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I hope this message finds you and your family continuing to stay well during these challenging times.
Last week we opened The Basilica for weekday Mass at noon, and had the first public Mass at The Basilica since mid-March. Speaking for myself, it was absolutely wonderful to have people at Mass again. The Eucharist is a community event, and it was nice to once again have a community with whom I could celebrate and share the Eucharist.
If you wish to attend one of these daily Masses you will need to pre-register the day before. You can do this on our website beginning at 1:00pm the day before the Mass you want to attend. If you do not have a computer, you can also call the parish office.
When you register, you will need to provide contact information, in the unlikely event that we need to do some contact tracing.
When you arrive for Mass you will need to wear a face mask and be checked in by a member of our staff. The check-in point are the accessible doors on the East side of The Basilica, between The Basilica and Cowley Center. After being checked in you will then be shown to a seat. We ask that you continue to wear your facemask, and remain in that seat until the Mass has ended. Communion will be distributed after the Mass has ended.
Last night, at a Zoom meeting with our parish leadership, we discussed opening The Basilica for a Sunday Mass. While people greatly appreciate our live-streaming efforts, we recognized that there is also a desire for people to attend Mass and receive the Eucharist. The Eucharist is central to our lives as Christians.
Given this, the decision was made that beginning Sunday, August 2, The Basilica will be open for one public Mass on Sunday at 11:30am. This Mass will be low key, with just an organ or piano and a cantor. Initially, we will limit the number of attendees at this Mass to 50, but hope to grow this number in the weeks ahead.
We will also continue to livestream our 9:30am Mass, with more robust music and singing ensembles. Unfortunately at this time the 9:30am Mass won’t be open to the public.
The same protocols and registration that we currently use for those attending daily Mass will apply to those who want to attend the 11:30 Mass. To help explain these protocols we have prepared a brief video which is available on our website.
As I’ve mentioned previously, I realize that to some these protocols may seem excessive, but in an abundance of caution and with a concern for the common good, as your pastor, I am convinced that at this time, this is the best way to proceed.
If you are over the age of 65 or if you have some health issues, or if you fall into a vulnerable category for some reason, I would hope that you would not register to attend Mass at this time.
As I have also mentioned previously, if you would like further information about these protocols or if you have questions or concerns, please contact me at the parish office or send me an email. My contact information is available on our parish website.
For those, who are not able to attend Mass, I want to reiterate that, going forward, we will continue to livestream daily Mass as well as our 9:30 Mass on Sunday and our various liturgies and services.
In the event that there is an outbreak of COVID-19 traceable to The Basilica, we will need to reconsider the decision to open The Basilica for public worship. Also if there is a surge in cases of the coronavirus, we will follow any directives/restrictions from the city of Minneapolis or the State. I will alert as soon as possible, should either of these things occur.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Please know they are appreciated more than you know.
Loving God, we come to you full of anxiety about what may happen in the coming days and weeks. Shower us with the peace Jesus promised to his disciples. In this time of uncertainty and epidemic, wake us up to the reminder that we are not alone.
Even as we are asked to keep our distance from others, help us to find ways to reach out to those who need our support. We pray especially for those whose incomes and livelihoods are threatened. We pray especially for the children who will miss meals; for those already isolated, lonely and scared; for those who can not be with a loved one; and for all caregivers.
Loving God, give them your peace, and through our efforts ensure they have what they need.
Sustain, strengthen and protect all of us. Bless us as we seek to offer compassionate care and to show courage in the face of risk.
Remind us, each time we wash our hands, that in our baptism you call us to let go of our fears and live in joy, peace, and hope.
Amen.
News and Resources
The Summer 2020 issue of BASILICA Magazine includes articles capturing this extraordinary time.
The cover features Archbishop Bernard Hebda blessing the city of Minneapolis on Easter Sunday.
www.mary.org/magazinesummer2020
Inside this issue
Extraordinary Times–Extraordinary Measures
A Milestone in Our Basilica Journey
A Timeless Oratorio
The Archdiocesan Synod Process
A 25 Year Partnership Faith into action with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
Our Parish, Our Future
Staff Anniversary Reflections
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Saint John XXIII Gallery
Focus for 2020 Securing the foundation for future generations
Civilize It Navigating political polarization as a community
In our weekly video series "Art That Surrounds Us," Johan van Parys, Ph.D., our Director of Liturgy and Sacred Arts, shares information about a piece from The Basilica of Saint Mary's art collection. This week's installment features the icon of Saint Mary of Magdala in honor of her Feast Day on July 22. Made by iconographer Deb Korluka, it was installed at The Basilica on July 22, 2018.
16TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
IN THE YEAR OF SALVATION TWO THOUSAND TWENTY
JULY 19, 2020
https://container.parishesonline.com/bulletins/02/0207/20200719B.pdf
Basilica Community,
I hope this message finds you and your family continuing to stay well during these challenging times.
Yesterday, we had the first public Mass at The Basilica since mid-March. Speaking for myself, it was absolutely wonderful to have people at Mass again.
The Eucharist is a community event, and it was nice to once again have a community with whom I could celebrate and share the Eucharist.
Using our new equipment, our staff livestreamed Mass. For their first time, I think it went very well. I ask your patience, though, as our staff takes on this responsibility. No doubt, mistakes will be made, but please bear with us.
I you wish to attend one of these daily Masses you will need to pre-register the day before. You can do this on our website, the day before the Mass you want to attend. If you do not have a computer, you can also call the parish office. When you register, you will need to provide contact information, in the unlikely event that we need to do some contact tracing.
When you arrive for Mass you will need to wear a face mask and be checked in by a member of our staff. The check-in point is the accessible doors on the East side of The Basilica—between The Basilica and Cowley Center. After being checked-in you will then be shown to a seat. We ask that you continue to wear your facemask, and remain in that seat until the Mass has ended. Communion will be distributed after the Mass has ended.
To help explain these protocols we have prepared a brief video which will be available on our website.
I realize these protocols may seem excessive to some, but in an abundance of caution and with a concern for the common good, as your pastor, I am convinced that at this time, this is the best way to proceed.
If you are over the age of 65 or if you have some health issues, or if you fall into a vulnerable category for some reason, I would hope that you would not register to attend Mass at this time.
As I have mentioned previously, if you would like further information about these protocols or if you have questions or concerns, please contact me at the parish office or send me an email. My contact information is available on our parish website.
For those, who are not able to attend Mass, I also want to reassure you that, going forward, we will continue to livestream our various liturgies and services.
Once we are up and running for daily Mass, and have worked out any kinks in our protocols, we hope to open The Basilica for a public Sunday Mass. We hope to this beginning the first part of August. I will be discussing this with our Parish leadership at a Zoom meeting next week, and will let you know the outcome of that discussion.
As I close today, I ask for your prayers for our staff, our parish leadership, our parish, and our community, that we might be open to the guidance of God’s good Spirit during these challenging times.
Lord, Jesus, your light rises in our darkness and assures us that you are present with us and that your powerful closeness to us transforms our fear into hope.
May we join with our Holy Father, Francis, in spreading a "contagion" of hope "from heart to heart".
Protect all your selfless servants who continue to serve the needs of the most vulnerable by both hands and heart.
Give our elected leaders wisdom of heart in decision-making that the common good of our human family may be achieved and the gift of each person's human dignity respected.
May the fire of love, faith and hope burn within our hearts so that we may give witness to the mystery of your resurrected life among us and within us. Amen.
News and Resources
In our weekly video series "Art That Surrounds Us," Johan van Parys, Ph.D., our Director of Liturgy and Sacred Arts, shares information about a piece from The Basilica of Saint Mary's art collection. This week's installment features a mosiac of Our Lady of Good Counsel made at the Vatican Art Museums and donated by Cathy and Jack Farrell. This mosiac hangs on the east wall of church near the chapel of Saint Therese.
Welcoming you back to The Basilica
The Basilica is our spiritual home--a place of welcome. We want each person who enters The Basilica to feel safe. We will open for weekday Noon Mass on a restricted basis starting Wednesday, July 15. The Basilica will follow all state health and safety guidelines. We are not yet open to the public for Mass on Sundays.
You will see new practices and policies when you return. The policies will continue to change as we monitor the official guidelines.
We will continue to livestream our both the weekday and Sunday liturgies and all prayer services. Archbishop Hebda's has continued the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass.
Please read the full protocol before registering to attend Mass. Your cooperation in these extraordinary times embodies our vision to seek the well-being of our community.
Please consider refraining from Mass in-person if you:
1.) Experienced or have been near someone who experienced: cough, cold, flu, fever of 100°F +, shortness of breath, sore throat, or a loss of taste or smell.
2.) Have underlying medical conditions, including but not limited to: asthma, diabetes, heart condition, pregnancy, severe obesity, a compromised immune system, diseases of the lungs, kidneys, or liver, or are receiving cancer treatment.
3.) Live in a nursing home, long-term care, or congregant living facility.
4.) Are age 65 or over.
- Registration for weekday Mass opens at 1:00pm on the day prior to Mass
- Registration will close at 10:00am the day of Mass, or if we have reached capacity
- You may only register for one weekday Mass at a time
- Be sure to bring a face mask with you, which needs to be worn over your nose and mouth at all times at The Basilica
If you feel unable to follow these protocols or are concerned with interpersonal proximity, even with social distancing, please prayerfully reconsider attending Mass in-person at this time. To register by phone, please call our Director of Engagement at 612.317.3417.
