Public Masses have resumed and the parish office has re-opened.

Our Bishop has assured us that there is no obligation to attend Mass during this time. On a spiritual level, I would ask you to join me in prayer for those who are sick, those who care for them, and those who are in distress during this time. Let us entrust ourselves to God who will never leave us to face our challenges alone.

Spiritual resources for this trying time can be found on our Covid-19 Spiritual Resources page.

You can also call the parish office at (254) 753-0146 with any questions you may have.

As a final request, concerning your financial support of Saint Mary's, I would ask you to please consider signing up for on line giving. Your gifts help us minister even when we can’t gather together for Holy Mass.
Here is a link where you can participate in online giving.

Thank you for your kind attention to these important measures and thank you for your generous support of St. Mary’s.

Let us continue to pray that Our Lady and Saint Joseph will watch over us. Let us ask them to appeal to Our Lord. May the overflowing mercy and graces from His Sacred Heart pour forth and may He have mercy on us.

Fr. Joe Geleney
Pastor

• Diocese of Austin

• CovidWaco.com

• Texas Dept of State Health Services

• Centers for Desease Control

• Coronavirus.gov

• World Health Organization

Disinfecting. All employees must sanitize their workspaces at least twice a day.

Parishes will clean and disinfect surfaces that are touched in common before and after a room or other space is used for a Parish Activity. Individuals participating in the Parish Activity are to assist when requested.

Face Coverings (Masks). All employees and visitors must wear face masks in public places in parish buildings (halls and common areas).

Employees, volunteers, adults, youth, and children (collectively, Individuals) are to wear face masks when participating in a Parish activity, program, or event (Parish Activity) unless a medical condition prevents it, or the Individual is under 10 years of age. Children over 2 are encouraged to wear a face mask).

Wearing of the face mask is encouraged at all meetings between employees and visitors; all employees and visitors must wear face masks when meeting with each other when less than 6 feet of distance is maintained

Field Trips. The Parish will not coordinate field trips off campus except for walking trips where distancing can be maintained or when Individuals are able to arrange their own transportation.

Hand Sanitizers. The Parish will provide hand sanitizer stations at convenient locations in the Parish campus and will seek to have hand sanitizers in or near a room while in use for a Parish Activity. The Parish encourages Individuals to wash hands frequently and carry personal hand sanitizers.

Informing the Parish of Having Contracted COVID-19. An Individual who receives confirmation of having contracted COVID-19 and who has participated in a Parish Activity in the prior 14 days is to inform the Parish of the condition. The Parish will consult with diocesan officials on the appropriate announcements and communications to others, if any, respecting the privacy of the Individual.

Self-Screening. All employees, volunteers and visitors are to self-screen for themselves and for their children (under 18) for COVID-19 symptoms before participating in Parish Activities.

Use the Coronavirus Self-Checker (left) to determine if you need to be tested.

Signs. The Parish will post signs about wearing face coverings, washing hands, disinfecting, staying home when sick, and other COVID-19 prevention recommendations. Individuals participating in Parish Activities are to follow the recommendations on the signs.

Social Distancing. Individuals participating in Parish Activities are to practice social distancing and stay 6 feet apart whenever possible.

Symptoms of COVID-19: People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC: Symptoms of COVID-19

When Not to Participate. An Individual is not to participate in a Parish Activity if:

1. The Individual has contracted COVID-19 and the Individual is not to return to the Parish campus until at least 24 hours have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without medication), the Individual does not experience other COVID-19 symptoms, and at least 10 days have passed since the date symptoms first appeared.

2. The Individual had “close contact” (within 6 feet for 15 minutes) in the prior 14 days with someone who has contracted COVID-19 and the Individual is not return to the Parish campus until the individual has not experienced a COVID-19 symptom for at least 14 days after the date of close contact; or

3. The Individual is experiencing a COVID-19 symptom and the Individual is not return to the Parish campus until at least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without medication, if applicable, and the Individual has not experienced other COVID-19 symptoms.

4. The individual has a temperature over 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit​​​​​​. The individual should stay at home until ten days after the fever has passed.

For the safety and security of the people of God and the protection of the parish, all individuals participating in parish ministries (employees, volunteers, parishioners) are required to sign the Parish Ministry Waiver Form.

Even though public Masses and sacraments have returned we still must meet certain precautionary protocols established by the diocese:

Face Coverings (masks). All persons attending Mass or celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation are asked to wear a face mask.

Hand washing and sanitizing. Please wash your hands before leaving home and sanitize your hands upon entering the church. Bottles of sanitizer are available at the entrances.

Maximum number of people who can attend a Mass. 50% of the maximum capacity of the church building; approximately 240 persons for Saturdays and Sundays in the main church and 15 persons for weekdays in the chapel .

Social distancing. Please maintain 6 foot social distancing between persons at all times, except between members of the same family or household. Every other pew in the church will be closed off and persons not of the same household will be asked to sit six feet away from each other.

Receiving communion. You are asked to receive communion in the hand. Please hold out your hands flat and still. The minister will place the Eucharist in your hands without touching you, You may choose to say "Amen" silently. If you wish to receive communion on the tongue you are requested to present yourself for communion after all others have received in the hand.

At risk populations.  The following at risk parishioners are encouraged to not attend Mass at this time and to remain at home:

1. those who are sick;

2. those who are 65 or older;

3. those who have been advised by health care workers or caregivers to not attend Mass;

4. those who sincerely believe that attending Mass will jeopardize their health or the health of a person with whom they reside; and

5. those who sincerely believe that because of the limitations imposed by these protocols attending Mass is not reasonable.

Dispensation for at risk populations to not attend Mass will continue. If we are already at capacity when you arrive for Mass and you are unable to attend Mass, please be assured that you are dispensed by the bishop from the Sunday obligation.