Dear People of God at St. Paul’s by-the-Lake,
As you likely have heard or suspected, in light of recent advisories from state and city officials, Bishop Lee has called for another suspension of in-person worship and meetings in the Diocese of Chicago, effective Monday, November 16, lasting at least 30 days. At St. Paul’s, this means that we will have to refrain from having public Masses on both Sundays and weekdays. The earliest Sunday that we might resume in-person worship is the 4th Sunday of Advent, December 20. But as we know from our experience this past spring, there is a distinct possibility that this period may be extended if it is deemed necessary.
This is no doubt a source of grief and frustration for us. No one wanted to be back at this point, a mere five months after re-opening. We have tried our utmost to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission at church, and as far as we know, these measures have been successful. However, what we do as a parish is only a small piece of the many complex factors that drive the progress of the pandemic. It is undeniable that the metrics in both Chicago and Illinois more broadly have gotten worse in recent weeks. While none of us may like returning to such drastic measures, we do so in a spirit of charity toward our neighbors (especially those most vulnerable to the virus), and of hope in God’s providence through adversity.
During this period of suspension, I would commend to you the following ways to maintain habits of regular worship and prayer:
We will continue to live-stream Mass at 10:30 am on Sundays from the church building. While this is not the same as attending church, I highly recommend that you watch as part of your Sunday routine.
If anyone would like to receive Holy Communion, I am more than happy to bring the Reserved Sacrament to your home upon request. Call me at 614-314-1475 to schedule a visit.
Related to this, I would be glad to schedule a visit to administer Holy Unction or hear Confessions as needed.
Resources for home worship can be found on our website here.
Remember to pray for a speedy end to this pandemic, for all those suffering from COVID-19, for medical workers, and for those facing isolation.
We will communicate further information as it becomes available. For the most recent updates, visit our webpage here.
Faithfully in Christ,
Fr. Kemp+
The announcement from Bishop Lee may be found here.