St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church

www.xavierbrunswick.org, 912-265-3249

May 31, 2020

SFX Church Reopening – Fact Sheet

We will follow the diocesan indications, taking special precautions for public safety and health.

However, please know that the obligation to attend Masses remains dispensed. Those who

wish to resume coming to Mass may do so; those who are not yet ready for any reason, may wait

longer. Those who are most at risk of serious infection or illness, as well as their caregivers, are

strongly encouraged to stay home and participate in live-streamed or televised Masses. The risk

of the coronavirus is still very real, and even with the best health practices and strict physical

distancing in place, anyone attending public events, such as the Mass, is increasing their risk of

exposure to COVID-19.

As we resume the celebration of public Mass, it is crucial that we approach this next phase with

patient, loving and charitable hearts. Here are some general guidelines to help us:

For the safety of the parish community, it is important that those who are symptomatic, feel

sick, have a fever, have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for

COVID-19, or have travelled internationally or to a domestic hot spot in the past two weeks,

stay home.

The wearing of masks for ages 3 & up is highly recommended. We do this to protect others.

We do not have a large supply of hand sanitizer. We strongly encourage each family or

individual to bring their own supply.

Use of the restrooms will be limited to two (2) people at a time, when one person comes out

one may enter. Please maintain a 6-foot distance from people waiting in line. (Parents with

young children are not limited to only the parent and one (1) child.)

We strongly encourage all parishioners to maintain proper physical distancing on church

property; please do not congregate in the church for conversations.

We have put away hymnals/missalettes and we encourage you to bring worship resources

(Magnificat magazine at https://us.magnificat.net/free, Roman missal, or a print out of

readings). We will offer bulletins with the readings in them. Please take the bulletin with you

after mass, do not return or leave the bulletin in the pew.

Ushers will open the doors. Please follow the ushers’ directions in regards to seating.

Our diocesan standard is to admit no more than 25% of our capacity to allow for proper social

spacing. Our capacity is 500 which equals 125 persons.

Once the church is filled to the allowed capacity you may sit in the Narthex (with a live

video/audio feed) until those socially spaced seats are filled. Once those are filled we will not

be able to admit any more persons. Unfortunately, this may mean that by ensuring everyone

has at least some opportunity for attending Mass, no one should expect to be able to attend

Mass every Sunday or with guaranteed regularity. You may wish to consider daily mass

where seating will be more available instead of Sunday.

Members of a single household may sit together in the same row.

If a group arrived in a single private vehicle, they could also sit together. While these groups may

sit together, spacing between others is still 6 feet.

Due to social spacing we will close the cry room and the nursery.

Please reserve the end of pews for parents with small children so they may get up and walk if the

child is agitated.

There will be no holy Water fonts but you are encouraged to make the sign of cross as you enter

to recall your baptism.

The pews and other common surfaces in the church will be cleaned and sanitized between

Masses. Volunteers please contact Ann at the office.

OFFERTORY AND COLLECTION

Baskets will be placed by the entrances where you may place your offering as you enter the

church. We encourage you to consider enrolling in our on-line giving program at: https://

www.osvonlinegiving.com/1871 or to mail in your contribution to our office.

HOLY COMMUNION

We will forego the sign of Peace.

In the communion line, please maintain six feet of distance from the person in front of you, if

they are not part of your household.

If you are receiving Holy Communion please wear your mask in line. Immediately before Com-

munion lower your mask to communicate. Please wear the mask back to your seat.

Receiving Holy Communion in the hand is preferable, although receiving Holy Communion on

the tongue will not be denied.

If you wear gloves you must remove them for Holy Communion. If the priest believes he touched

the hands or mouth of a recipient, he will pause and use hand sanitizer that is sitting on a table

before continuing.

Confessions will take place Saturdays at 4:00 pm before the vigil mass. We will add Wednesdays at

6:15 pm (beginning June 3) or by appointment during the week.

We will keep the SFX Website up to date with the latest best practices

(www.xavierbrunswick.org).

That said, there is also no way that SFX ministers, staff, or volunteers can reasonably enforce all

protocols. Besides, we all need to be responsible adults, being especially attentive to children, who

may not understand the changes that we must make. If at any time you feel uncomfortable because

of someone else, consider charitably and calmly getting up and moving.

As has been the case throughout this entire time of pandemic, we will regularly review all policies

and provisions and determine if any changes are needed.

READING 1 ACTS 2:1-11

READING 2 1 COR 12:3B-7, 12-13

GOSPEL JN 20:19-23

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”

Brothers and sisters: No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.

As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Mass Times: Saturday Vigil at 5:00 pm.

Sunday: 7:00 a.m. (no music or cantor). This is a new offering during the crisis.

8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Masses (music and cantors)

6:00 pm Spanish Mass.

No Mass at Jekyll is scheduled for this time.

Daily Mass Schedule: Mondays at Noon. Tuesday thru Friday at 8:00 a.m. Wed. nights (beginning

June 3) at 7:00 pm.

We will continue to livestream daily mass and the Sat. 5:00 pm vigil. We will switch the Sunday

livestream to 11:00 a.m. only.

CONFESSIONS

Confessions will take place Saturdays at 4:00 pm before the vigil mass. We will add Wednesdays at

6:15 pm (beginning June 3) or by appointment during the week.

PRAYING IN THE CHURCH The church is open each day from 8:00 a.m. til 6:00 p.m. Please park in front of the church or on Newcastle Street. FINANCIAL SUPPORT Many people have been so generous to ask about supporting SFX during our time of exile. Thank you! People may mail their offertory envelopes in or drop them in the mail slot at our 405 Howe St. Office. Many people have begun using on-line giving through this link: https://www.osvonlinegiving.com/1871. Thanks for your support and be assured of our prayers for you and your families! SCAMMERS Please be aware there are many scammers out there! We do not contact you to ask for gift cards or cash. Sometimes people will use the priests’ names and make up false email addresses and try to get you to give them gift cards or credit card info. Also, beware of people asking for your Social Security Number during the crisis. These are fraudulent!

Mass Intentions - May 30 - June 7

May 30th - t Virginia Joiner, t Sandee Coddington

May 31st - Our Parish Family, Mermann-Hart Families, SFX Priests and Staff

June 1st - t Wanda Hand

June 2nd - Jan Mistisshen

June 3rd - t Wanda Hand

June 4th - t Trinh Van Nguyen

June 5th - t Hal Brown

June 6th - t Norma Ireland, t Sandee Coddington

June 7th - t Claudette Desrosiers, Our Parish Family, t Wanda Hand

ASSISTANCE

In case of the need for Anointing of the Sick or Last Rites please call our emergency numbers:

Father Tim (706-799-7726) or Fr. Chris (813-300-3287). If you are experiencing a financial crisis

we have some limited means of assistance. Please contact Deacon Larry at: 912-399-7627. If you

need help picking up groceries or medicines please contact Marisol at sfxcym05@gmail.com.

For normal parish business please contact Ann at: annbuebel@xavierbrunswick.org or by cell at

912-506-6374. Please reach out to our staff via telephone or email to limit person to person

contact.

FLOCKNOTES

We send out three or four updates each week through a text/email system called Flocknotes.

These can be essential during emergency times (Coronavirus, Hurricanes, storms, etc.) to relay

information. To sign up for general messages or messages from groups you are part of: Text

SFX150 to 84576 to begin and follow the instructions that are sent to you.

CATHOLIC RESOURCES BY THE THOUSANDS!

We now have a Parish Subscription to Formed.org. This is a treasure trove of Catholic movies,

videos and teachings – for adults and children. All you have to do is go to www.formed.org and

select “sign up.” Then select “I belong to a Parish or Organization” and type in St. Francis Xavier

Church and School and you will be prompted to a free sign up which will give you access to

thousands of Catholic resources. There are good wholesome movies, children programs, Bible

studies and thousands of other resources!

Parish website: www.xavierbrunswick.org

After a year of faithful service our seminarian, Esteban Mallar, will be leav-ing us on June 12. In this time of social distancing we will most likely not be able to hold a reception but we will recognize him at the masses of June 6 and 7. If you would like to contribute to a farewell gift you may either mail a card to the office in his name or you may make a check to SFX Church and memo it “Esteban” or “seminarian gift.” We will present him with a check from the parish on the weekend of June 6 and 7. Thank you.

Congratulations to Deacon Terry Mermann! After five years of prayer and

formation Deacon Terry was ordained in the Cathedral on Saturday. He will

assist with masses this Sunday and will preach next weekend for Trinity

Sunday. He will continue with his role as Principal of SFX School and also

assist SFX Church as a deacon. When social distancing rules are relaxed we

will hold a special mass and reception to honor him.

Thank you for all the

things that made me

happy on my 90th

birthday. Keep praying

for me as I do for you. I

will always be grateful

for having been among

you at St. Francis.

Thank you very much!

Love, Sr. Anna Kearns

St. Francis Xavier Staff email addresses

Fr. Tim: tmckeown@diosav.org

Fr. Chris: chassel@diosav.org

Ann: annbuebel@yahoo.com

Deacon Larry: guyerla@comcast.net

Marisol: sfxcym05@gmail.com

Juan: ganuza@msn.com

Maggie: maggie.shafer@sfxcs.org

Dr. Mermann: tmermann@sfxcs.org