well. We will livestream a short prayer service consecrating our parish to Mary this Saturday, May 2, at 6:15 PM. This will be followed immediately by a virtual “happy hour.” It has been several weeks since many of our parishioners were able to get together and chat as we would in the gathering space or at coffee and donuts, and some have contacted me asking for that opportunity. While we cannot do so physically, we can virtually via Zoom. So this Saturday, grab your favorite legal beverage, click the link provided in the email, and join your fellow parishioners in a virtual gathering space for some much-needed fellowship. 
  • FAITH FORMATION – We continue to post new, original videos on our website, YouTube, and Facebook pages. Please keep checking for new videos and keep growing in your faith. A special note to the families of our First Holy Communion class to please check your email for updates and resources from Mrs. Yaple and Mrs. Srnka regarding the retreat, rehearsal, and First Communion celebration.

That’s it for now. Hopefully next week I’ll be able to share more concrete information about when we can all be back together again - hopefully. Until then, God bless, hang in there, and keep being there for each other.

Peace,

Fr. Marc




April 24, 2020

Dear Fellow St. Boniface Parishioners,

Just your friendly neighborhood pastor dropping another note to update you about what’s happening at our parish and about some other resources that you might find helpful as we continue through the present shelter-in-place order.

  • LIVESTREAMED MASS – We continue to livestream Mass every Sunday at 9:00 AM. We have now set it up as a recurring meeting on Zoom so that those who can join us live can simply use the same link each week. The Mass continues to be recorded as well for later viewing. To join us live, please check your email from the parish for the link and password.

  • MASS HYMNS – We are grateful to have Mercita leading our music for our livestreamed Sunday Masses, and to facilitate participation for people at home, we will post the hymns for Mass each week. The hymns for this Sunday’s Mass are as follows:
    • Entrance: Alleluia! Alleluia! Let the Holy Anthem Rise
    • Preparation: Two Were Bound for Emmaus
    • Communion: Center of My Life
    • Sending Forth: How Can I Keep From Singing

 

  • DISCIPLESHIP IN DARK TIMES CONCLUSION – The last video of our three-part faith formation series on the meaning of discipleship in dark times will be posted to the website soon. Please check it out as well as our other videos under the “Our Church” banner, and keep checking back for new videos as they become available.

 

 

I truly hope these updates and resources help. If there is something more we could do from the parish or I could do as your pastor that we are not doing, please do not hesitate to let me know. Take care, hang in there, and, as in all things, keep God at the center of all you do, even sheltering in place.

 

Peace,

Fr. Marc



April 21, 2020

 

Dear Fellow St. Boniface Parishioners,

 

Just a few quick updates as we begin another week of exile under the shelter-in-place order, which I see the state has now extended until at least May 8th:

  • By order of the state and as a matter of diocesan policy, all people entering the church or church offices are now required to wear a face mask until further notice. If you do not have a face mask, some are available in a box by the main entrance of the church. Special thanks to the parishioners who generously made and donated the masks, and, if you have some unused masks to spare and would like to donate them, please feel free to leave them in the same box.
  • As mentioned previously, we will celebrate a special Mass for health and wellbeing and for the particular intentions of our parishioners this Thursday, April 23rd, at 6:30 PM. The Mass will be livestreamed on Zoom and recorded. If you would like to watch live, please use the following link:

 For th