WELCOME HOME
Welcome Back to the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
It is my pleasure to welcome you all back home to the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate. As most of you are aware the provincial government recently allowed all places of worship in Ontario to resume activity at 30% capacity. In the Diocese of Hamilton Bishop Crosby released instructions for the opening of our churches later in the week. The full text of the Bishop’s letter can be found on the Diocesan website (www.hamiltondiocese.com).
Here at the Basilica of Our Lady we will open our doors again on Tuesday, June 16 for Daily Mass and private prayer, and on the weekend of June 20-21 for Sunday Masses. We have had an incredible team working hard to get the Basilica ready for worship, sanitizing the entire building, washing and sanitizing the pews, ensuring social distancing, and marking routes for the Communion Procession.
There will be some changes to our normal procedures until the end of this pandemic. Some of them are very obvious like social distancing and hand sanitizing, others will come as a bit of a shock. We have had to remove Hymn Books, so we will have to sing from memory, or have time for silent reflection. Communion will be distributed only in the hand, and to one section of the church at a time, and parishioners will be asked to follow the directions of the ushers. Parishioners are encouraged to wear a mask.
Only the main floor washroom will be available for use, and will have to be sanitized after every use. Please only use the washroom if it absolutely necessary.
The collection will be taken at the doors of the church at the end of Mass, so as to ensure social distancing and no physical contact.
For the duration of the pandemic only the main doors of the church and the elevator door will be available for use. All other doors will be for emergency exits only. Additionally the Parish Hall, the Crypt and the downstairs washrooms will all be closed. Confessions will be heard in the Newstead Room in order to allow for social distancing during the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
For our first weekend back we will use our regular Sunday Mass schedule. 30% of our capacity at the Basilica is just over 300 people. We will endeavour not to turn anyone away, but we cannot promise that, as the 30% capacity is provincial law, and not our own choice. If necessary we will add extra Masses in coming weeks to ensure that everyone who wants to come back at this time is able to do so. Please watch the website for further details.
There will be many people who do not yet feel comfortable returning to public worship or to be in larger crowds. It is important to know that the Bishop’s dispensation from the obligation to Sunday Mass continues until the end of the pandemic. I will miss you but I certainly understand your concern.
For the duration of the pandemic our weekday Masses will be at 9:00am, and there will ordinarily be no Mass on Monday or Saturday morning. This is to allow ample time to clean and sanitize the Basilica. Please note that, unfortunately, all parishioners throughout the Diocese are asked to leave the Basilica immediately after Sunday Masses, without the usual socializing. As sad as this is, it is necessary to allow time to sanitize the Basilica before the next Mass.
When coming for private prayer and Daily Mass please only use the front half of the centre sections of the Basilica. This will keep the cleaning crew from having to sanitize the entire building daily.
Each week I will post a weekly schedule on the website, and on the Basilica Facebook page. This week’s schedule is found at the end of this letter.
Dear brothers and sisters please be as patient and understanding as possible for the next few weeks, while we work the kinks out of our new procedures. God willing, this pandemic will end soon and we will be back to our regular routine. In the mean time I am thrilled to welcome you back home!
I remain yours in Christ,
Fr. Ian Duffy
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Weekdays from June 16 – 19
The Basilica will be open for private prayer from 8:00am – 12:00noon
Daily Mass will be celebrated at 9:00am form Tuesday - Friday
Friday, June 19 – The Feast of the Sacred Heart
Basilica Open 8:00am – 12:00noon with Mass at 9:00am
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 9:30am – 12:00noon with Benediction at 12:00noon
Weekend of June 20/21
Saturday June 20 – The Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Basilica open at 8:00am with Mass at 9:00am - Basilica closed at 10:00am
Basilica open at 2:30pm with Confessions from 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Mass at 5:15pm - The Basilica will be closed after Mass
Sunday June 21
The Basilica will open at 7:30am with Mass at 9:00am and 11:00am
The Basilica will be closed at 1:00pm