My dear parishioners,
We live in challenging times. The last two weeks have been especially difficult. This latest episode began with the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, followed by weeks of protests for racial equality and justice in many cities and towns across our nation. Sadly, there has also been rioting and looting by a small minority. Thankfully, the demonstrations have been largely peaceful and have been a forceful witness to the need for significant change in our country and around the world.
All people have been horrified by the video of George Floyd laying in the street handcuffed while a police officer holds a knee on his neck for 8 minutes 46 seconds. It is heart wrenching to hear George Floyd saying over and over that he couldn’t breath. Towards, the end of his life George begins calling to his mother. This reminded me of Jesus hanging on the cross with his mother watching on from a distance. I thought of the Pietà in our church showing Mary holding the body of her murdered son.
With much shame, the Catholic Church has sometimes been guilty of enabling the institution of racism in America. When I was in Mt Angel Seminary in the 1990’s, we would gather for a Community Mass each morning before classes began. The priests on the faculty would take turns celebrating the Mass with the seminarians. One morning, a faculty member who taught Old Testament scripture, presided at the Mass. He was a Jesuit from the Maryland Province. During his homily, he began talking about what it was like growing up in Maryland. He said that, as a child, he had always been intrigued by the large iron rings attached to the wall in the back of his parish church. One day he asked one of the Jesuit priests what the rings were for. The priest told him that they had been used in the 1850’s by Catholic families who attended Mass on Sundays to chain up their slaves to the rings so that the family would be free to go forward for Mass. In the midst of recounting this piece of Catholic history in Maryland, the priest began to cry. He expressed the deep shame that he has always felt regarding the church’s role in the enabling, if not promoting, of slavery in those early days of our nation’s history.
We are all good people and we are all children of God. However, sometimes we can find ourselves taking a passive stance when it comes to racism in our society. Our police officers are, of course, dedicated, well trained professionals who put their lives at risk each day to protect all of us from harm. However, there are those few officers who engage in violence and brute force when it comes to dealing with minority peoples. Let us pray that all of the demonstrations will not be in vain and that systems will change so that police officers who do something wrong are held accountable. Let us pray for George Floyd and all minority people who have been brutalized and some times killed by officers who represent us. We pray that this systemic racism in our country be stopped. We are all brothers and sisters who are made in God’s image and are called to live in peace and harmony with one another. We can hardly wait for that to happen.

Fr. Bill Moisant, Pastor June 11, 2020

Details-

To watch Mass on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE – https://www.facebook.com/Resurrection-Catholic-Parish-Tualatin-Oregon-130480220320539

Under the guidance of the Archdiocese of Portland, Resurrection is opening up for Masses with limited attendance, physical distancing and sanitation protocols. For the safety of all, please pay special attention to the following guidelines. We ask that if you are even slightly feeling ill, please do not attend Mass. Our main concern is the health and safety of all our parishioners. The dispensation for Sunday Mass obligation is still in place and you are still able to live-stream Mass on Sundays.

Guidelines for Signing Up – sign ups below

• In consideration of others, only sign up for one Mass per month in order to allow other members to attend.
• Each person in a household must be registered for Mass.
• Anyone who has even the slightest symptom or feeling sick, must remain home.

How to Sign up –

September COURTYARD Mass sign-ups: Click here to sign up

October Sunday Masses sign-ups are open: Click here to register

Wednesday noon Masses are open to the public. To sign up for September Wednesday Masses click here https://volunteersignup.org/8Q3AJ

• You can register through a link found in Resurrection Connection (eblast sent out on Thursdays), call the parish office or on the parish website. If you call the office, you must speak to someone, leaving a message does not guarantee you a spot.
• Please include every member of your family that will be attending Mass.
• Choose the date you would like to attend Mass
• You will receive an email confirmation for every person you registered.
• Keep your confirmation email handy in case you need to show proof of registration.

Guidelines for Attending Mass

• Those who attend Mass must be signed up. Please bring proof of registration: have the confirmation email viewable on your phone or print it out.
• When you arrive, please check in with the hospitality person.
• Handsanitzer will be available for all to use, all are encouraged to use it. Wipes will also be available at the back of the church to clean your area.
• Please enter only through the main entrance.
• Doors will open 5 minutes prior to the start of Mass. Doors will be locked once Mass starts and will be able to choose where they sit in accordance with 6’x6′ physical distancing.
• There will be no books in the pews, if you like to follow along with the readings then please bring your own Missal or can use an app on your phone.
• We are asking that you wear your mask for the entirety of the Mass for your protection and the safety of others. Masks can be removed only for communion.
• There will only be instrumental music during the Mass.
• Donations can be placed in the basket at the entrance of the church.
• Stay in your pews for communion, a Eucharistic Minister will come to you.
• Communion on the tongue will not be available.
• Please do not congregate outside the church.
• If you attended Mass, you will be able to remain in their place for 10 minutes to pray.
• Only the restroom in the Cry Room will be available for use during the Mass.
• There will be no Sign of Peace during Mass.
• After Sunday Mass, the church will be closed until Friday for cleaning.
• The Day Chapel will be closed except for the Wednesday livestreaming Mass

Questions

How do I cancel my registration?
Please email bulletin@rcparish.org if you wish to cancel your registration, change your Mass time, or have a question about signing up.

Will the church be cleaned between Masses?
Yes, we will have professional cleaners clean the church after Mass.

Will you continue to have gluten free hosts?        

Yes, Fr. Bill will ask during the Mass.