COVID-19 UPDATES

Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller has revoked the dispensation granted on March 13, 2020.  Therefore, effective May 23, 2021, the Solemnity of Pentecost, the obligation for Catholics to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation is reinstated for all Catholics of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.  

Catholics who have serious reasons for not physically attending Mass are encouraged to follow the guidance the Church provides in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2181): "The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor."  Other examples are the elderly and physically disabled persons and those with compromised immune systems who have prayerfully discerned taht they should not physiaccly attend.  

As a result of positive trends and because of the new guidance from the CDC, we feel that it is now sufficiently safe for us to make additional changes to our COVID-19 protocols:

• We will continue to invite people in our parish and school who are not fully vaccinated, to wear masks when they are indoors and around others. Verification of vaccination will not be required; it is our hope that everyone will act honorably in this matter for the sake of the common good.
• We will encourage, but no longer require, social distancing measures. 
• We ask that individuals who are feeling ill or are symptomatic to please stay home and not return to church until they have had resolution of their symptoms for at least 24 hours.
• We will continue to sanitize church facilities regularly.
• Individuals are encouraged to continue proper hand sanitation.
• Beginning May 30, 2021 we will no longer livestream the Sunday 11:00am Mass.

We ask that you continue to pray for an end to the pandemic. 

To read the full letter from Bishop Michael Boulette dated May 14, 2021 please click here

While this dispensation is extended, the faithful need to tend to their spiritual lives and are strongly encouraged to return to Mass with their community if they are able.  Any parishioners who are uncomfortable attending Sunday Mass due to the coronavirus or safety measures implemented at Notre Dame are excused from their obligation to attend.

To read the latest letter from Archbishop Gustavo to the congregation, written on October 16, 2020, please click the link:
http://www.archsa.org/images/uploads/Dispensation.pdf

Click HERE to read the full Press Release from the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
https://www.archsa.org/images/uploads/4-16-20-Decree-update-English.pdf

All Masses have been suspended to the public until further notice. This now includes daily Mass.

• Please see the full decree below from Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller. 

• LIVE STREAM of bilingual Mass celebrated by Fr. David and Fr. Rafal will be available on Sundays at 9:00am.  We thank everyone who joined us on Facebook Live this past Sunday. Your presence and prayers were definitely felt. Let us be thankful for the technology that allows us to do bring the Mass to God's people during this current situation. We are currently working on improvements to the audio quality as well as making it more accessible for our parishioners in the weeks to come. Please stay tuned for more details regarding this week's live stream.

• Daily Masses will be celebrated without the congregation.  However, our priests will celebrate Mass each day for the intention of our parish.

• The Sacrament of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick are available only by appointment. Please call the Parish Office.

• Eucharistic Adoration will proceed as normal and the church doors will be unlocked during daytime hours for personal prayer. Visitors are asked to spread out and practice "social distancing" during this time.

• All other parish ministries and events are cancelled or postponed until further notice.  This includes but is not limited to the following:
  • Stations of the Cross and Friday Lenten dinners
  • Hour of Mercy
  • Children's Faith Formation, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, EDGE, LIFE TEEN, Catholic Way Bible Study, That Man is You
  • Women of Hope Retreat
  • All parish retreats

• During this time which we are not taking an offertory collection, we highly recommend submitting a contribution or establishing a recurring weekly gift through our online giving option.  For more details please visit our Online Giving page. Contributions can also be dropped off at the parish office during business hours.

Our prayer is that we may all respond with charity and sensitivity for the common good.  Please practice good hygiene following the recommendations of the CDC, stay at home if you feel sick or at risk, and increase your personal prayer at home with your families.  

Please read Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller's full decree published on March 13, 2020 by clicking HERE

Effective the weekend of March 14-15, the Archdiocese of San Antonio has issued the following:

1. The Sunday Mass obligation is hereby dispensed for all Catholics.  Public weekend Mass at Notre Dame Catholic Church (and all parishes in the Archdiocese) is suspended through April 3. Daily Masses as well as Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel will continue.
2. All non-essential gatherings for the rest of March are cancelled or postponed, pending further notice.  This includes all faith formation, youth ministry, retreats, and parish ministry gatherings.
3. We are advising against home visits at this time, but in situations of serious pastoral necessity these decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the pastor, responding to the best of their abilities to these requests.  
4. The faithful are encouraged to view and participate in the daily and Sunday Masses via CTSA, other television outlets or through archdiocesan electronic media.  Other devotions, such as praying the daily rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet, are most appropriate at this time.

Accompanied by the Lord, who will sustain us through this tribulation - and through the hard work of our dedicated health professionals - we will make it through these trying times that may come over the following weeks and months.  May all of these efforts help us to slow the spread of COVID-19.

During this most difficult time we ask you to think of what you can do for others, and invite you to pray:

Our Lady of Guadalupe, in these times of tribulation we turn to you O Mother.
See with compassion the suffering of your beloved daughters and sons
affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic throughout the entire world.
Ask your Son to have mercy on us bringing healing to those infected and protection to all your children.
Jesus, Christ, savior of all people, grant us courage to accompany and pray 
for the entire world in the wake of sorrow and uncertainty.
We seek refuge in you and according to your promise, deliver us from this danger.
Amen.