St. Patrick's Catholic Parish

DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS ST. PATRICK'S PARISH (CHURCH, OFFICE AND HALL) ARE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE PER THE DIRECTIVE OF BISHOP CALVO OF THE DIOCESE OF RENO. ALL SCHEDULED MASSES, SERVICES, AND/OR MEETINGS, AS WELL AS JOANIE'S PANTRY, ARE CANCELLED (UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE ON THIS WEBSITE). 

PUBLIC MASSES WILL RESUME BEGINNING JUNE 7 PER ST. PATRICK'S REGULAR SCHEDULE BUT WITH CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS. SEE BISHOP CALVO'S NOTICE BELOW AND FATHER TONY'S LETTER ALSO BELOW. BOTH ARE ALSO UNDER "NEWS AND EVENTS" ON THIS WEBSITE.

FOR BISHOP CALVO'S NOTIFICATIONS GO TO THE DIOCESE OF RENO WEBSITE AT renodiocese.org. ALSO, ON THIS WEBSITE, GO TO "NEWS & EVENTS" AND CLICK ON "NEWS" FOR THE BISHOP'S MESSAGES AND FOR A PRAYER TO END THE CORONAVIRUS. The newest notice from Bishop Calvo, dated May 27, 2020, and seen below, has been added to "News and Events." A Spanish version is included. Also, see Father Tony's messages here and in "News and Events."

Check this website for further updates as they occur. 
 

From DIOCESE OF RENO Regarding
Resuming Public Masses in the Diocese of Reno in the Time of the COVID 19 Pandemic
May 27, 2020 
 
Starting on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, June 7, 2020, parishes in the Diocese of Reno may resume public Masses provided they are ready to proceed with the necessary safety provisions.  Under the State of Nevada’s Phase Two, houses of worship are limited to gatherings of no more than 50 people.
 
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God.  We must take reasonable care of them, taking into consideration the needs of others and the common good” (CCC 2288).  This moral teaching has guided and will continue to guide our safety protocols during the novel Coronavirus pandemic, especially since there is currently no vaccine or proven treatment.  Providing a safe environment is paramount as we gather together to worship God, the author of life and source of all goodness.
 
The protocols for safety follow guidelines and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, the State of Nevada, the resources provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic liturgical and medical experts, and the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.
 
Respect Life
 
We are called to respect life from the moment of conception to natural death.  It is nothing less than a moral obligation for each of us to be considerate of one another’s health and safety when we come to church.  All are asked to follow the protocols for safety in the spirit of justice and charity: in justice, for we owe it to each other as brothers and sisters to care about one another’s life; in charity, for we follow the Golden Rule which Jesus preached in his Sermon on the Mount, “Do unto others whatever you would have them do to you.  This is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
 
Some may object or disagree with a given protocol, but all are asked to abide with them.  The peace that marks the sanctuary for worship is neither the time nor the place for arguments or confrontation.  For the sake of all, some may be called to put aside personal opinion or sacrifice convenience.  Let us all take to heart St. Paul’s admonition: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace unto which you were also called in one body” (Col. 3:12; 15).
 
Vulnerable Persons
 
While anyone of any age can come down with COVID 19, there are those of us who have a higher risk of severe illness if infected.  The Centers for Disease Control lists as vulnerable persons people 65 years and older and people of any age with underlying health issues: asthma, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease being treated with dialysis, diabetes, compromised immunity, liver disease, severe heart conditions, and severe obesity.  The federal guidelines “Opening Up America Again” advise vulnerable individuals to stay at home during the initial phases of reopening.
A large number of parishioners fall in this category.  Some who are 65 years and older may feel healthy enough to shop for groceries or even resume work.  We ask them to consult with their health care providers and assess the level of risk if they should choose to come to church.  We care about people defined as “vulnerable” but also want to minimize the health risks for them.  We also expect individuals to take responsibility for their health.
 
Some priests, deacons, Eucharistic ministers, and greeters are in the category of vulnerable persons.  They are all asked to consult with their health care providers if they are to assume liturgical ministry and under what conditions this would be safe for them.  There will be necessary adjustments that all are asked to respect.
 
Parishes should consider having special liturgies only for vulnerable people of limited duration and with an overabundance of social distancing.
 
Dispensation from the Obligation of Sunday Mass
 
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the bishop has granted a dispensation from the obligation of Sunday Mass in the Diocese of Reno to anyone who should not attend Mass for health reasons or who do not feel safe in coming to church.  This dispensation continues until further notice.
 
Parishes are encouraged to continue livestreaming Masses for those who are not able to attend in person.
 
What Will Be Prepared for You When You Come to Church
 
The church will be cleaned and surface areas and door knobs/handles will be sanitized.  There will be hand sanitizing dispensers as you enter and seating will be arranged for social distancing.  Social distancing is defined as a minimum of 6 ft. of physical separation front and back and sides.
 
What We Ask You to Do When You Come
 

1. If you are feeling sick, have a fever, are coughing or sneezing, please stay at home.

2. Please exercise personal hygiene and use the available hand sanitizer.

3. Please, please wear a facial mask.  Do it for your neighbor.  Wear a mask out of respect for the sanctity of each other’s God-given life.  Let it be your offering as you partake of the fruits of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  Justice done for one’s neighbor is a pleasing offering to God as the prophets proclaimed.  Children two years and younger should not wear a mask.

4. Please leave your name and contact information.  Some parishes will ask you to call or email your church your intention to attend a certain Mass or you can bring in this information and drop it in a box or other receptacle at the church’s entrance.  Contact tracing is a vital part of containing the spread of Covid 19.  Churches that have this information make it readily available for health authorities to do the necessary contact tracing.  In churches that do not have this information, news media will have to inform the public and parishes will need to figure out who attended a Mass where there has been exposure to the Coronavirus.

5. Observe social distancing.  Seating in the church will be marked for this purpose.  Families and couples can sit together but others apart.

6. There will be no handshakes, holding hands, hugs or other forms of physical contact unless people are members of the same household.  For the kiss of peace, please greet each other in an appropriate non-contact way.

7. For communion, please follow directions for social distancing.  To safeguard against any potential transmission of the virus, communion will only be given in the hand.  Communion will not be administered on the tongue because of the health risk involved.  One may claim a right to receive communion on the tongue, but this is not an absolute right; the right to life supersedes it.  The right to life is a natural right; the right to receive on the tongue is a right given by the church.  An essential disposition for reception of communion is reverence and the practice of communion in the hand extends back to the earliest days of the Church and understood as no less reverent.  The disposition of one’s mind and heart determines reverence in reception.

 From FATHER TONY Regarding PREPARING FOR RESUMING PUBLIC MASSES

Dear Parishioners.
 
I hope that you are doing well with your family and loved ones – especially during the current health crisis. Most of you may be longing for the time when things will return to normal. We keep praying for that.
 
For the past month or so we cancelled our public Masses in accordance with instructions from Bishop Calvo of the Diocese of Reno. Hopefully, we will soon be able to open our church for public Masses. However, be aware that, when that time comes, we may have to adjust to “a new normal.” I am looking forward to your understanding and cooperation which is also for the greater good of the community.
 
Here are the changes we will need to adopt and follow based upon the guidelines from our bishop:
 
1. Masses will now be celebrated in the church.
2. At the entrance to the hall, someone will check your temperature.
3. You will need to wear your mask inside the hall. It does not need to be an N95 mask.
4. To allow for contact tracing if necessary, you will need to write your name, phone number, and email address on a small piece of paper and drop it into a designated box on each occasion that you attend Mass.
5. You must practice social distancing, that is, keeping a minimum of six (6) feet away from another person at all times. Chairs inside the hall will be arranged according to the specification.
6. There will no longer be collection baskets. Instead, please drop your donations/envelopes in a designated box (separate from the one for contact tracing) inside the hall.
7. Church choirs for now are not recommended but one Cantor is enough.
8. Coffee and/or “after Mass” treats will no longer be available for now.
10. Please do not come to Mass if you are sick. Consult with your physicians – especially in the case of those who may have health issues to make sure that it is OK for you to attend Mass.
 
Some of the above changes will occur in different phases. But these are the guidelines, in a shortened version, as we begin to open our Masses to the public. We may have different guidelines in subsequent phases of the church’s opening.
 
We may be in the middle of the storm now. But, hopefully, we will keep focusing our eyes and hearts on Jesus. We can brave this storm. We pray for those who are sick and have lost loved ones, and also for the doctors, nurses, caregivers, volunteers, and all those who make themselves available to help us with our daily needs. Let us also pray for one another. Keep on believing. This storm will eventually pass.
 
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Father Antonio Quijano, Jr.
May 22, 2020
 

We wish to thank St. Patrick's parishioners who continue to tithe by mailing in their offerings despite the church closure. Your thoughtfulness and generosity is deeply appreciated during this difficult time. God bless you and keep you safe!
 

Something new! Now parishioners can donate directly to St. Patrick's through the Diocese of Reno website! It is called the "Virtual Parish Offering Plate" and is being made available to help diocesan parishioners continue tithing or financially supporting their parishes during church closures per Bishop Calvo's directive and due to the coronavirus situation.  Here is what you do:
1. Access the Diocese of Reno website at renodiocese.org.
2. At the top of the home page photos will scroll. When the one which says "Please help keep the light shining" comes up, quickly click on "Parish Donations" in the box below right.
3. On the next page click above "USD" and a line will appear. On the line enter the amount you wish to donate (for example, 25.00) A minimum of $10.00 is required as a security device against hackers.
4. Click on the box below which darkens when you enter the money amount and says "virtual parish offering plate."
5. On the next page enter your credit card information as requested.
6. Enter your billing address as requested. Include your email if you wish to receive a confirmation of your donation.
7. Under the Custom Section, enter your envelope number if you know it. Then, in the drop-down menu, scroll to find our parish and click on St. Patrick. Finally, in the next drop-down menu, scroll to choose a purpose for the donation. Perhaps most parishioners will select "general" or "envelope." 
8. When all of step 7 is completed, the box below this info will darken and ask you to "submit payment." Click on the box to complete the transaction.
The money donated in this manner will be sent by the DIocese of Reno directly to our parish. The donations will come through the diocesan account with a check prepared and sent to St. Patrick's. The diocese will not take any of these funds nor will it record any information. This is a wonderful opportunity to provide for the parish since St. Patrick's does not have its own online givng program. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support!
 

ST. PATRICK'S MISSION STATEMENT
We, the Catholic Community of St. Patrick's, are a pioneer people centered in God. Honoring diversity, we are committed to strengthening our personal and communal relationship with Jesus Christ through Scripture, the Eucharist, prayer and fellowship. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we seek to recognize and share our gifts of time, talent and resources. Empowered by the Father's love,  we reach out to all people within and beyond St. Patrick's community.