JUNE 29, 2020
Dear Parishioners and friends of St. Ann's,

Because of the recent surge in covid-19 transmission in San Antonio, and after consultation with the Parish Staff and the Archbishop, I am making some temporary changes to our schedule. Beginning July 1st, Wednesday, the weekday masses will be by livestream only. No other participants than Sister Blanca and me. We will have only one public mass on Sunday at 10:30 a.m., which will be bi-lingual. You may attend that mass if you wish, but I encourage our elderly to simply stay home and participate by livestream. Anyone with underlying conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, asthma, recent cancer treatments, pregnant women, etc., should be especially cautious about attending. 

I am grateful to our ushers, communion ministers, volunteers, and staff who have been sanitizing the church between masses. They have been doing a great job, but it has become burdensome and they are also exposing themselves to possible infection. And so, to protect them I have made the decision to reduce to the one public mass for the next few weeks. When the number of infections declines substantially, and consistently, we will return to our normal schedule. 

I had hoped to avoid this decision, but the sharp rise in exposure to the virus cannot be denied, and I believe that it is in the best interest of everyone's health to make this decision. Scheduled weddings will be held, and funerals can be celebrated as needed. Sister and I (once I'm cleared), will continue to be available for sick calls and communion.

With blessings and hope in my heart,

Fr. Larry

MAY 12, 2020
Dear Parishioners and friends of St. Ann's,

I have good news to announce to all of you! The Archdiocese is allowing the resumption of public masses with weekday masses starting on May 19th, and Sunday masses May 23 & 24. We have been awaiting these days for over two months now, and it will be a joyful reunion to come back together again! Here are some things we have to keep in mind:

1. Weekday masses will all be celebrated in the main church to allow for social distancing starting May 19.
2. Sunday masses will be celebrated in the main church, but seating areas will be pre-marked to comply with social distancing directives. Our total capacity for any mass on Sundays, with social distancing, is 104 persons, including children. 
3. Parishioners and guests will enter through one set of doors - the main doors, so that ushers can maintain the right count and direct you to the proper seating areas.
4. If you are in the vulnerable groups for the CoronaVirus, that is, if you are over 65 and/or have a pre-existing condition like diabetes, cancer treatments, lung disease, hypertension, asthma, and so forth, you should not attend mass at the church, but watch by live-streaming. The Archbishop is continuing the dispensation for physical attendance at mass until the crisis passes. That could last for several more months.
5. If you are coming to mass please wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before leaving home. Bring a personal hand sanitizer with you for your own use and for your family. Wear your mask. All attending the masses, including ministers, are required to wear a mask. The priest will wear a mask when giving communion.
6. Communion procedures will be explained at mass keeping with social distancing requirements.
7. The ushers will dismiss the congregation at the end of mass, section by section, so that social distancing can be maintained.
8. There will not be offertory processions or regular basket collections at this time. You can leave your offerings in a central basket as you exit. Bulletins will be available only as you exit. All missalettes and song books are removed to prevent disease spread. 
9. The Sign of Peace will be verbal, only. No handshaking or hugging at this time. Communion will be only by hand at this time.
10. Please maintain social distancing outside the church, as well. 
11. The church will be sanitized between each mass. We cannot allow after-mass devotions at this time so that the church can be cleaned.
12. Once 104 persons are present, or if mass has begun, the doors will be closed. I regret that this action must be taken, but it is the only way to follow the directives from the State of Texas.

We will continue to offer mass at our regular times at 5:30 PM on Saturday, 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM (Spanish), and 12:30 PM on Sunday. If we discover that more masses are needed to accommodate everyone, we will consider that after a few weeks. Before our first weekend masses on May 23 and 24, I will take the opportunity to train the ushers and liturgical ministers in the procedures needed at this time.

So, the good news is that we are opening carefully and with lots of planning. The bad news is that the virus remains in the community and we must be diligent in keeping each other healthy! I look forward to seeing you all very soon! If you cannot or should not attend mass physically, please call our office and we will arrange for a communion minister to bring you the Blessed Sacrament. May God bless you!

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Queridos feligreses y amigos de St. Ann,

¡Tengo buenas noticias que anunciarles a todos! La Arquidiócesis está permitiendo el regreso de las misas públicas con misas entre semana a partir del 19 de mayo, y las misas dominicales del 23 y 24 de mayo. Llevamos esperando estos días desde hace más de dos meses, ¡y será un reencuentro alegre volver a estar juntos! Estas son algunas cosas que tenemos que tener en cuenta:

1. Las misas de lunes a viernes se celebrarán en la iglesia principal para permitir el distanciamiento social a partir del 19 de mayo.
2. Las misas dominicales se celebrarán en la iglesia principal, pero las zonas de asientos serán premarcadas para cumplir con las directivas de distanciamiento social. Nuestra capacidad total para cualquier misa los domingos, con distancia social, es de 104 personas, incluidos niños.
3. Los feligreses e invitados entrarán a través de una puerta - la puerta principal, para que los ujieres puedan mantener el conteo correcto y dirigirlos a las zonas adecuadas.
4. Si usted está en los grupos vulnerables para el CoronaVirus, es decir, si usted es mayor de 65 años y / o tiene una condición preexistente como diabetes, tratamientos contra el cáncer, enfermedad pulmonar, hipertensión, asma, etc., no debe asistir a misa en la iglesia, sino ver por transmisión en Facebook. El arzobispo continúa la dispensación de asistencia física a la misa hasta que pase la crisis. Eso podría durar varios meses más.
5. Si viene a la misa, lávese las manos con agua y jabón durante al menos 20 segundos antes de salir de casa. Lleve consigo un desinfectante personal para su propio uso y para su familia. Póngase la máscara. Todos las que asistan a las misas, incluidos los ministros, deben llevar una máscara. El sacerdote usará una máscara al dar la comunión.
6. Los procedimientos de comunión se explicarán en la misa, cumplimiento con los requisitos de distanciamiento social.
7. Los ujieres despedirán a la congregación al final de la misa, sección por sección, para que se pueda mantener el distanciamiento social.
8. No habrá procesiones de ofrenda ni colectas regulares en este momento. Puede dejar sus ofrendas en una canasta central al salir. Los boletines solo estarán disponibles al salir. Todos los misalettes y libros de cantos se removerán para prevenir la propagación de enfermedades.
9. El Signo de Paz será verbal, solamente. No hay apretón de manos o abrazos en este momento. La comunión será sólo a mano en este momento.
10. Por favor, mantenga el distanciamiento social fuera de la iglesia, también.
11. La iglesia será desinfectada entre cada misa. No podemos permitir devociones después de misa en este momento para que la iglesia pueda ser limpiada.
12. Una vez que haya 104 personas presentes, o si la misa ha comenzado, las puertas se cerrarán. Lamento que se deba tomar esta medida, pero es la única manera de seguir las directrices del Estado de Texas.

Continuaremos ofreciendo misa en nuestro horario regular a las 5:30 PM los sábados, 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM (español) y 12:30 PM el domingo. Si descubrimos que se necesitan más misas para acomodar a todos, lo consideraremos después de unas semanas. Antes de nuestras primeras misas el 23 y 24 de mayo, aprovecharé la oportunidad para formar a los ujieres y ministros litúrgicos en los procedimientos necesarios.

Por lo tanto, la buena noticia es que estamos abriendo con cuidado y con mucha planificación. ¡La mala noticia es que el virus permanece en la comunidad y debemos ser diligentes en mantenernos saludables! ¡Espero verlos a todos muy pronto! Si no puede o no debe asistir físicamente a misa, por favor llame a nuestra oficina y haremos los arreglos para que un ministro de comunión les traiga el Santísimo Sacramento. ¡Que Dios los bendiga!

APRIL 1, 2020
Dear friends,
Since I last wrote to you concerning steps at St. Ann's regarding the COVID-19 we have received new information and more directives from Metro Health and the Archdiocese.

1. The Archbishop has extended his decree dispensing Catholics from the obligation of attending mass through the end of April. Because of the limit of personal gatherings at 10 persons it is impractical to attempt to reopen our Churches for masses during this time. 
2. We will continue live-streaming our masses on Facebook Monday through Friday at 5:30 PM, and on Sunday at 10:30 AM (bi-lingual).
3. All parish events and gatherings are suspended through the end of April. We do not want to risk spreading the virus inadvertently.
4. I remain available for confessions or anointings on an as-needed basis and by appointment. However, be aware that some hospitals have implemented policies not allowing any outside visitors during this period, including non-staff chaplains.
5. Sr. Blanca and I remain available for communion visits, as well as some of our communion ministers.
6. Office hours remain shortened and we are accepting phone calls from 10AM to 5PM, Monday through Friday. The office will not be open on Saturdays or Sundays until after this health emergency has concluded.
7. While funerals can be conducted, attendance is limited to 10 persons. For this reason we are offering the option of Christian Burial with a memorial mass to be offered at a later time when more people can attend.

Your St. Ann's staff continues to serve. We miss you all very much, and we look forward to that day when we can rejoice together again!
- Fr. Larry