Saint Isidore the Farmer Catholic Church

 Our Parish

Dear Parishioners,

Oh, happy day! We have received new Covid guidelines from the diocese. I have copied below the letter sent to our priests on behalf of our Bishop. As you will see, almost all restrictions for Mass will be removed effective May 28. The dispensation is still in effect, which means, if anyone has any fear or concern about covid they do not have the obligation to attend Mass. Also, there will be no need to sign-up for the Masses this weekend, there are no social distancing restrictions or capacity limits for the church. We will continue to provide the radio broadcast to the parking lot and the outside speakers for those who would prefer to stay outside as before. We will also continue to send a YouTube link for one of our Sunday Masses.

Here is the letter I received yesterday, Enjoy! And God bless you,

Fr. Staples

Dear Brother Priests,

On behalf of Bishop Burbidge, thank you for your perseverance during the past fourteen months.  By God’s grace, we are near the end of this pandemic as the total number of new cases in Virginia was only 236 – down from a height of 10,000 in January.  Because of these significant improvements, the Commonwealth is lifting nearly all of it guidelines on May 28^th. 

Executive Order (EO) 79 provides guidelines on masks in accordance with the CDC’s recent modification for those who are vaccinated. The Executive Order also terminates EO 72 (7^th amendment), which had extensive guidelines for various sectors. The termination of EO 72 effectively eliminates social distancing and occupancy restrictions. 

In response to these significant changes, Bishop Burbidge is lifting various guidelines enacted across the Diocese effective May 28. The changes are as follows:

• Bishop Burbidge encourages all parishes to return to pre-COVID schedules for Masses, Adoration, and access to the Parish
• No occupancy limits on Mass attendance
• No social distancing
• No disinfecting or cleaning between Masses as expected during the pandemic
• At the pastor’s discretion, live-streamed Masses may still be offered out of solicitude for the homebound 
• As for face coverings
  • Fully vaccinated persons no longer need to wear a mask in any setting
  • Unvaccinated persons are encouraged to wear face coverings per EO 79
  • Priests should not inquire into the vaccination status of parishioners
  • Priests should not bar parishioners not wearing masks from entering church buildings or the Mass
• At this time, Communion should continue under the Precious Body only
• The use of full Choirs may return to Mass
• The following liturgical elements that were suspended during the pandemic may now be reintroduced:
  • Holy water
  • Procession
  • Collection
  • Offertory procession
  • The sign of peace (without physical contact between non-family members)

If a pastor has any concerns regarding these changes and/or timeline and wishes to make a particular exception, please contact me. 

At this time, the dispensation remains in effect.  Further announcements regarding this matter will be conveyed in the near future.

Schools continue to operate on a separate set of guidelines. For example: All students, teachers, staff, and visitors must wear a mask over their nose and mouth while on school property subject (EO 79).

Additional details will be provided in the updated guidelines. 

Again, we are thankful to God for the imminent return to normal.  There will be many questions as we make this transition.  We ask for your patience as we work through this together. 

The Mass audio will be played through the exterior speakers of the church. You can sit anywhere within 100 feet of the church and still clearly hear the Mass, so feel free to bring some lawn chairs and celebrate Mass outside.

• The Mass audio will also be broadcast around the church on 105.1 FM. 
  • The reception in the parking lot is good overall, but there are spots where it is not. Test your reception as you find your parking space. We ask that the front parking spaces be reserved for those who are attending Mass from their car.
• After distributing communion to those inside, Father will go outside near the main entrance of the church to distribute communion to all who attend the Mass.

Please call or email if you have any questions.

Please remember the bishop has dispensed the faithful from their obligation to attend Mass, and that dispensation will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.  That means absolutely no one HAS to attend Mass.   

 All questions, concerns, suggestions are welcome.

Your Servant in Christ,

Fr. Staples