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Here is the latest message from Archbishop Jackels on the pandemic situation:
Archbishop's Guidance on the Covid Vaccine8 February 2021
On 5 February 2021, the Governor decreed that the State of Iowa is still in a public health disaster emergency, to continue at least until 7 March 2021. The same decree recognizes that the risk of COVID-19 transmission is substantially reduced by taking appropriate public health safety measures. In fact, the Governor still strongly encourages that these reasonable measures be taken throughout the State of Iowa, even though there is no mandate. Moreover, in some places, in spite of the Governor’s decree, these public health safety measures are still mandated by City or County ordinance.
With regard to Church-sponsored activities (Mass and meetings, school and RE, just to name a few), the public health safety measures will continue to be observed until the COVID-19 vaccine is available to all who are able to receive it, and the CDC announces that the pandemic is under control:• Stay home if you are sick, frail from age or illness, or vulnerable.
• Wash your hands.
• Wear a mask.
• Avoid p hysical contact as much as possible.
• Keep a safe (social) distance from people outside your household.
• Sanitize commonly-touched surfaces.
• In church, holy water fonts should be emptied, and reusable materials should be removed from pews.
• At Holy Mass, singing should be kept to a minimum,
• liturgical ministers should be kept to a few, or none,
• Only the Host is distributed for Communion, and in the hand.
The COVID is a very contagious and life-threatening virus. For the love of God and neighbor, wear a mask even if it isn’t mandated, and get vaccinated when it becomes available to you.The text of the Archbishop’s statements are available on the Archdiocese’s website here.
• • •
Public Masses and Liturgical Services
The Catholic bishops of Iowa announced on May 20 that local parishes could begin celebrating public Masses this coming weekend, subject to the discretion of the local pastor, and following recommendations of local health officials.
All parishes are taking measures to provide for the appropriate social distancing recommended by health officials. This means that the number of participants at each Mass may be limited. Livestream Masses will continue to be available for those who choose not to attend Mass in person.
In most parishes, plans are still developing for the celebration of other sacraments.Here are current plans in the parishes, followed by general precautions and restrictions for all parishes. Please consult individual parish websites for further details and changes.
Blessed Sacrament Parish
--Weekend Masses: Saturday at 4:30pm; Sunday at 8:30 and 10:30am.
--Weekday Masses: Tuesday at 5:30pm; Wednesday-Friday at 8:00am..
--Use main entrances at the Gathering Space only.
--Every other pew will be left unoccupied.
--Masses will continue to be live-streamed for those who choose not to attend in person.
Queen of Peace Parish
--Weekend Masses: Saturday: 4:00pm. Sunday: 9:00am and 4:00pm.
--Sunday Mass in Spanish: 12:00pm.
--Weekday Masses: Tuesday-Friday: 12:05pm.
--Please observe social distancing restrictions.
Sacred Heart Parish
--Weekend Masses in English: Saturday at 4:00 and 5:30pm; Sunday at 8:15 and 10:45am.
--Sunday Mass in Burmese: 12:15pm. (every Sunday)
--Weekday Masses at 8:00am.
--Enter through the Jubilee entrance on Fourth Street. Randolph Street entrance is for exit only.
--Every other pew will be left unoccupied.
> Details for Sacred Heart Parish are available online here.
St. Edward Parish
--Weekend Masses: Saturday at 5:15pm; Sunday at 9:30am.
--Weekday Masses: TBA
--Use the main entrance and elevator entrance.
Mitchell Avenue entrance will be used for exit only.
--Only every third pew will be open for use.
--Additional seating will be available in the Church Hall with live streaming.
--Worship aids will be available online and can be accessed
with a smart phone. A limited number of paper aids will be available.
--Mass will be live-streamed for those who choose not to attend in person.
> Details for St. Edward Parish are available online here.
St. Patrick Parish
--Weekend Masses in Dutcher Gym: Saturday at 5:00pm; Sunday at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30am.
--Weekday Masses: Monday-Friday at 11:00am in church.
(No weekday Mass if there is a funeral.)
--Chairs in the gym will be spaced at the recommended social distancing for weekend Masses.
--Capacity will be limited to about 100 people per Mass.
--Enter through the Dutcher gym door, the office door and doors from the upper parking lot.
Signs at the entrances will indicate when the gym is at capacity.
--Plans are pending to live-stream at least one weekend Mass.
> Details for St. Patrick Parish are available online here.
General Precautions for Public Masses
The following apply generally to all local parishes which have resumed public Masses.
--All participants are urged to wear a face mask and to utilize the hand sanitizer available at the entrance
to the church.
--Social distancing from non-family members will be expected in the church; specified pews will be
designated for use; others will be left unoccupied.
--Participants should avoid physical contact with non-family members during the Mass (eg, at the Kiss of
Peace).
--Arrangements for Communion will differ slightly from parish to parish. Generally, Communion will be
distributed in the hand only. Participants should practice social distancing from non-family members in
parishes where there will be a communion line.
--Participants should observe social distancing when entering and leaving the church, and avoid
socializing after Mass.
--The following should not attend Mass in person:
1) Anyone who has had the virus or has been in contact with someone with the virus in the last 14 days.
2) Anyone with symptoms of the virus. Principle symptoms of the coronavirus include a cough, shortness
of breath or difficulty breathing not caused by another medical condition; or two of the following
symptoms: fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache, new loss of
smell or taste.
3) Anyone at risk for the virus due to age (65+) or other medical conditions.
4) Anyone who lives or works with at-risk persons.
5) Anyone who is mildly ill, has recently recovered from a serious illness, or is receiving medical treatment
which might compromise their immune system.
For the foreseeable future, Catholics are dispensed from Sunday obligation and are urged to make decisions about attending Mass which are consistent with their own safety and the safety of others.
Live-Streaming
• Here are the links for livestreaming from the Waterloo parishes:
-- Blessed Sacrament https://bit.ly/BS-Livestream
-- Queen of Peace www.queenofpeaceparish.net
-- Sacred Heart http://bit.ly/SH-Livestream
-- St. Edward https://bit.ly/SE-Livestream
• The Archdiocese live-streams Archbishop Jackel's Sunday Mass on the Archdiocese's website.• • •
Additional Cancellations and Precautions
• Parish Churches--Blessed Sacrament Church is closed.
To make an appointment for confession, call the parish office at 319-233-6179.--Queen of Peace Church is closed.
Parishioners are encouraged to make a Spiritual Confession.--Sacred Heart Church is closed.
To make an appointment for confession call Fr. Stecher at 319-830-3259 or Fr. Paul at 319-427-0237.--St. Edward Church is open for prayer 7:00am to 7:00pm daily.Confessions are scheduled at 4:00-4:45pm on Saturdays and limited to 10 persons.To make an appointment for confession use the "Contact Us" button on the parish website.--St. Patrick Church is closed.To make an appointment for confession, send an email to: sluecke@saintpatrickcf.org• Parish Offices.
--Blessed Sacrament Parish Office. Open on a limited basis.
Please communicate by phone or email.
In an emergency call 319-233-6179 and listen to the prompts.
--Queen of Peace Parish Office. Open on a limited basis.
Please communicate by phone or email.
In an emergency call 319-252-8211.
--Sacred Heart Parish Office. Closed.
Parish office staff are working remotely. Please communicate by phone or email.
In an emergency call 319-830-3259.
--St. Edward Parish Office. Closed.
Parish office staff are working remotely. Please communicate by the parish website.
In an emergency call 563-599-9308.
--St. Patrick Parish Office. Closed.
Parish office staff are working remotely. Please communicate by phone or email.
In an emergency call 319-404-4754.
• The Faith Formation Office at Blessed Sacrament is closed. The Faith Formation Team is working
remotely and can be reached by phone at 319-232-2031 or by email.
• COR at 220 East has reopened.
• The Eucharistic Adoration Chapel at Columbus High School is open. Adorers should wear masks and
practice social distancing.
• Distribution of the Eucharist to local hospitals and nursing homes has been suspended at the request of
those institutions. Families who have a member who is hospitalized should contact the parish so that
they may be added to the parish prayer list.
• Visits to the homebound have been suspended, except in emergencies..
• Most adult faith formation programs are now available online.
• Spanish Bible Study classes at Queen of Peace Parish have been cancelled. Small faith-sharing groups
will continue to meet.
• The Tuesday Evening Community Meal at Queen of Peace Parish is serving take-out meals between
4:00 and 6:00pm until further notice.
• The Cedar Valley Hospitality House will remain open daily, 9:00am-4:00pm.
• Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center in Hiawatha is closed. Spirituality in the 21st
Century conference planned for May 1-2 will be conducted via video conferencing.
• The chapel and guesthouse at New Melleray Monastery are closed to the public at the present time.• • •
General Guidelines
Catholics should follow the recommendations of local and state health officials. Individuals should remain at home if they are in an at-risk population and at the first sign of illness, both for their own protection and to avoid exposing others.
All Catholics should employ basic preventative health measures.
> Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for a period of 20 seconds, particularly before
preparing food, eating, touching one’s face, handling soiled material, shaking hands, coughing, or
sneezing, and using the toilet. (Waterless, alcohol-based hand gels may be used when soap is not
available and hands are not visibly soiled.)
> Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth to deny the virus entrance into your body.
> Sneeze into a tissue or the crook of your elbow, then wash hands thoroughly.
> Avoid unprotected contact with surfaces which people touch frequently, such as elevator buttons, light
switches, and door handles.
> When possible, maintain a "social distance" of six feet from other individuals and avoid contact
with groups of 10 or more. (Avoid confined spaces and use elevators only when necessary.)
> It is now recommended that persons use a face mask of some sort when in public, since it is now
believed that the virus can be spread by persons who show no symptoms of the virus.
Catholics should be aware of family members, neighbors, and individuasls or groups in the community who may be isolated by the virus, by social distancing, or by the inability to access basic needs or adequate health care. In a recent statement, the Vatican reminded Catholics that "the communion of love between spouses and [between] parents and children is a most precious resource, for all of society and for each individual person at risk of experiencing isolation." In difficult times, the Vatican's Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life said, "the family can become a resource--a driving and sustaining force--in everyone’s sense of responsibility, in their sense of solidarity, in their sense of strength and prudence, and in their sense of sharing and reciprocal help in difficulty."
Hoarding vital necessities, common supplies and food endangers the health of those who cannot obtain those necessities; it constitutes a serious lapse of civic responsibility and moral integrity. The Dicastery for Laity reminded Catholics that “We are all called to face this international health emergency with seriousness, serenity and courage, [and] through willingness to make sacrifices in our daily lifestyle for the common good--our own good and that of all. Everyone is called to do their part."• • •
Parish Contacts
Blessed Sacrament Parish
Phone: 319-236-6131
Email: bscbkpr650@gmail.com
Website
Queen of Peace Parish
Phone: 319 -226-3655
Email: dbq213sec2@dbqarch.org
Website
Waterloo Hispanic Ministry
Phone: 319-234-6744
Email: DBQCHMW@dbqarch.org
Sacred Heart Parish
Phone: 319-234-4996
Email: dbq209sec@dbqarch.org
Website
St. Edward Parish
Phone: 319-233-8060.
Email: dbq210sec@dbqarch.org
Website• • •
Related Links
> Living As People of Faith During a Pandemic
> Faith Perspective on the Covid-19 Pandemic
> Resources on Faith and the Covid-19 Pandemic
> Guidelines on Fasting and Abstinence
Learn More
> What You Need to Know About the Coronavirus
> Lo que necesita saber sobre la enfermedad del coronavirus
> Recommendations from the Archdiocese of Dubuque Pandemic Response Plan
> Vatican Statement on Coronavirus
> Connecting to Our Faith
> A Faith Response to the Coronavirus
> Una Respuesta de Fe al Coronavirus
> Facing the Coronavirus Pandemic As a Catholic
> How to Cope Without Losing Your Mind
> Archbishop Gomez's Reflection and Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe
> Prayers
-- Pope's Prayer to Mary
-- Prayer by the Bishops of Africa
-- Coronavirus Prayer
-- A Prayer for Persons Suffering from the Coronavirus
Copyright Protected by the Catholic Parishes in Waterloo
[Last Update: 02.08.21]