St. Patrick's of Ransom will have Mass outside at 7:30am
and St. Mary's of the Field, Grand Ridge will have Mass outside at 10:30am
this weekend, Sunday, June 7, 2020.
 Outdoor Mass at St. Patrick’s Church, Seneca
 Sunday, June 7, 2020
9:00 AM
North Church Lawn 
Church and Parish Center Parking Areas
Newest Parish Council Letter dated June 4, 2020

Dear Parishioners of St. Patrick’s Church,

It was a joy to see such a great attendance last week at our outdoor Mass! We hope you can join us again this Sunday, June 7th for Mass at St. Patrick’s at 9AM on the North lawn and parking areas of the church and the parish center. There will NOT be drive-thru communion since we are having Mass.
VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY NEEDED
What:                Volunteer Training – Learn How You Can Help at Weekend Masses!
When:               Sunday, June 7, 2020
Time:                After 9:00am Mass – starting at approximately 9:45am until 10:30pm
Where:              St. Patrick’s Church
We are pleased to announce that our parish is planning to reopen for weekend and weekday Masses soon after Bishop Jenky approves our plan indicating that we are compliant with the diocesan protocols for reopening. To complete this process, we are required to have enough volunteers to assist with church set-up, greeting and directing parishioners at Mass and cleaning after Mass. We urgently need the support of our less vulnerable parishioners to assume these roles! You will be able to assist at the weekend Mass of your choice.
·       Set-up Team – Sample duties include ensuring all supplies needed for each sacramental celebration/gathering are ready for use, entrances and exits are marked and propped physically open prior to attendees’ arrival/departure, etc.
·       Greeting/Usher Team – Sample duties include assisting in managing the flow of parishioners as they enter the church, making sure that attendees use hand sanitizer upon entering, are wearing a mask or face covering, and are reminded not to enter if ill; directing people to seating areas, etc.
·       Cleaning Team – Sample duties include maintaining and cleaning essential and trafficked areas of the church before and after the church has been used. Masks and gloves will be provided (or you may use your own) in addition to approved cleaning and disinfecting supplies.
 
Please answer our call and attend the brief training session! If you cannot attend but are able to assist, please let a parish council member or Father Jean know.

SUNDAY MASS - PLEASE LET EVERYONE KNOW!​
IT MAY BE DIFFERENT, BUT WE WILL ALL BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE MASS TOGETHER!

You may bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on the lawn or you may choose to sit in your car. Father will offer Mass from the North steps of the church and there will be speakers so that you will be able to hear from either location.
Please observe the following protocols from the diocese which we have been instructed to practice:
- Mass will begin at 9:00AM so please arrive in time to be in place before Mass begins.
-  If you are sitting on the lawn, please park on the east or west side of the church leaving parking open on the North side of the church and at the parish center so those who wish to remain in their cars for Mass can park closer and be able to hear from their cars.
-  Space yourselves at least 6ft. away from others! Social distancing guidelines (6ft.) must always be maintained. Family members are permitted to sit together.
-  Although Mass will take place outside, we encourage those in attendance to wear face masks or face coverings out of respect for each other and the safety of all. When we begin having Mass inside the church, all present will be REQUIRED to wear face masks or face coverings, excluding children under the age of 2.
-  No physical sign of peace will be exchanged during Mass.
-  If you are in your car, please ask a volunteer for the FM radio channel that will be broadcasting Mass.
-  Communion will be distributed by placing the host in the communicant’s hand. Those receiving communion are encouraged to use hand sanitizer prior to receiving to reduce the spreading of germs should Father Jean contact your hand.
-  Remain in place for Holy Communion. You do not need to come forward to the altar. Father Jean will distribute communion to parishioners on the lawn and to those in cars.
-  If you are in your car, you do not need to exit your vehicle. Please remain in your car and Father Jean will come to the driver’s side of your car as was done for drive-thru communion. Father will not reach any further into the vehicle than his hand.
-  Collection baskets will not be passed during the offertory. A receptacle will be provided if you wish to drop your envelope or donation off.
 
Bishop Jenky writes, “We are striving at all times to conduct ourselves as devout believers and responsible citizens. We are all in this together.” He asks that:
-  All the faithful keep in mind the need to be cautious and provide for the safety and health of all parishioners, especially those who are vulnerable.
-  Those who are in the high-risk population or who are vulnerable should exercise prudence by remaining as safe as possible.
-  When in doubt, the ill and the elderly should continue to remain at home.
-  We remember that the faithful continue to be dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and when to return to public worship is a personal decision.
 
Homebound individuals who desire to receive Holy Communion can contact Father Jean at the rectory (815-357-6239) to arrange a private visit.
We are truly thankful for this opportunity to worship together again and for Father Jean’s encouragement to participate in the outdoor Mass as he is accustomed to doing in his homeland!
Thank you for your patience as we work through the details of reopening our church in the weeks to come.

We hope to see you Sunday! God bless you all!
​
St. Patrick’s Parish Council

The following is posted as requested by the Diocese of Peoria and Bishop Jenky:
WARNING ABOUT RISK ASSUMED BY PARISHIONERS: While our parish staffs will attempt to take appropriate precautions consistent with the advice of public health authorities, parishioners and guests should understand that they assume the risk of contracting COVID-19 anytime they enter a public space since such precautions do not eliminate the risk of infection.


If you wish to see all the steps needed/required for us to start up Masses at St. Patrick's Church, please click the link below.  Here you will find a letter from Bishop Jenky and below that you will find the Covid-19 Protocol Instructions for the Diocese of Peoria.
For those interested in signing up to give your weekly/monthly/special collection donations on-line, please click on the link below. If you have any questions please contact Nadine Maierhofer @ 815-252-0034.  We thank you for your generosity.
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Below is the link to our new St. Patrick's once a month bulletin.  Please look it over as there will be new updated information at the beginning of each month.  If you would like something put in the monthly bulletin we ask that you email it to nadinemm@senecastpatricks.com by the 25th of the current month.  Once approved by Father G our monthly bulletin will be printed and ready to go the first weekend of every month.  If you would like to sponsor this monthly bulletin please place your donation into the collection basket at either of our weekend masses.  Thank you and may God bless you!
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                                       Altar & Rosary
St. Patrick's Altar & Rosary meet every 3rd Wednesday of the month at the Church Parish Center at 6:30pm.  All women of the Parish are invited to attend.  If you would like more information please take a pamphlet from the tables at the back of the church.
St. Joseph's and St. Mary's parishioners wanting to set up their on-line giving please go to the top right corner and find your Church's name and click on it.  This is still under construction - we are waiting for Father G's direction. 
You will be directed to your Church's page and it will have directions and/or the link you will need to set up your on-line giving.
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Please be sure to check out ALL of the upcoming events on the "schedules" tab of this website!  
Click the SUNDAY BULLETIN button below to see the Weekly Bulletin printed for St. Patrick's, St. Mary's of the Field, and St. Theresa.  Once the screen advances it will ask you for the Church's name OR the city and state you are looking for, enter information and click "submit."   Several options could be listed depending on how you did your search.  Find "St. Patrick's" of Seneca and click on it.  The screen will advance to an informational page of St. Patrick's, with a blue "view latest bulletin" button.  Click on that blue button and it will take you to the newest, up-to-date, weekly bulletin.