Governor Edwards and Mayor Cantrell announced plans for the reopening of our places of worship and businesses. The guidelines allow us to welcome parishioners up to 25% capacity of the church building. Mayor Cantrell has limited the capacity to 100 people. Our church has a maximum seating capacity of 488 adult worshipers. However, to follow the State Fire Marshall’s guidelines and the rule of six feet for social distancing, we have to eliminate 34 of our 52 pews. For the immediate future, we are limiting the number to 70 worshipers. We count couples and parents with children as one unit. Keep in mind that your favorite pew may not be available. This creates an even greater challenge of how to sit folks as they are arriving. When arriving for mass and entering church, please be conscious of the necessary social distance between worshipers. We give thanks to God for this opportunity to worship together again as a community within the Church!
In order to follow the state guidelines, we are asking each family to sign up for the Mass they would like to attend. Please submit the name of each individual whom you are registering to attend Mass. Once the maximum number of people is reached for a Mass, the form will not allow you to sign up for that Mass.
If you know of someone without computer access ask them to call the parish office at (504) 891-4479 to sign up.
Everyone is still dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. If you are healthy, we invite you to come to church. If you are sick, please wait until you recover to attend Mass. We will continue to livestream our Sunday Mass at 9:30 am.
Due to the limited spaces, Masses are available ONLY to St. Francis parishioners during this time. If you are not a parishioner, we encourage you to contact your parish family. If you are an unregistered parishioner, then take this opportunity to count yourself among the members of the flock of St. Francis of Assisi. You can register on our parish website www.stfrancisuptown.com/join
General Guidelines for Mass Attendance
Entering and Leaving:
All doors are open.
Limit one family per pew.
Church pews will be marked and roped off.
When Mass is over, please do not gather in groups outside of church or in the parking lot and continue to maintain social distancing
During Mass:
Please wear a mask during Mass aside from receiving Communion.
A worship aid will be available at the entrances. After mass, please leave it in your pew.
Be mindful of social distancing and maintain six feet of distance from others at all times.
You may place your regular offering for support of St. Francis of Assisi Parish and other collections in the baskets in the center aisle and side door.
The Offertory procession is omitted.
We can express the sign of peace by means of a smile and/or a nod of the head.
Guidelines for Reception of Holy Communion:
Please bring hand sanitizer to use before receiving Communion.
During the distribution of Holy Communion, please form a single line and observe the social distancing blue lines in the floor of the aisle. We will alternate sides of the church.
Out of consideration and concern for others, we ask everyone to receive Holy Communion in the hand rather than on the tongue.
You will receive the Body of Christ in the form of bread only.
When approaching the priest for Holy Communion, place your hand flatly atop the other hand and fully extend your arm toward the priest or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. The priest/minister will place the Host on your hand in a manner to avoid any contact with your hand.
If you have any questions, please contact Fr. Michael in the parish office.
We look forward to worshiping our Lord with you
Signup forms for May 30-31 and June 6-7 are below.
Click the Mass Time Below to Sign Up
Saturday, June 6, 2020- 4:00pm Vigil
Sunday, June 7, 2020 - 9:30am
Sunday, June 7, 2020 - 11:30am
Saturday, June 13, 2020-4:00 pm Vigil
Sunday, June 14th, 2020-9:30am
Sunday, June 14th 2020-11:30am