Nativity Catholic Church

MASS TIMES

• The weekend Mass schedule returns to the schedule we had before the pandemic.
• The Saturday evening Mass moves from 4:30pm to its former time at 5:00 p.m. The 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening Mass will end.
• On Sunday morning, the 9:30 a.m. Mass moves to its former time at 9:00 a.m. The 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass is livestreamed https://nativity.org/livestream
• Sunday Masses are at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:30 a.m.

SEATING

• Most pew banks of the church are open (no ropes or tape) as we ask those gathered to social distance themselves from other households.
• Two pew banks remain taped for 6-foot spacing.

IN THE PEWS

• The hymn boards are up and hymnals are back in the pews. · The digital worship aid is online at https://nativity.org/worship-aid.
• Envelope holders with QR codes are in each pew, along with envelopes and pencils, for your Sunday offering https://nativity.org/giveonline.

IN THE SANCTUARY

• Readers return to the ambo for the First and Second Readings (and the Prayers of the Faithful if a Deacon is not present.) There is still only one reader per Mass.
• Cantors return to the ambo for the Responsorial Psalm.
• (Tip: The ambo, aka the pulpit, is for scripture, including the psalm, and preaching on scripture. Notice that it is not used for announcements or hymns.)

AROUND THE CHURCH

• Holy Water returns to the fonts at the doors to the church. Blessing oneself with Holy Water is optional. It reminds us of our baptism.
• Ministers of Hospitality will open doors for parishioners as they enter and close the door behind you. The church is for quiet prayer before Mass and the narthex (church entrance) is the welcoming place for gathering.
• Only the main church doors are open before Mass. The church is open between Masses for prayer.

MASKS

• For now, the mask mandate will continue for the celebration of Mass,” Bishop Noonan wrote on Wednesday. “We began wearing masks out of compassionate care for each other; and we will continue to wear masks for this same reason.”
• We also wear masks as one body in Christ, knowing that there are many throughout the world who do not have access to the vaccination and that countries remain closed because of the spread of the COVID19.”
• Bishop Noonan regarded the temporary inconvenience of masks as a “sacrifice”. Sacrifice can be redemptive when offered to the Lord.
• We are respectful of government regulations and recommendations. In the end, though, we follow our bishop and his guidance.
• Bishop Noonan has changed the mask mandate from required to reccomended effective the weekend of June 19/20.