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Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Position Statement
In 2016, after the death of Philando Castile, The Basilica recognized a need to address the important issue of racism in our parish, in our lives and in society. With the approval and support of the Parish Council, The Basilica began to prayerfully develop a parish-wide, faith filled-response to racism.
The Basilica began to bring people together to share stories and build trust across racial and ethnic divides. The Basilica engaged in ecumenical initiatives and offered educational series and trainings to learn about and address the issue of racial inequity.
As we sought to connect with and learn from community partners, The Basilica entered into an intentional relationship with equity consultant, Sarah Bellamy, in the Spring of 2019. Through small group conversations and workshops with staff and parishioners, Sarah Bellamy created a strategic and comprehensive report for The Basilica: The Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Opportunities and Challenges Analysis.
Upon completion of this analysis and reflection and support by parish leadership, recommendations of the report are being implemented. A twelve member EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity) Leadership Team comprised of parishioners began meeting September 2020. With guidance by Sarah Bellamy, this team is working on parish-wide strategies and goals within The Basilica and the larger community.
“We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of human life.”
-Pope Francis, reflecting on the killing of George Floyd
The Basilica of Saint Mary
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Position Statement
- Nurturing an environment within our parish that provides equity, diversity and inclusion for all through opportunities to engage in dialogue, education, and compassionate solidarity
- Identifying where institutionalized racism is in our parish while embracing an openness to reform our policies, practices, and procedures
- Providing opportunities for personal transformation, while working toward systemic change
- Working in collaboration with others in our community to deepen our impact both within our parish and within our larger community
Purpose of The Basilica of Saint Mary EDI Position Statement
Catholic Social Teaching Principles
Research
Supporting Statements
Message from Fr Bauer: Updates to our safety protocols
Basilica Community,
I hope this message finds you and your family continuing to stay well during these challenging times.
Today I want to talk with about some changes to our protocols at The Basilica. I have discussed these changes with our staff and parish leadership and we believe they will continue to ensure the safety and well-being of our staff and those who come to The Basilica, while at the same time allowing our gradual return to a new normal.
I would like to highlight 6 changes. First, beginning May 30th, while we will continue to maintain social distancing by taping off every other pew in the church, we will increase the maximum number of potential attendees to 450.
Second, we will continue to encourage people to pre-register for any service where we anticipate there will be more than 50 people. This means we won’t ask people to pre-register for daily Mass or other small services.
For services with over 50 attendees, we will continue to ask people to pre-register, but we will also continue to welcome those who show up without pre-registering. Check-in will continue to take place at the southeast ground level doors. Now, let me emphasize that the reason we want to continue to check-in people is in the unlikely event that someone who attended one of our services tests positive for Covid and we need to contact people and let them know.
Third, at check-in we will eliminate the temperature check, but we will continue to ask people if they have had any symptoms or exposures.
Fourth, in regard to facemasks, while I realize the CDC has rescinded this requirement for people who have been vaccinated, the city of Minneapolis has not rescinded its facemask requirement. Given this, we will continue to require people to wear a facemask at The Basilica. As pastor of The Basilica I ask you not to put our staff or volunteers in a difficult position by not complying with this requirement.
Fifth, beginning Sunday May 30th, we will go back to distributing communion at the regular time, instead of at the end of Mass.
Sixth, beginning the first weekend in July we will resume our 5:00pm Mass on Saturday and 7:30am Mass on Sunday morning. Additionally, we will eliminate the 6:30pm Mass on Sunday and change the time of the Sunday afternoon Mass from 4:30 to 5:00pm.
And as always, if you are not able, or don’t feel comfortable joining us in-person for any of our liturgies, we invite you join them via our livestream.
If you have any questions or concerns about these changes I invite you to contact me at the parish office. My contact information is available on our parish website.
Let me close today in prayer.
We pray for your love and compassion to abound
as we walk through this challenging time
We ask for wisdom for those who need to make decisions with widespread consequences.
We pray for those who are suffering with sickness
and for those who care for them.
We ask for protection for the elderly, the vulnerable, and those who are alone.
We pray that fear may take no hold in our hearts and minds.
And we pray that we might exercise the good sense you have given us, and that we may approach each day in faith and peace,
trusting in the truth of your goodness and love.
Amen.
News and Resources
For the safety and well-being of those who come to The Basilica, but have not yet been vaccinated, we ask that people continue to wear a facemask while in The Basilica.
Please continue to register in advance for all liturgies.
Our parish leadership will continue to monitor and revise our protocols.
Inside this issue:
Basilica Magazine Spring 2021
Download complete issue
www.mary.org/magazinespring2021
A look behind The Basilica livestream
by Mae Desaire
An incredible blessing
by Nick Hansen
Extraordinary times – The Basilica during the pandemic
Edited by Melissa Streit
An interview with Sarah Bellamy
by Joan Prairie
Meet Mary McMahon and Anne Kane
by Melissa Streit
Marriage ministry in pandemic
by Rachel Newman Hogness
Johan M.J. van Parys, Ph.D.
Heather Craig
The award-winning BASILICA magazine is sponsored by The Basilica Landmark, a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to preserve, restore, and advance the historic Basilica of Saint Mary for all generations.
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.
We are starting a sub-series called "Saints That Surround Us." Given that May is the month dedicated to Mary, we will dedicate several editions to Mary, the mother of Jesus. In this episode Johan discusses the scriptural and ancient roots of the devotion to Mary.
