COVID-19 Parish Updates

Masses - No "Sign-up" is necessary for any of our Weekend or Weekday Masses - for more information about attending Masses in-person, safety guidelines etc. - CLICK HERE

For our Parishes' Live Stream Masses, Events and Prayers - CLICK HERE

If you have not already sign up for Flocknote for our parish communities, please do so!  We are sending weekly updates via email.  To Sign up - CLICK HERE

For announcements and information from the Diocese of Pittsburgh about the coronavirus COVID-19 and Re-opening - CLICK HERE

For information on how the get a Covid-19 Vaccine in PA - Click Here
___________________

Update 11-20-20 - Masks are Mandatory for All Ministers All the Time (including priest and deacons) and Hand sanitizer is recommended before recieving communion. 

On Tuesday, November 17, 2020, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health announced new, targeted restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19.  It was noted that numbers of new cases across Pennsylvania are breaking daily records.  There is increasing concern of the potential strain on hospitals as people begin to spend more time indoors.  The same news was echoed in a report by Allegheny County health officials.

As you may already know, the new restrictions that are in place as of Friday, November 20 are as follows:

1. When you enter Pennsylvania, you will need a negative test result within 72 hours of arrival.  Otherwise, you must quarantine for 14 days or until you get a negative test result.  This includes Pennsylvania residents who leave the state.
2. Mask wearing is a mandatory order.  Masks are required inside, when you are around people outside your family, EVEN IF you are also socially distanced (more than six feet) – EVEN IN YOUR OWN HOME, when you are with people from outside your household.

Here is a link to the latest Pennsylvania COVID-19 resource materials:  https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Coronavirus.asp

As spiritual health-care providers, God calls us to do everything in our power to protect the physical health and safety of those in our communities.  In collaboration with our diocesan COVID Task Force, and as a way of continuing to follow all health and safety policies and protocols, I share with you the following updated guidance effective immediately and until further notice.

Liturgical Considerations:

In compliance with the state mandate, masks/face-coverings must be worn at all times, during all parts of the Mass, by everyone involved in the celebration of the Mass.  This includes priests, deacons, all lay ministers, cantors and readers.  While I can appreciate that some may balk at this new directive, it is essential that we do so as a sacrifice for the safety of our people.  It is certainly better than any of the alternatives.   If there is a medical reason you or someone involved in your Mass cannot wear a mask, you must notify your Vicar.  These expectations are our responsibility for the safety of our people.  The emphasis is on our moral and ethical obligation and clearly is a “pro-life” issue.

Holy Communion:

Whether it is the current practice in your parish to distribute Communion within Mass or at the end of Mass, provisions must be made to secure the safety of communicants.  In addition, social distancing and masks are essential for communicants as well. 

As an added note: Please make sure to emphasize the use of a hand sanitizer before the distribution of Holy Communion to keep our faith communities healthy and safe in our churches. The use of a hand sanitizer by all involved with the distribution of Holy Communion should be done in the sanctuary, in full sight of parishioners.  Concerns are being raised from people who are not seeing the use of sanitizers.  

__________________
 

Update 10-9-20 - Weekend Masses - Pre-Registration is longer necessary!

You are no longer required to register to attend weekend mass. It is now “first come, first served.”
As many of you know, though we still have safety precautions in place. We must continue the practice of wearing masks and 6 ft social/physical distancing.  

While no longer requiring pre-registrations provides a sort of simplicity, it also opens up another situation of great concern, we agonize over the possibility of reaching maximum safe capacity and having to turn someone away.  We must keep everyone as safe as possible, which means continuing to limit numbers of people in our spaces.  Yet we also long to live as the welcoming community we all know and value!  Turning the Body of Christ away from the celebration of Eucharist feels so terribly wrong.

We would like to add a Sunday morning liturgy at Saint Mary of the Mount as soon as possible, but in order to do so, we need your help!  We simply do not have the “people power” to offer another liturgy without helpers (people who can greet and direct others at the door, people who can help clean).  If you are able to help make an additional Mass a reality, please contact Donna Zelt or Donna Gillespie at the parish offices as soon as possible.

At this time, the Mass we are trying to add is at Saint Mary of the Mount, because that is the space that has nearly reached capacity in recent weeks.  Right now, there is still plenty of room for additional worshippers at our Saint Adalbert site.  When we come close to reaching capacity at Saint Adalbert, we will begin plans for adding another Mass there, as well.

For more details - Click Here 

________________________

Update 10-4-2020: 50% Capacity New - Directive from the Diocese of Pittsburgh

Parishes in the Dioceses of Pittsburgh will be allowed to increase attendance at Masses to 50% maximum capacity at each Mass effective this weekend, October 3-4, 2020.

All health and safety protocols, including mask-wearing, social distancing of at least 6-feet, and cleaning and sanitizing procedures must still be followed. 

In addition, priests are encouraged to make arrangements to distribute the Body of Christ within the Mass (as opposed to the end of Mass if that has been the custom in the parish(es). The COVID restrictions of not offering the Blood of Christ and of not sharing the sign of peace remain unchanged

What does that mean for our Parishes?
No change in the number of people we are able to admit for any one Mass. It is not the percentage that dictates the number of people we can and cannot admit to our churches, it is the 6 ft Physical/Social Distancing requirment.  

Weekend pre Sign-Up will be Discontinued. Because there will be no sign-up ahead of time, we may reach our capacity and have to turn people away. 

For more details about coming to mass - Click here

_____________________

Update 7-16-20 - Diocese of Pittsburgh, In response to recent PA order from Gov Wolf and Allegheny County regulation 

Regarding diocesan gatherings:

• The celebration of Holy Mass and other sacramental ceremonies (weddings, baptisms, funerals) in the diocese will continue according to our present practice, i.e. no more than 25% of the building’s capacity, with the understanding that all CDC and social distancing rules are to be strictly followed, including the mandatory wearing of masks. 
• Faith Formation practices (Holy Communion, Confirmation, Bible School, etc.) are essential elements of the progression of one’s faith and are not considered social gatherings, therefore, 25% of the room’s capacity will continue to be the limit to the number of persons in attendance for those sacraments and events.
• Gatherings other than those specified above must adhere to current attendance restrictions of no more than 25 people for inside events, and no more than 50 for outside events in Allegheny County.  s

______________________

Update 5-29-20

REOPENING OUR CHURCHES FOR WEEKEND AND DAILY MASS - TO BEGIN THE WEEKEN OF JUNE 27 AND 28 2020
In the midst of so much uncertainty in our nation and world, many of us are desperately craving comfort and connection from our faith communities.  After much prayer, consultation and study of the available health directives, our Parish Leadership Team has come to some decisions regarding reopening for liturgies. 
 
While the Diocese of Pittsburgh is allowing churches that can safely and thoroughly achieve a very specific set of sanitation procedures to open for daily Mass on June 1, and weekend Masses June 6 & 7, our parish community of Prince of Peace and Saint Mary of the Mount is not yet in that category.  We are eager to celebrate Eucharist in community, and we long to see your faces!  But we must be sure that we can welcome you in the safest possible way, given that the threat of the pandemic remains very real.

With that in mind, we are committing to opening both Prince of Peace and Saint Mary of the Mount churches for weekend liturgies the weekend of June 27 & 28, and for daily Mass on Monday, June 29.  In this beginning phase, we will offer a total of four weekend liturgies.  Beginning June 27 & 28, Mass will be offered at:

•  4:00 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass at Saint Adalbert Church 
•  5:00 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass at Saint Mary of the Mount Church
•  9:00 a.m. Sunday morning Mass at Saint Adalbert Church
• 11:30 a.m. Sunday morning Mass at Saint Mary of the Mount Church

• 10:00 a.m. Mass on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Saint Adalbert Church
• 10:00 a.m. Mass on Tuesday and Thursday at Saint Mary of the Mount Church. 

What to expect when returing to public cerebrations of mass - Click Here

___________________

Update 5-1-2020 

As of Friday 24^th April 2020, Bishop Zubik slightly reduced the restrictions for the Sacrament of Reconciliation as well as Wedding and Funeral Celebrations. We still must uphold strict limitations and safety measure as we slowly move forward.  

Details for our Parishes:

Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession

• Starting Weds May 6^th 2020 the Sacrament of Reconciling will be offered in the parking lots of our 2 church buildings
• It will be offered at the normal Confession Times – 
  • Wednesdays 6:00 PM at Saint Mary of the Mount 403 Grandview Ave.
  • Saturdays 3:00 PM at St. Adalbert Church (parking lot at the end of 14^th Street) 
• The options will be to drive up and stay in your car, or get out and walk up to the priest
• Masks must be worn and social distancing of 6 feet must be maintaine

• We are offering more times for future weddings
• Our full wedding schedule offering is as follows, upon the subsiding of the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Mondays-Thursdays: available for all weddings
  • Ceremony time is flexible and can be discussed with couple & scheduled priest/deacon presiding

• Fridays
  • 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm, Saint Mary of the Mount
  • 4:00 pm, Prince of Peace- St. Adalbert
• Saturdays
  • 11:00 am, 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm, Saint Mary of the Mount
  • 2:00 pm, Prince of Peace- St. Adalbert
• Sundays (on a case-by-case basis, requires special approval from Diocese)  
  • 3:00 pm, Saint Mary of the Mount

________________________

Fashion Show Postponed 

• The 35th SMOM SPRING LUNCHEON AND FASHION SHOW has been postponed until 2021.  

__________________________

Update 3-15-20

The Parish Office is currently closed to the public
However, there will be someone in the office Monday thru Friday answering the phone and checking messages. We ask that during this time, all parish business be conducted by phone or email. Please call 412-381-0212 or 412-481-8380, or email princeofpeaceparish@verizon.net or smom@smomp.org

Stay Close to God and stay close to each other relationally in this time of Social Distancing
During this time of social distancing, we encourage all parishioners to support one another, especially those who are in need or may be lonely. The easiest way is to offer a phone call to a neighbor, family member, and especially the elderly. 

Staying close spiritually and throught prayer resource
Though Masses and events are cancelled in our parish and throughout the Diocese of Pittsburgh due to the coronavirus, 
many resources are available to help you live out your faith including from our parish communities as well as many other sources - for a few of those resources - CLICK HERE