Statement from Fr. Ricardo Martin regarding CoVID-19 (Updated 10:30 AM CT 9.26.2020)
As Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, I wanted to share an update with you as we work to manage through the CoVID-19 crisis that is impacting the world. Public Masses have resumed in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. In order to protect the safety of the congregation and uphold the dignity of the sacrament, the Archdiocese has dictated a number of directives and guidelines that all parishes and priests will need to follow. The Archdiocese has produced a video to assist parishes and parishioners in dealing the directives. At Sacred Heart, we have adapted the directives to our particular worship space and community. A summary of these directives can be accessed here. At this time, we celebrate public weekday Masses from Tuesday to Friday (with a Communion Service on Monday) all at 10 AM, and during the weekend (Saturday 4:30 PM and Sunday at 8 AM and 10 AM.) For weekend Masses, we ask you to use our sign-up portal on this site. Registration helps us plan, and it would facilitate contact tracing if a case related with Mass would ever occur. The dispensation from Sunday obligation has expired. Click here for an explanation of the Archbishop's decision not to extend the dispensation. As he explains, there are many exceptions that would allow a person not to attend Mass (an individual's health, or someone who takes care of others, for instance.) A pastor can always dispense Sunday obligation to his parishioners on a case-by-case basis. You can inquiry about this process by sending a confidential email here.
Use of masks is mandatory at all Masses, with the exception of individuals who have a medical condition that keeps them from using a face covering. We will continue live-streaming all weekday services and the 10 AM Sunday Mass on the Parish's Facebook Page and in the live-stream section of this page. I am also connecting with parishioners and friends for an informal chat on Facebook Live at 6:30 PM Tuesdays and Fridays.
In collaboration with Catholic Charities, Sacred Heart is operating a food bank, from Monday to Friday from 11 AM to 1 PM. If you or anybody you know needs help, please contact us at (262) 634-5526 or use this confidential email. We are also accepting donations of food, other products (masks, diapers, cleaning products, etc,) and financial donations for this program.
At this time of civil unrest, Sacred Heart commits to being a community of safety and healing, especially through prayer, action, and education. We invite you to watch this video we have produced.
This difficult time will pass, and I believe we will emerge from this crisis as better individuals, families and faith communities—a better society in a better world. This statement will be updated as needed.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Ricardo Martin, JCL
