Mass

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to limit the ways worshippers can safely gather, the diocese, parishes and area religious communities are doing what they can to make Christmas Mass accessible to all.

From now until the end of the year, in-person parish gatherings outside of worship services must be suspended and shifted to online meetings or conducted at home.

With the global pandemic practically shutting everything down for months, the sacramental wine and altar bread business has suffered like other businesses in the country.

Perhaps, after weeks of uncertainty and nearly unhealthy doses of hopelessness, church is precisely the place we can bring those feelings — anxiety, fear and nervousness — and lay it down at the altar.

Gov. Tim Walz announced June 5 that faith communities may hold worship services in indoor settings at 50% capacity with a 250-person limit, whichever is less, starting June 10. For outdoor settings, gatherings must not exceed 250 people.

In his latest video, Bishop Kettler talks about the diocese’s plans regarding bankruptcy reorganization, the return to larger public Masses, and the need for justice following the death of George Floyd while in police custody.

Grace Dickinson is blunt in her 12-year-old wisdom — the Catholic missalette is boring. But not because of the Scriptures, which are filled with exciting stories of our faith, but the presentation itself. “It doesn’t appeal to kids,” she said. “It only has color on the front page.”

St. Cloud Bishop Donald Kettler called it an “important breakthrough” in a May 23 letter to the people of the diocese. “This breakthrough is consistent with our need to protect public health as we take significant precautions in how we come together and pray,” he said.