Dear Parishioners,

Archbishop Perez has announced that the obligation of the faithful to attend Sunday Mass has been reinstated effective August 15, 2021.

The Commonwealth of PA has lifted all building sanitation, distancing, and capacity restrictions. The CDC still advises those not fully vaccinated and those unvaccinated who are over the age of two to continue to wear a mask while indoors.

Mass Schedule

• We are operating under our normal weekend and daily Mass schedules.
• The church chapel is open for Sunday Mass with live video feed of Mass.
• The 8 AM Daily Mass will permanently remain in the main church.
• The sacristy will remain closed to the public. Only the clergy, lectors, and altar servers will be permitted in the sacristy at this time.
• The sacristy restroom will remain closed to the public.
• The 10 AM Sunday Mass will be permanently livestreamed moving forward for the benefit of our sick and homebound parishioners.

Confessions

• Tuesday evening confessions have been discontinued.
• Saturday confessions are conducted in the chapel from 4:00 – 4:45 PM.

Arriving for Mass

• All church entrances are open and accessible.
• The hand sanitizing dispensers will remain available at entrances of the church.

Wearing Masks

• Please note that the CDC guidelines on the use of face coverings and masks apply differently to those vaccinated and those unvaccinated.
• Those fully vaccinated are not required to wear masks/face coverings.
• Those not fully vaccinated and those unvaccinated who are over the age of two are strongly encouraged to continue to wear a mask/face covering.
• In the spirit of Christian Charity, we ask all parishioners to be respectful of a person’s choice to wear or not to wear a face covering.
• There will be no mandates for vaccination of the faithful by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia or St. Albert the Great Parish out of respect for individual conscience.

Seating

• In accord with CDC Guidelines we are now operating at 100% seating capacity.

The Celebration of Mass

• The offertory procession will resume at the usual time during Mass.
• The weekly collection will resume at the usual time during Mass.
• The Sign of Peace will continue to be suspended until further notice.

Reception of Holy Communion

• Distribution of the Precious Blood continues to be suspended.
• Holy Communion may now be received in the hand or on the tongue.
• Ministers of Holy Communion will continue to sanitize prior to the distribution of Holy Communion.

Sanitation

• Doors will continue to be sanitized by sacristans between Masses.

Should I Attend Mass?

While the Archbishop has reinstated the obligation to attend Mass for the faithful effective August 15, 2021, it is important to note that even when the obligation is restored, this obligation, as is always the case, does not apply to those who are seriously ill, have a serious health risk, as well as those who have serious anxiety about being a part of large groups at this time. Likewise, the obligation does not apply to those who care for those who cannot attend Mass in person (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2181). Those who are legitimately excused from Mass on Sundays and Holy Days are encouraged to spend time in prayer, meditating on the Death and Resurrection of the Lord, reading the Sacred Scriptures, and uniting themselves to Christ in his worship of the Father of us all. Those who are legitimately excused are also encouraged to view a broadcast of the Mass which is intended for those who cannot participate in person.

Final Word

Again, we are eagerly looking forward to your return to worship the Lord with us.

Saint Albert the Great, pray for us!

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us!

• Friday morning adoration in the rectory chapel remains suspended until further notice.
• The rectory chapel remains closed until further notice.

Due to the Solemnity of All Saints falling on a Monday, the obligation for the Holy Day is dispensed. The Mass schedule for the Solemnity will be 8 & 10 AM on Monday, November 1. Please note that there is no evening or vigil Mass.

Please see Archbishop Pérez's statement regarding Pope Francis' July 16, 2021, motu proprio, Traditionis custodes, and it's implication for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

We are pleased to announce that Archbishop Perez will bless our new Rosary Garden on Saturday, October 30, at 10 AM. Please note the date on your calendar and more information will be forthcoming. A gallery has been posted documenting the creation of the garden from start to finish. The gallery can be accessed here.

Archbishop Pérez has introduced a new Archdiocesan initiative, Nothing Compares to Being There. The purpose of this invitation is to help everyone recognize more profoundly the irreplaceable need to be in person for the celebration of Sunday Mass. Much ground work will be done over the course of the summer to prepare for this initiative at the parish and Archdiocesan level with an official kick-off slated for this September. Click here to read Archbishop Pérez's announcement.

Joseph’s People is a non-denominational and ecumenical non-profit group that serves unemployed and underemployed people. Since 1995, we have helped more than 5,000 people to recover from job loss. We have more than 1,800 members, with chapters in the Philadelphia area. We are run entirely by volunteers and have no paid staff. All meetings and events are FREE.

For additional details, please see the Joseph's People brochure.

The Archdiocesan Novena to Saint Joseph can be prayed in any setting, especially before or after Holy Mass but not as a part of the Mass, at parish meetings, in the classroom and in the family home. The praying of this Novena is to unite everyone in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on the 19th of each month, from March through November 2021, in single petition of confident prayer to the Lord through the heavenly intercession of Saint Joseph. Please keep in mind the monthly Archdiocesan intentions.

The Catholic Charities Appeal brings hope where hope is needed most. From center city, to the suburbs, from the suburban communities to our most distressed communities, almost a million people each year receive hope through the Catholic Charities Appeal. When you support the Catholic Charities Appeal you are helping:

• Over 100 Catholic Social Services and Nutritional Development Services organizations and programs. Last year, 8.8 million meals were provided to those most in need.
• Over 100 students in the Schools of Special Education within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia receive tuition assistance and support.
• The 18 Programs and Offices that are providing Evangelization, Parish & Spiritual Life to our community.
• 158 Retired Priests who need care and support.
• 17 Mission Parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia revitalize and sustain their parishes. This includes ministering to over 36,000 parishioners.

For more information or to make a donation visit the Catholic Charities Website.

St. Albert the Great parishioners have free access to this exciting website which provides the best programs, movies, audio talks, and eBooks on the Catholic faith. It offers amazing Faith Formation in an engaging style with the best Catholic teachers, authors, and speakers, on-demand 24/7. From prayer and formation, to family and children's movies, FORMED.org has it all in one place. Access your free subscription here! Then check out this week's selection of movies, audios, and formaton programs on FORMED.org.