Statement of Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez Regarding Reinstating the Obligation to Attend Sunday Mass

“We have all felt the impact of COVID-19 as individuals and families. It has been a time of acute hardship and struggle, of separation and isolation. It has also had an impact on our lives of faith. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, has been with us throughout this challenging period and is most especially near to us when we encounter him in the Eucharist. The Eucharist offers us His healing and peace, His mercy and reconciliation. It is now time for everyone to return to the Eucharist with renewed faith and joy.

As many aspects of life are now returning to normalcy, each Catholic Bishop in Pennsylvania will reinstate the obligation to attend Mass in person on Sundays and Holy Days beginning on Sunday, August 15, 2021, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Bishops previously jointly decided to dispense the faithful from this obligation in March of 2020 in order to provide for the common good given concerns over the developing pandemic. Now, with the impact of the pandemic considerably reduced, it is again possible for the faithful to assemble for the Eucharist. It is time to lift the dispensation from the obligation.

The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days comes from our Baptism as Christians. Baptism compels Christians to unite themselves with Christ at the altar in his saving Sacrifice of the Cross. Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2182). This is the foundation for the law of the Church that binds Catholics to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days (Code of Canon Law, canon 1247) and the Christian way fully to observe the Third Commandment, to keep holy the Lord’s Day (Deuteronomy 5: 12; Exodus 31: 15; Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 2180-2181).

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.

As Bishops, we welcome this moment of the reinstatement of the obligation for all Catholics in Pennsylvania. This is a moment to thank God anew for the great gift of the Mass and the Real Presence of Jesus to us in his Holy Body and Blood as well as the joy of gathering together as people of faith.”

Most Reverend Nelson Pérez
Archbishop of Philadelphia

Statement of Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez regarding safety as Mass obligation resumes

“Ensuring the health and welfare of those entrusted to the pastoral and temporal care of our Church, especially as we navigate a global pandemic, is a paramount priority as the Archbishop of Philadelphia. During this time of acute hardship and struggle, I have worked in conjunction with the Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania and the senior administration of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to implement best practices intended to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect those most vulnerable.

As the COVID-19 landscape evolved, we continuously re-evaluated those efforts in consultation with public health officials and based on data.

As your Shepherd, I am called to provide the Eucharist in a safe environment. To that end, I ask that you prioritize your own health and the health of your neighbors and faith communities.

As previously announced, the Catholic Bishops of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are reinstating the obligation to attend Mass in person on Sundays and holy days beginning on Sunday, August 15, 2021. However, by longstanding Church law, this obligation does not apply to those who are

• sick;
• have a serious health risk;
• live in a household with those at risk;
• serve as primary caregivers to those at risk;
• have serious anxiety or concerns about being in a large-group setting due to COVID-19; or
• are unable to attend Mass in person

As an act of charity, all who are able should become fully vaccinated. Anyone who believes they might have COVID-19 or one of its variants should seek testing and take every precaution for the preservation of public health. As a people of hope, let us pray for an end to this health crisis.”

Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez
Archbishop of Philadelphia

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.
• The Gymnasium remains closed to the public.

O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.

“Protectress of the Roman people”,
you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection.
Amen.

We fly to your protection,
O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us always
from every danger,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

The most common occasion for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when we cannot fulfill our obligation to attend Mass on a Sunday or Holy Day of Obligation, whether because of illness or bad weather, or some other reason outside of our control.

You can make an Acts of Spiritual Communion at any time and make multiple times a day—even on days when we have been able to receive the Eucharist.

Each Act of Spiritual Communion that we make increases our desire to receive sacramental Communion, and protects us until we can receive Holy Communion sacramentally again.

ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION (St. Alphonsus Ligouri)

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

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.

Tom Kuchler is joining our Pastoral Staff as the new Director of Parish Music. He is in his 5th year as the Director of Performing Arts at Conwell-Egan Catholic High School in Fairless Hills, PA, where he directs the school choirs, band, and theatre program, as well as coordinates music for school liturgies. Tom received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Delaware in 2016, and has also traveled to Aix-en-Provence, France, with the Delaware Choral Academy to study music and conducting. Tom has been involved in parish liturgical music his whole life, growing up in Presentation BVM Parish in Cheltenham, and most recently as a cantor and pianist at St. William Parish in Lawncrest. We welcome Tom to the parish community of St. Albert and look forward to him using his God-given gifts to lead us in praise and worship.

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.

How to celebrate the year of Saint Joseph:

• Meditate for at least 30 minutes on the Our Father
• Participate in a spiritual retreat of at least one day that includes meditation on Saint Joseph
• Perform a corporal or spiritual work of mercy
• Recite the holy rosary in families and between the husband and wife
• Entrust your work daily to the protection of Saint Joseph and to all believers who invoke with their prayers the intercession of the worker of Nazareth
• Pray the litany of Saint Joseph
• Pray any lawfully approved prayer or act of piety in honor of Saint Joseph on:
• The 19th day of every month
• Every Wednesday (a day dedicated to the memorial of the Saint according to the Latin tradition)

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.