Unfortunately, some people see this pandemic as an opportunity to take advantage of others. We have had reports of fraudulent “phishing” emails, purportedly from the pastor of a parish, asking parishioners to urgently send money. Of course, close inspection of the email address reveals that the email is not actually from the pastor after all; however, in their haste to help, some parishioners do not look closely enough.
Please be assured Fr. Gardner would not ask for anything in this way.  These requests are not to be trusted. Do not open the email.  For any clarification please call the parish office and leave a message if no one is able to take your call.
 

During this Time of Covid 19
With the recent increase of testing for possible infection from the virus and the follow up tracing that takes place for those who have been in contact with anyone testing positive, it becomes more possible that in these circumstances anyone of us may be asked to isolate oneself until your own testing can take place then one able to only resume contact with others when a negative result has been given. I write about this on the chance this may happen to me, your parish priest, which would affect my availability to preside at mass on any given day. It is also likely that a replacement priest would not be available, especially for Sunday masses which would impact the schedule of Sunday masses for the pastoral region. If this were to occur the parish would try to communicate this through the various social media available, such as the parish email messages or parish website. Possibly alerting you to neighboring parish mass schedules. But in this time of reduced capacity in all parish churches it may be good to remember the dispensation from the obligation for attending Sunday mass that has been given to Catholics of the Archdiocese by Archbishop Schnurr during this continued time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mass and other holy days of obligation.
Archbishop Schnurr has continued the granting to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass for the foreseeable future. During this time of the pandemic this dispensation is granted especially with protecting the most vulnerable among us.

Assumption and St. Margaret Mary Parishes are excited to welcome you back to church! 
Some friendly reminders:

• the faithful continue to be dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass/holy days of obligation for the foreseeable future, especially those most vulnerable to Covid-19 (as given by Archbishop Schnurr, 5-8-20)
• those who wish to participate in Mass and receive Holy Communion may do so by attending Mass other than Sunday, during the week.
• those who are at-risk or fearful that they or their family  might become sick are encouraged to stay home and view Mass by other media sources.
• Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19, a cold, or flu are NOT to attend church.

• You are asked to wear a facial mask when gathering in this congregant setting.
• You are asked to keep 6’ around you from the time you leave your car until you return to your car (with allowance for those from the same household in the same manner it applies for the marked distance seating in pews)  At Assumption Parish you are asked to use only the two entrances from the parking lot.  At St. Margaret Mary Parish use the LaBeoutoix Rd ramp door and the church/ parish office door from the parking lot.  Other entrances will remain locked that a count may kept in light of limited capacity seating.  Church doors will be propped open to minimize touch.
• You are asked to not congregate at the entrances and doors of the church as we keep social distancing both inside and outside of church.
• Upon entering church each person is asked to use the hand sanitizer found at the entrances.
• With hymnals and other worship aid cards removed from the pew racks, one may take possession of one of the now removed hymnal for personal use/possession for that liturgy and then future Sundays.  This will be yours and must be taken home/brought back for personal use.  Anything, books/prayer cards and other personal items, left in pews, should be taken with you when you leave as they will be removed and discarded after each liturgy.

• When preparing to move for seating, follow the directions of the ushers, with the awareness that seating will take place first in the front pews of the church, then working toward the back pews.
• Every effort should be taken to keep from moving in front/behind others once you are in the pew.  If you are person who normally has to use the restroom during Mass, please go before and sit at a place at the end of a pew.
• Collection baskets will be at the doors of the church.
• There should not be physical contact during the Lord’s Prayer, nor will the invitation to exchange the sign of peace be said. 
• At the two churches, the reception of Holy Communion on the tongue and from the cup is suspended until further notice in light of the serious contagious aspects of Covid-19.
• The Communion procession will follow the pattern of a single line procession for each station:

• If you are not going to receive Communion, you should come forward and simply turn to return to your pew in the procession, this will keep from persons passing in front or behind one another.
• At the end of the liturgy, it is expected that all will stay in place until all are dismissed, then follow the direction of the ushers, dismissing one section, first those in the back pews, working toward the front pews, in order that all will not leave at one time and the movement of persons will have you facing one another and  6” distancing will continue as we leave.
• Because of its small size, the cry room will be closed to use at liturgies.

 
Thank you for your cooperation and patience with these matters.
It is important that they be followed by EVERYONE.

Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe