Returning to Church

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- Welcome Back!
  
  Dear Parishioners and Friends of Borgia,
  
  I would like to take this opportunity to personally welcome you back to Mass. It is so good to see our Church filling up again after a long year of separation and I know that many of you are eager to return to in-person worship.
  
  The Archdiocese of St. Louis announced changes to our Covid-19 policy on Friday, May 14th, 2021. Accordingly, the entire Church is now open for seating at St. Francis Borgia Parish. Those who have been vaccinated will no longer be required to wear masks. Washing and sanitizing of hands will continue to be strongly encouraged. For those who need to continue social distancing, all Masses will continued to be televised “live” in the Choir Room and Holy Communion will be distributed to you there.
  
  Archbishop Rozanski is lifting the dispensation from Sunday worship effective July 1, 2021. This is another step back to life as we knew it before the pandemic. What this means is that the obligation to attend Sunday Mass will be back in place as of July 1. I’m grateful that so many have returned to Mass over the last few months. I hope and pray that the importance of the Eucharist grows in each one of us and that this removal of the dispensation will only enhance our devotion to the Eucharist and Mass.
  
  Please note that parishioners who are sick, homebound, immuno-compromised and gravely concerned for their health retain the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass, which has always been the case in normal times. For those of you who are not yet able to be physically present at Mass, know that Father Tony and I fully understand and look forward to seeing you back in Church when that is possible.  You still have the option to virtually attend Mass via our parish livestream on Facebook Live or YouTube. You may access those from our parish website.
  
  I look forward to welcoming more people back to Church and gathering as the family of St. Francis Borgia Parish. Please continue to care for one another and respect the comfort level of others with regard to distance, mask usage, etc. Thank you for your continued support.
  
  Be assured of my prayers for you and your loved ones.
  
  Fr. Mike Boehm, Pastor
  
  St. Francis Borgia, pray for us!
- Every Body Together
- Additional information regarding the lifting of the dispensation and/or COVID-19 safety protocols can be found here:
  
  www.archstl.org/together
- Guidelines for Attending Mass
  
  Masks:   The Archdiocese of St. Louis has updated the COVID-19 directive which lifts the mask requirement for those who have been vaccinated. Disposable masks are available at all the church entrances and on the table in the Gathering Area.
  
  Hand Sanitizer: When entering church please sanitize your hands. Dispensers will be available inside the church by the doors.
  
  Seating Per Pew: All pews in Church are currently open for seating. We ask that parishioners please be respectful of anyone who might need social distancing.
  
  Overflow Seating is located in Jesuit Hall’s Choir Room (2^nd floor). The ushers will be available to assist parishioners and guests.
  
  Family Chapel is available for families with young children and is located to the right of the altar.
  
  Communion Distribution: We use the side aisles for coming to Holy Communion and will return by the center aisle with social distancing observed.
  
  Collection: The ushers will take up the collection with baskets at the normal time during Mass. We thank you for your generosity and support of St. Francis Borgia Parish.
  
  If you are sick, have a temperature, are sneezing, coughing, or not feeling well, please do not come to church. You are dispensed from Mass by the Archbishop.
  
  Those who are at risk because of an underlying health issue or who are over 60 are strongly encouraged, for their own health, to avoid the risk of attending public celebrations of the Mass. If you are unsure, please consult with a medical professional.
- Viewing Online Masses
  
  Livestreaming: We livestream all Masses from our parish Facebook page. You can also tune in to the livestreamed liturgies from our parish website homepage or YouTube channel from the safety of your home.
  
  Click below for additional information:
- Other Events and Gatherings
  
  The mask requirement has been lifted for those who have been vaccinated. This includes being in church for confession, private prayer, baptisms, anointings, Mass, and other events in the Church and Jesuit Hall.

St. Francis Borgia, pray for us!