Highlights

Here is a summary of changes: 

• Before coming to church
  • If you are sick or experiencing symptoms, please stay at home.
  • If you are in a high-risk category (65 or older or have pre-existing medical condition) please stay at home.
  • Please bring and use your own hand sanitizer and masks.
• How church is temporarily different
  • The nursery is closed until further notice.
  • Cry room has been converted into temporary confessional space.
  • There is no holy water in the holy water fonts.
  • Pews have been roped off to allow for physical distancing.
  • The hymnals and Mass response cards have been removed. We will use the projectors. 
  • The collection baskets are at the entrance of church.
• How Mass is temporarily different
  • There will not be altar servers outside of the seminarians.
  • We will not be holding hands outside of your household during the Our Father.
  • We ask for you to refrain from sharing a physical sign of peace, outside of your household.
• How the distribution of Holy Communion is temporarily different
  • The chalice is suspended.
  • All pews will circulate counter clockwise (to the right) to the altar up the nearest aisle.
  • Please use the tape on the floor as a guide to maintain physical distancing.
  • Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist will use hand sanitizer and will be wearing masks.
  • Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist will place the host in your hands.
  • Spiritual Communion might be what is best for your individual situation.
  • Those wishing to receive Holy Communion on the tongue must receive from Father Doug and are asked to wait to receive until all those receiving in the hand have done so.
• How exiting church is temporarily different
  • Give adequate physical space with each other as you exit.
  • Depart promptly so that we can clean between Masses.
  • If visiting each other, please do so outside maintaining social distancing, away from the doors, leave plenty of room for others to exit.
• How you can help
  • Love one another by practicing patience.
  • If you are anxious please do not feel pressured to physically attend. Mass will still be available online.  The Archbishop has dispensed our Sunday obligation until at least August 15, 2020. 

What to Expect When You Return to
St. Simon Expanded

It is extremely exciting to be returning to Saint Simon for Sunday Mass!  We return as people who have been and continue to be changed by the global pandemic.  In the midst of it all we have lifted one another up in prayer and it is good to be able to gather together to pray once again.

Let us be mindful for all those who have suffered losses. Let us be especially mindful to lift in prayer those who have died and those who mourn their passing.

We are doing our best and learning each day. The following procedures will be modified as needed.  We will continue to update you. 

Personal Safety / Risk Tolerance

We know that every person has a different level of comfort when it comes to risk. If you are not comfortable returning to Mass at this time, please do not feel any rush to return.  Archbishop Thompson has extended the dispensation from the Sunday Obligation to attend Mass until August 15, 2020. 

As brothers and sisters in Christ, our goal is to help each other get to heaven but there is no need to rush it. If you are in a high-risk category (65 or older and/or have medical conditions) you are highly encouraged to continue to join Mass online.

As always, if you are sick or experiencing symptoms of sickness, remember you are not obliged to attend Sunday Mass and out of charity for the rest of the community you ought not attend.  If you have tested positive for the coronavirus, please do not attend Mass until you have been cleared by your doctor.  

At Saint Simon we have worked hard to keep our campus clean and will continue to do so.  Even with those efforts, every individual must understand that you are assuming some risk in returning to Saint Simon. 

The coronavirus is still active and it is not always immediately clear that someone has contracted it and studies show many people contract the coronavirus and never show symptoms.

We are ready to greet you when you are ready.  

The last thing we want is for you to feel unwelcome or uncomfortable at Saint Simon.

The Journey through Mass

Mass Preparation

As you prepare to return to Mass, ask yourself, “Am I ready?” Are you sick or in a high-risk category? Are you uncomfortable knowing that even though we are cleaning as best we can, we have not totally eliminated the coronavirus? If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions please continue to be patient and wait to return to Mass in person. 

If you are healthy and ready to return to Mass, you should wear a mask. We understand that this can be a divisive issue and while we appreciate that some do not want to wear a mask we hope that you would do so for the time being to help others feel comfortable at Mass. 

Entering

Please be conscious of social distancing from the moment you park your car. Allow for separation as you enter the building. When you come inside please remember to have your mask on and use hand sanitizer. We will have some hand sanitizer available but we ask for you to bring and use your own. Church supply could become depleted quickly. You will notice the greeters will be wearing gloves and will be distributing the bulletin after Mass. 

Building Changes

You will notice several building changes. The nursery is temporarily closed and the cry room has been converted to a temporary confessional. This provides more space for the priest and the penitent than our regular confessional. We love children and understand that they are sometimes fussy. Parents, please feel free to use the narthex if you feel it necessary to temporarily remove a fussy child. 

You will also notice that there is no holy water in the holy water font. You can arrange to fill a personal bottle with holy water for your use.  Pews are roped off to allow for physical distancing. We know that many families have pews that they traditionally sit in. If the pew you traditionally sit in is roped off please understand that this is temporary and exercise restraint from sitting in your regular pew. You will also notice that the hymnals and other cards have been removed. This is to allow for the cleaning crew to thoroughly and efficiently clean the pews and kneelers. This also reduces the potential risk of transmission of bacteria and viruses. We will be using the projectors for songs and responses. You are also welcome to bring (and take home) your own prayer book. You can even find the readings by using your smart phone. The donation baskets will be at the entrance of church. You are encouraged to make your Sunday offering as you enter or exit church. This might be a good time for you to consider signing up for our online giving platform Faith Direct.

Mass Changes

There won’t be any altar servers for the time being. However, we will have seminary students assisting with Mass. There will only be one lector for each Mass and singing will be done at the cantor stand. This will reduce the number of people at the ambo. The gifts will not be brought forward, nor will the collection basket be passed around at this time. We won’t be holding hands outside of your household during the Our Father. We also ask that you refrain from exchanging a physical sign of peace, outside your household. Smiling eyes, a wave, a nod or bow are all ways to communicate to each other a sign of peace. 

Reception of Holy Communion

As the focal point of Mass, the most incredible part is physically receiving the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ present in the Most Holy Eucharist into our bodies. It is the part of the Mass that is temporarily changing the most. As always, those who are aware of mortal sin should refrain from receiving Holy Communion until they are able to make a good Confession. Please understand and be aware that you are assuming some risk in coming forward for Holy Communion.  It is completely acceptable to attend Mass and make a Spiritual Communion.  You are welcome to come up to the altar with your arms crossed to receive a contact-free blessing. The chalice is temporarily suspended. If you are not coming up, we do ask your help allowing for others to continue physical separation as they come up to receive Holy Communion. Please exit the pew so that people don’t brush up against you.

Circulation to receive Holy Communion

All pews will circulate counter clockwise to the altar up the nearest aisle. Each section will circulate right (south) to the nearest aisle then proceed towards the altar. You will return to the pews in the same counter clockwise direction returning to the pews to the left (north) side. This circulation allows for people to pass each other but not stand stationary next to each other. 

As you come to receive Holy Communion, use the tape on the floor as a guide for separation for people outside of your household. If you need to help someone in your household down the aisle please do so still using the tape as a guide. If you are sitting at the end of the pew please scoot in a bit to allow for folks who use the pews to support themselves to stand safely away from you. 

As you receive Holy Communion, the Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist will be wearing masks and will have just put on hand sanitizer. They will place the Eucharist into your hands. If you are not receiving Holy Communion they will give you a contract-free blessing if you cross your arms.

Those wishing to receive Holy Communion on the tongue must receive from Father Doug and are asked to wait to receive until all those receiving in the hand have done so. You are encouraged to sit near the back of church for the ease of circulation. 

Exiting Mass

As Mass ends, give adequate physical space with each other as you exit. Gather all items from the pew and depart promptly to allow for the cleaning crew to clean between Masses. In general it is wonderful to spend time in prayer after the Holy Mass and normally you would be encouraged to stay in the church to pray.  However, with the additional cleaning measures we hope you will understand our request and exit the church promptly following Mass.  The Men’s Club has volunteered to spray and wipe down the pews between Masses and they need your help to make sure that everything you bring into the Mass leaves with you. 

We know that we have missed each other. If you want to visit, please do so outside maintaining social distancing and leave plenty of room for others to exit. The greeters will continue to distribute the bulletins and will help to remind you to keep the doorways clear.

Until further notice coffee and donuts are suspended.

Brothers and Sisters,

I bring you tidings of great joy!  Tomorrow at 7:30 am the church will be unlocked and available for private prayer.  From Saturday May 16th through Friday May 22nd the church will be unlocked from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm.  Beginning Saturday May 23rd we will return to our normal operating hours for the church being unlocked.

Confessions will be heard on Saturday May 16th and Sunday May 17th beginning at 10 am and will continue until all confessions have been heard.  Our normal confession schedule will resume on Tuesday May 19th.  Please also know that you can always schedule a confession with Father Doug by emailing him at dmarcotte@saintsimon.org.  Until further notice confessions will be held in the cry room as it provides more room for social distancing than our normal confessional.  Please line up for confessions in the narthex keeping six feet between you and the person in front of you in line.  Please follow the directions laid out in the narthex.  All penitents should wear a mask.

The parish office will reopen on Monday May 18th and will resume its normal operating hours.  All those visiting the parish office should wear a mask and observe social distancing.

On Tuesday May 19th we will resume our normal adoration schedule.  All those coming to adoration should wear a mask and observe social distancing.

On Tuesday May 19th we will resume our normal Daily Mass schedule.  Until further notice Daily Mass will be held in the church.  All those coming to Daily Mass should wear a mask and observe social distancing.

Beginning Tuesday May 19th we will be able to celebrate baptisms once again for those who are not in danger of death.  If your child needs to be baptized please fill out the baptismal form and submit it to the Parish Office.  Amy Zimmermann can be reached at azimmermann@saintsimon.org.  Please contact Kerry Schlimgen at kschlimgen@saintsimon.org to register for Parent Baptismal Classes.

In previous communications, I stated that we were planning on trying to return to Sunday Mass on the weekend of May 23rd and May 24th.  That is no longer an option as Mayor Hogsett has said in-person religious services in Indianapolis cannot exceed 25 people until June 1st.  This means that we are now targeting the weekend of June 6th and June 7th as the weekend in which we will return to Sunday Masses.  This of course is contingent on Mayor Hogsett lifting the 25 person limit.  To my knowledge the Mayor has not published what he plans on doing June 1st, only that the 25 person limit is in effect until at least then.  A communication on what to expect when we return to Saint Simon for Sunday Mass will be released as we approach that date.

As you can see from the above communication when we return we are asking that people wear masks.  We realize that not everyone has a mask.  That is where you can help!  If you have masks that you can donate we would love to make them available in the narthex for people who do not have them.  If you have masks to donate you can drop them off at the parish office Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. 

At Saint Simon we have worked hard to keep our campus clean and will continue to do so.  Even with those efforts every individual must understand that you are assuming some risk in returning to Saint Simon.  The coronavirus is still active and it is not always immediately clear that someone has contracted it and studies show many people contract the coronavirus and never show symptoms.  With that in mind people who are 65 or older and/or have pre-existing medical conditions are strongly encouraged to stay at home at this time.  Archbishop Thompson has extended the dispensation from the Sunday Obligation to attend Mass until August 15th.  Saint Simon will also continue to post weekday and weekend Masses on our YouTube page.  All members are reminded that if they are sick or experiencing symptoms of sickness, they are not obliged to attend Sunday Mass and out of charity for the rest of the community they ought not attend.  If you have tested positive for the coronavirus please do not attend Mass or come to Saint Simon’s campus until you have been cleared by your doctor to do so.  If you are not comfortable in returning to Saint Simon’s campus at this time please do not feel any rush to return.  We are ready to greet you when you are ready.  The last thing we want is for you to feel uncomfortable at Saint Simon.

Let us continue to pray for one another!

God Bless,
Father Doug

Brothers and Sisters,

Good afternoon!  I have more information to share with you about Saint Simon resuming the public celebration of sacraments.  Archbishop Thompson has announced a three phase plan to re-introducing the public celebration of sacraments in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

Phase 1: We are able to reopen our churches for private prayer and the celebration of the sacrament of confession.  Archbishop Thompson has announced Wednesday May 13th for the Archdiocese as the beginning of this phase.  Because of Mayor Hogsett's stay at home order for Indianapolis we will have to wait until Saturday May 16th.  From Saturday May 16th through Friday May 22nd Saint Simon's church will be open for prayer each day from 7:30 am until 7:30 pm.  On Saturday May 23rd we will resume our normal hours.  Confessions will be heard at 10 am until all have been heard on both Saturday May 16th and Sunday May 17th.  More information on where those confessions will be held will be forthcoming.  On Tuesday May 19th we will resume our normal confession and adoration schedule.

Phase 2: We are able to resume public celebrations of Daily Mass, Weddings & Funerals within Mass, Baptisms, and Anointing of the Sick.  This will begin on Tuesday May 19th.  On Tuesday May 19th we will resume our normal Daily Mass schedule.  Daily Masses will be held in the church until further notice.

Phase 3: Public Celebration of Sunday Mass will be allowed to resume on the weekend of Saturday May 23rd & Sunday May 24th.  There will be more information about what to expect when we return to Sunday Mass coming next week.

The Parish Office will re-open on Monday May 18th.  I am hopeful that we will allow meetings and gatherings again on campus beginning Monday June 1st. 

Once again thank you all for your prayers and your patience.  There will be more information coming, but wanted to let you know these dates today.  May God bless you and please know of my prayers for all of you!

God Bless,
Father Doug  

Brothers and Sisters,

I wanted to take a moment this Wednesday, May 6th to update you on the latest information I have in regards to resuming celebrating the sacraments publicly at Saint Simon.  Mayor Hogsett has extended the stay at home order for Indianapolis to Friday, May 15th and there is no worship exemption.  In addition to that the Bishops of Indiana announced that they wanted to resume public Masses in Indiana no later than the Vigil Mass for Pentecost on Saturday, May 30th.

This means that at Saint Simon the earliest we will resume celebrating the sacraments publicly is Friday, May 15th and the latest is May 30th.  I am hopeful that it will be sooner rather than later but want to reemphasize that we will work to make sure that we are following the direction of Diocesan and Civil authorities and providing a safe environment for our parishioners.

The Bishops of Indiana also announced that the Dispensation from the Sunday Obligation to attend Mass has been extended to August 15th.

Please join me in praying for Pope Francis, Archbishop Thompson (and all bishops), Me (and all pastors), President Trump, Governor Holcomb (and all governors), Mayor Hogsett (and all mayors) that they will be given wisdom, knowledge and understanding as they seek to lead and make decisions.

Thank you for your patience and understanding and please know of my prayers for you!

God Bless,
Father Doug 

Brothers and Sisters,

*click links above to set reminders

God Bless,
Father Doug

Brothers and Sisters,

I hope that this email finds you healthy and adjusting to our "Stay at Home" directive from the Governor.  A special thank you to everyone who is out providing care and essential services so that so many of us can hunker down in safety.  Please know of my prayers for all of you.  At this time we know for sure that because of the Governor's directive we will not be celebrating Palm Sunday together.  Our Parish Pastoral Team is moving forward under the assumption that we will not be able to be together in person for the Triduum and Easter.  Next week we should have more information about how you can connect to those liturgies electronically.  And it wouldn't hurt to pray for a miracle that we would be able to celebrate them together in person!

In general, we are trying to not make decisions about canceling or moving future events until we absolutely have to as we want to keep things as normal as possible once we are able to be together again.  

Some updates I can provide at this time:
The earliest the parish office will be able to be open again: Tuesday, April 7th
The earliest our school ministry will be able to return to the school building: Monday, May 4th
First Communion: Moved from Saturday, May 2nd to Saturday, May 23rd
*Obviously the above dates are subject to change based on the judgment of civil, diocesan and parish officials*

Thank you so much for your continued prayers.  Please know that you can count on mine.  I greatly look forward to seeing you all again in person!

God Bless,
FD

March 26, 2020 7pm
 

https://membership.faithdirect.net/IN733

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Brothers and Sisters,

We received word this morning that Archbishop Thompson has suspended all public Masses and other parish events such as Adoration, Confessions and Stations of the Cross beginning Wednesday March 18^th and continuing until further notice.  Not being able to receive the sacraments is a true hardship.  This is certainly not the first time this has happened, for example, Saint Ambrose did the same many centuries ago and numerous dioceses halted public Masses during the Spanish Flu Outbreak in 1918.  Let us hunger for the Eucharist and realize how wonderful it will be when we are able to receive Jesus again.  Let us also join in solidarity with our Armed Forces and Catholics in missionary areas who go for months without Mass.  

We are always able to make a Spiritual Communion.  With a Spiritual Communion we unite ourselves to God through prayer.  It is a beautiful way to express to God our desire to be united with him when we are unable to complete that union in the reception of Holy Communion. 

An Act of Spiritual Communion

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.

The sacraments are available for those in danger of death.  If you or someone you know is in danger of death please call the Sacramental Emergency line: 317-762-9904

Please know that Mass will continue to be offered by me each and every day and we are working diligently on ways in which those Masses can be brought to you electronically.  Please stay tuned for more information.

Some Opportunities to Help:

Many of you have expressed a willingness to help in any way you can and that is incredible!  Deacon Mike is thankful that so many reached out to help him with the Distribution of Holy Communion.  Until permission is given by the Archbishop this ministry is suspended.  Thank you to Deacon Mike for running point on this!  There are some other ways you can help.

Meals for Families
In the case that folks are in need of meals please connect with our Meals for Families Ministry.  This would include both people in need of meals and those who would be willing to help provide meals. 

The contacts are:
Parishioner Sheila Hussey
Email: sheilahusseyifg@gmail.com Phone: 812.212.9850

Director of Parish Life Beth Rutski
Email: brutski@saintsimon.org Phone: 317.450.3058

Thank you to Sheila and Beth for spearheading this!

Phone Calls for the Lonely
We anticipate that one of the more difficult aspects, as we continue practicing social distancing, is that loneliness will creep in.  As a way of staying connected we would like to connect people who are lonely with a phone call from someone who would like to reach out.  If you are lonely and would like a phone call or if you are interested in reaching out by calling someone please contact:

Administrator of Religious Education
Kerry Schlimgen: Phone: 317.506.0929

Faith Formation Assistant
Ashley Hyre Email: ahyre@saintsimon.org Phone: 317.519.6563

Thank you to Kerry and Ashley for organizing this!

Let us continue to lift one another up in prayer.  We do not do this alone!  I look forward to the day when we are gathered together again in person.

God Bless,
Father Doug


 

Brothers and Sisters,
 
I have been following with great interest the information that continues to come to us about COVID-19 which is commonly known as the Corona Virus.  Like many of you I have struggled to discern what exactly is happening as the situation is fluid and the information given can even seem to contradict other information that is being given.  I take very seriously my role as Pastor of Saint Simon and want to act in such a way that our people are safe.  In prayer I have continued to come back to the idea that acting too soon is by its very definition not acting too late.  AS OF 6 PM THURSDAY MARCH 12TH ALL ACTIVITIES AT SAINT SIMON THE APOSTLE PARISH ARE SUSPENDED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HOLY MASS, CONFESSION, EVENING STATIONS OF THE CROSS AND ADORATION.  It is my plan that the church will be open for people to come and pray from 7 am to 7 pm each day.  Church being open is of course dependent on the wishes of the Archbishop and may have to change in this fluid situation.  
 
The Parish Pastoral Team has been instructed to work from home as best as they can.  The earliest our parish office will re-open and other activities at Saint Simon allowed is Monday March 30th.  We will continue to evaluate as we get closer.  Our school ministry will begin E-Learning on Monday March 16th and will continue until their regularly scheduled Spring Break begins on March 27th.  We would resume E-Learning on Monday April 6th.  It is our hope that on-site learning will resume on Tuesday April 14th.  We will continue to evaluate as we get closer.  If you are a part of our school ministry there will be additional information coming this evening.
 
Archbishop Thompson has dispensed the faithful of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis from having to attend Sunday Mass until further notice.  Vulnerable adults and children, including those with weakened or compromised immune systems, are encouraged to stay home from Mass.  If you are sick or are showing symptoms of being sick please stay home as an act of charity.  For those who do attend Mass please maintain distance and spread out in Church.
 
I realize that these actions may seem extreme and will cause hardship, but I assure you that they are not taken lightly and have been done after much consultation with the state and Archdiocese of Indianapolis.  I have no doubt that our community will come through this global pandemic and we will do so by looking out for and taking care of one another.  May the wider community know Saint Simon and its parishioners for the love and care we demonstrate.  If someone is in need of the Anointing of the Sick or Last Rites please contact the Sacramental Emergency line at 317-762-9904.  
 
Heavenly Father
We come before you thankful for your many gifts
Please come to the assistance of all who are sick
Give them healing, comfort and peace
Protect their caregivers, families and friends
If we suffer may we do it in union with Christ on His Cross
In Jesus’s Holy Name we pray.
Amen!
Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, Pray for Us!
 
May God bless all of you and please know of my prayers for you.  We will be in touch as I receive more information.
 
God Bless,
Father Doug