In accordance with directives from both Church and civil authorities, and for the benefit of everyone in our large parish family, St. Laurence began the process of a gradual reopening for Mass and Sacraments on Monday, May 4. 

Safely reopening a parish of this size is quite complex and requires the cooperation of everyone involved: clergy, staff, and all the great people who make up our parish.  A Parish Pandemic Response Team has been formed to assist Fr. Drew in the planning and coordination of this effort.

Please understand that all decisions are made with the best information and inspiration at the time.  This is a novel virus and we will continue to be responsive to new information that could alter the current plan.  So, thank you for your cooperation, understanding, adaptability and patience.

Following are details for the safe and gradual reopening of St. Laurence (updated 7/1/20):

SUNDAY MASS

• We opened for Sunday Mass on May 23-24
• Parishioners’ safety remains our top priority in reopening Mass and expanding parish life
• To allow time for sanitizing between Masses, we have modified the Mass schedule to Sat 5pm, Sun 9am, Sun 1pm, Sun 5pm
• We will continue to record and post Mass on Saturday evening for the foreseeable future
• The obligation to attend Sunday Mass is dispensed; you are welcome to stay safely home if you are immune compromised, over 65, anxious, not ready to return
• Please do not come to Mass if you are sick or have a fever

DAILY MASS

• We opened the church for Daily Mass on Monday, May 4
• Mass is offered at noon on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
• On Wednesday, Mass is at 6:30 pm 

CONFESSIONS

• Confessions are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, immediately following the Noon Mass
• Confessions are at 5:30 pm on Wednesdays
• The two cry rooms are used in lieu of the regular confessionals

OTHER SACRAMENTS

• Weddings and Funerals have resumed; please contact Rosemary Mascarenhas at rmascarenhas@stlaurence.org
• Infant Baptisms and First Holy Communions have resumed
• Teen Confirmations are postponed to a later date

PERPETUAL ADORATION

• For now, the Chapel of Divine Mercy remains closed to the public
• Perpetual Adoration is open to scheduled adorers only

CHURCH CAMPUS HOURS

• The church is open for private prayer Monday-Friday 8am-4pm and Saturday-Sunday 9am-12noon
• The parish office is open Monday-Friday 8am-4pm
• The Ave Maria Parish Life Center remains closed to the public

SAFE PRACTICE: MASKS

• Everyone must wear a mask at Mass, in confession, and on the campus of St. Laurence
• Please put on your mask when you exit your car
• A face shield is not a replacement for a mask
• Wear masks to show your respect and care for the safety of others
• Clergy wear masks in the confessional and during the processional, recessional and in distributing Communion at Mass

SAFE PRACTICE: SANITIZING

• The church (pews, doors, handles, bathrooms) are sanitized between Masses
• Hand sanitizer is available at the church doors; thank you for bringing along your own hand sanitizer, as well
• Hymnals and bulletins have been removed

SAFE PRACTICE: 25% CAPACITY IN CHURCH

• At this time, the maximum number of people permitted in the church at any one time is 375 (25% capacity)
• The only access into the church is through the main (glass) door of the narthex
• Cry rooms are closed (utilized for the time being as confessionals)
• We count people as you enter; access will be closed once we reach 375 people
• It will be difficult enough to deny someone access; please be gracious if the church is already at capacity

SAFE PRACTICE: DISTANCING

• Only every other pew is available for seating
• Please do not sit in pews marked with caution tape
• Please sit 6-feet away from others; a family group may sit together
• Those who arrive first must find a seat in the center of the pews, so that no one is forced to scoot past you
• No physical contact during the Lord’s Prayer and the Sign of Peace
• Please, no congregating before or after Mass
• Play & Pray (child care) is not available at this time

SAFE PRACTICE: COMMUNION

• As per the Cardinal’s order, only priests and deacons may distribute Communion
• Communion is distributed in the hand only
• To receive Communion: wear your mask, receive in the hand, step to the side, lower your mask, consume, replace your mask as you return to your seat

A successful reopening of the parish is a safe and gradual reopening.  It depends on the cooperation of all who come to St. Laurence.  Meetings and congregating of any kind on campus is not permitted at this time, but we are hopeful that opening for Mass, Confession and private prayer will bring comfort to our flock during this difficult time. 

St. Laurence, pray for us!