Blessings, as we continue to celebrate Easter season. I hope this letter finds you in good health, although our lives have been vastly different from past Easter season I pray you have experienced the true joy of Easter and the promises that the Resurrection of the Lord holds for us. Please know that I continue to pray for you daily and I ask that you pray for me.

It is with gratitude that I am able to inform you that I will be resuming public Mass at St. Gerald Parish, beginning Tuesday, May 19th, at our normally scheduled 9:15am Mass and will be continuing with our regular schedule of Masses. Needless to say there are necessary conditions we need to follow in order to maintain the public resumption of Masses and I will need the support of all the faithful in following these guidelines in order to maintain the conditions to celebrate Mass publicly.

Face-coverings/masks are to be worn by all in or around the church. Physical distancing must be practiced in the church and on the church property, which means that non-family members are to remain at least 6 feet apart. In order to provide for the appropriate social distancing St. Gerald will limit the capacity of attendees in the church proper to 25% as well as utilizing 25% of the space in the Social Hall for those who wish to personally attend Mass. Acceptable seating locations will be identified, and your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Please note that in addition to cleaning and sanitizing the church facilities before and after each Mass all worship aides have been removed from the church and narthex so as to limit the possibility of contamination. Along with these efforts offertory baskets will not be passed during Mass, rather there will be a basket in a central location for those who are able to make a donation. Also, there will only be one line for the reception of Eucharist during the weekday Masses and one line in each wing of the church during the weekend Masses. Spacing of at least six feet apart will be indicated on the floor and again I ask your corporation in abiding by these guidelines.

Following the Archdiocesan guidelines, "Those older than 65 years old (the recommended CDC age), with a compromised health condition or caring for the sick in any way, should be encouraged to stay home. Anyone who is ill, has a temperature, cough, etc., should definitely stay home as an act of justice to the whole community." Please, if you do not feel well or are uncomfortable with attending public Mass currently please stay home. Archbishop Vigneron has granted a dispensation from the Sunday obligation to attend Mass. This dispensation is granted to all the faithful through Sunday, September 6, 2020.

In addition to watching Mass and other religious programs on television there are several options for spiritual comfort available through the internet. To get information for the daily scripture reading and resources for prayer please go to: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops at www.usccb.org, Archdiocese of Detroit at www.aod.org or Unleash the Gospel at www.unleashthegospel.org. Also, we have resources posted on our St. Gerald website at www.stgeraldparish.org including a link to livestream Masses, as well as the St. Gerald Facebook page.

Although the parish office is still temporarily closed, the messages are checked daily. Also, if you, or someone you know is in need of food or financial assistance please contact our St. Vincent de Paul Society at 248-477-7470 ext. 220 and leave a message. SVDP members are available, they check the messages frequently during the day and return your calls promptly.

Please continue to follow guidelines we have in our state, be safe and stay well.

Again, I would like to thank all of you for your continued support of St. Gerald Parish with your prayers and contributions, “For God did not give us a spirit of fear but rather of power and love and assurance” 2 Timothy 1:7.

May God bless you!