This Saturday, June 27, we will be making a slight tweak with how we are doing confessions. The only change is that instead of entering by way of the meditation garden and through the back of the parish hall, entrance for confessions will now be through the front doors of the church (the narthex doors) and into the parish hall.
And so, as a recap and reminder, here is how it will work ...
- Entrance for confessions will be through the front door of the church (the narthex doors).
- Once you have entered the parish hall from the narthex, please take your place in line along the east wall of the parish hall (the wall of windows looking out on the Garden). On the floor will be yellow tape marking places for the penitents to wait in line. Each spot is more than 6 feet apart. We ask that all penitents please observe the proper social distancing of 6 feet, even in spots that do not have yellow tape marks on the floor.
- In the hallway, there will a stop sign marking the spot for the next person to have their confession heard. Our confessional is the last room on the left (St. Teresa Room). There will be religious chant music playing in the hall at that spot in order to prevent any confessions from being heard.
- Once the confessional is empty, the next penitent will proceed to the room. Do NOT close the door to the room. The music in the hallway is intended to keep your confession private. The open door allows for greater air movement in the room, but also the door will not have been touched by anyone (and so it will not have to be cleaned or sanitized between confessions).
- There will be yellow tape on the floor indicating where the penitent is to stand. There will be no kneeler or chair for the penitent since this would also have to be sanitized between confessions. Do NOT try to go around the table or to the other side of the wall. No confessions will be heard "face to face".
- Once your confession is done, please exit the room, let the next person in line know that the confessional is open, take an immediate left from the St. Teresa Room and exit the building using the east exit. Signs will be posted. Your penance can be said in the parking lot.
Thank you ahead of time for your cooperation in following all of these procedures. They are in place in order to comply with government standards for the protection of all parties involved. Confessions will continue to be heard n this fashion for the foreseeable future.
Also, beginning Tuesday, July 7 ... we will be adding Tuesday evenings from 6:00-6:45pm back to our weekly confession schedule using the above procedures.
Thank you ahead of time for all of your patience and understanding as we continue to take steps in restoring the various aspects of our parish activities and parish life.
God bless!
In Jesus and Mary,
Fr. Grady