New Regulations

**Current restrictions remain in effect until February 8, 2022.**

Dear parishioners and friends of St. Nicholas Tavelich parish,

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ!” (cf. 2 Cor 1:2)

As we are getting ready to celebrate the birth of the “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (cf. Is. 9:6), our Lord Jesus Christ, we have received the news of tightened health restrictions.” We were all looking forward to more normal Christmas this year after another COVID year marked with much suffering, division and pain across our families, city, province country and indeed as human family.

In order to adapt to the directive issued last Friday (December 19^th), which allowed only 25 people in the church, as a parish we re-organized our Christmas mass schedule to fit at least those who signed up for masses before the new restrictions. Thank you for your flexibility and patience as we made these changes. We tried to accommodate everyone to the best of our ability.

However, this was not the end. After making all the arrangements we received another set of instructions on Monday that were more permissive to accommodate more people (see attached).

After prayer and consultation with the parish council we decided just to keep what we have already decided and not to make any changes by adding another mass. I thank the pastoral council for their help and support in these challenging times.

On a positive note we have received a permission today to use the parish hall for additional 25 people per mass. This allows 50 people to be present for mass.

The Church hall is going to have a screen with the speaker live-streaming the mass from the church and people in the hall will be able to receive communion. We are a smaller parish so we have only experienced the use of the hall during Easter but majority of the parishes use the set-up mentioned above every Sunday. The Church hall is going to be filled on first-come first serve basis. Please use the separate side entrance and side exit to enter the hall. There cannot be absolutely any interaction between the people upstairs and the hall during the gathering. (see attached memo)

Please read carefully the following provisions that have been put in place for masses:

• We will not be requiring proof of vaccination
• We kindly ask you to wear the mask properly, sanitize your hands upon entrance and maintain social distancing.
• If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 please refrain from attending the mass.
• If you have received a phone call and registered for a particular mass you are to enter the main entrance and notify one of the ushers, sanitize your seat and be seated. The “ramp door” will be designated as Exit door.
• For those who did not receive a phone call and thus are not registered please use the church hall entrance on the side of the building and another door on the north side to exit.
• Upon entry to the church hall please sign-in your name and phone number for contact tracing purposes.
• Please strive to arrive 10 minutes before the beginning of mass. Once we reached capacity in the hall or the church or once the mass begins the doors will be locked.
• If you are unable to attend a mass for which you registered please phone Marijan Paulic (204) 228-8117 to cancel. We have a limited number of people allowed and thus would like to make a good use of the space.
• Please be kind and considerate we’re doing our best to accommodate as many people as we can.

 

Masses are as follows:

Friday, December 26 – THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD/ ROĐENJE GOSPODNJE

7:00pm – MASS DURING THE NIGHT/POLNOĆKA – Intention to be announced

10:00pm (live-streamed) – MASS DURING THE NIGHT/POLNOĆKA – “Pro populo” / Intentions of parishioners

 

Saturday, December 25  THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD/ ROĐENJE GOSPODNJE

8:30 am – Rosary/Molitva svete krunice

9:00 am –  MASS DURING THE DAY – Intention to be announced    

10:30 am – Rosary/Molitva svete krunice

11:00 am (live-streamed) – MASS DURING THE DAY – “Pro populo” / Intentions of parishioners   

 

Sunday, December 26    THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

8:30 am – Rosary/Molitva svete krunice

9:00 am – MASS – Special Intention

10:30 am – Rosary/Molitva svete krunice

11:00 am  (live-streamed) – MASS – “Pro populo” / Intentions of parishioners   

As indicated. Masses are going to be live-streamed on our parish YouTube Channel.

Going forward for the weekday masses you do not need to pre-register it will be first come first serve and for Sundays, Saturdays and Solemnities you have to pre-register. We will have sheets of paper for pre-registration in the narthex.

We pray that the Prince of Peace will bless you, your family, our parish community and indeed the whole world with abundance of grace and peace at His coming among us. Have a blessed Christmas.

 

Fr. Peter

“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” (Jn 1:14)