Simulcast Gym Mass with Communion at 3:30 PM Christmas Eve Added
October 26, 2020
Simulcast Gym Mass 3:30 PM Christmas Eve
Additional seats have been added for the 3:30 PM Christmas Eve Mass, seemingly the most popular choice. Be aware that this is NOT an additional mass, but rather a live streamed event to the gym of the In Church 3:30 PM Mass. Holy Communion will be distributed in the gym and attendance in the gym counts as mass attendance. The bleachers will be closed; there can be no standing and the seats will be the usual folding chairs arranged in groups by ticketed reservations. The rest rooms will not be open.
Tickets for the gym and the church are not interchangeable. Each location is subject to its own seating arrangements and attendance limits.
If there looks like sufficient demand, we can consider adding additional simulcast Christmas Eve masses in the gym for the 2:00 PM or 5:30 PM, pending our capacity to sanitize the seats in the gym before each mass.
To reserve seats in the gym, click on either the headline link above or here.
Mini Bulletin October 25, 2020
October 23, 2020
Grandparents Tune In for Mass
October 23, 2020
| Phoenix | Arizona |
| Santa Clara | California |
| Middletown | Connecticut |
| Wimauma | Florida |
| Chicago | Illinois |
| Boston | Massachusetts |
| Long Branch | New Jersey |
| Bloomfield | New Jersey |
| Cedar Glen West | New Jersey |
| Jersey City | New Jersey |
| Red Bank | New Jersey |
| Manasquan | New Jersey |
| Spring Lake | New Jersey |
| Toms River | New Jersey |
| Asbury Park | New Jersey |
| Highlands | New Jersey |
| Matawan | New Jersey |
| Lakewood | New Jersey |
| Rumson | New Jersey |
| Mount Laurel | New Jersey |
| Tinton Falls | New Jersey |
| Leonardo | New Jersey |
| Hackettstown | New Jersey |
| Allenwood | New Jersey |
| Basking Ridge | New Jersey |
| Keansburg | New Jersey |
| Cherry Hill | New Jersey |
| Martinsville | New Jersey |
| Ramtown | New Jersey |
| Springfield | New Jersey |
| Pennington | New Jersey |
| Seaside Heights | New Jersey |
| Medford Lakes | New Jersey |
| Eatontown | New Jersey |
| Newark | New Jersey |
| Colts Neck | New Jersey |
| New York City | New York |
| Garden City | New York |
| Pleasantville | New York |
| Morehead City | North Carolina |
| Birdsboro | Pennsylvania |
| Horsham | Pennsylvania |
| Ashburn | Virginia |
| Washington | Virginia |
| Reston | Virginia |
Thanks to grandparents from these cities for joining us for Mass this morning.
Christmas Reservations
October 21, 2020
Message from Bishop O'Connell regarding COVID and Christmas 2020
October 19, 2020
CHRISTMAS 2020 COVID PREPARATIONS
The COVID pandemic will not take away Christmas 2020! It will, however, change the way we celebrate it, especially in our churches and parishes, if current circumstances continue as they are or worsen. Because COVID is a highly contagious airborne virus, the prospect of large (or larger than usual) crowds gathering indoors this winter for long periods of time without ample ventilation and proper social distancing, as well as the necessity to sanitize churches between Masses, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Mass schedules will be affected, especially in parishes where there is only a single pastor or priest assigned. The COVID pandemic’s maximum one-third occupancy restrictions in churches coupled with the need for social distancing will limit the space available for parishioners to attend Christmas Mass as usual. Church schedules will also have to accommodate required cleaning.
Parishioners in the Diocese of Trenton have been dispensed from the holy day obligation because of the COVID pandemic this year. In addition to the restricted “in church” occupancy with required social distancing at Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses, parishes will also offer live-streamed Christmas Masses along with those broadcast on television to support the faith of those who cannot attend church this year. Those who are not feeling well or who are in a high-risk category should remain at home and take advantage of the on-line or televised celebrations of Christmas Mass.
Parishes will determine the number and times of Christmas Masses they will be able to offer this year. Please listen for announcements or check parish websites for schedules.
None of us want the restrictions or adjustments we have had to make because of the COVID pandemic. Please God, it will end soon. Although different from past Christmases, parishes will do their very best to assist the faithful in celebrating the Lord’s birth with faith and joy.
Thank you for your understanding and patience.