Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Cathedral,

Just one month ago, our Cathedral parish experienced a major change with the departure of two beloved priests in Father House and Father Friedel and the arrival of three new priests, Father Chineke, Father Vahling, and myself.  Of course, we are blessed that Father Rankin is still with us, though in a different capacity in his service to Bishop Paprocki.  I know I speak for all of us past and present that we are all very grateful for your support during this time of transition.  The new team of priests have thoroughly enjoyed meeting many of you and we look forward to continuing to do so in the coming weeks and months.

We are also approaching the two-month mark of the return of public masses here and throughout our diocese.  Thanks be to God, everything seems to be going very smoothly.  While the modifications to Mass have taken some getting used to, I think we have settled in well.  While we all desire the return of various elements of the Mass, we must be prudent and cautious.

One slight modification that we will introduce beginning this weekend concerns music.  For our Sunday liturgies at 4 PM on Saturday, and 10:00 am and 5 pm on Sunday, we will re-introduce the singing of the Responsorial Psalm and the Gospel Acclamation with the following modifications:

• The Responsorial Psalm will be sung by the cantor alone. After singing the response one time, the cantor will immediately proceed to the verses, without stopping between the verses, then concluding with the response.  The congregation will not join in the response.
• The Gospel Acclimation will be similar in that the Alleluia will be sung by the cantor, followed immediately by the verse, then concluding with the Alleluia sung by the cantor alone. Again, the congregation will not join the Alleluia.

It is also helpful to be reminded of the practice we introduced concerning the reception of Holy Communion during this time:

• When coming for Holy Communion, please observe safe distancing by standing only on the spots marked on the floor by blue tape.
• When you approach the communion minister, please remain at the final marking. The minister will say “The Body of Christ”, to which you will respond “Amen”, after which you may approach the minister.

Finally, below you will find the general guidelines that were sent out by Father House two months ago.  They would be worth your review as well:

• Masses will be celebrated using safe distancing practices. You may find that, for now, your favorite pew has been closed to achieve this practice. With the practice of safe distancing being used, masks will not be required for those coming for Mass, as long as safe distancing is respected. Those wishing to use masks for the entirety of their time in the Cathedral are free to do so. There will be chairs set up in the atrium for those who wish to attend Mass from there, but they will need to enter the Cathedral if they wish to receive Holy Communion.
• There will be music at the Sunday Masses but there will be no congregational singing. The music that is chosen will be done to lend itself to this temporary restriction and the parts of the Mass will be spoken. The hymnals and missalettes will be removed from the pews. At this time, there is to be no distribution of parish bulletins but please visit www.spicathedral.org where the weekly bulletin may be found.
• Distribution of the Precious Blood and the physical Sign of Peace will continue to not be offered at this time.
• Following Mass, the pews will need to be sanitized, therefore the faithful will not be allowed to congregate in the Cathedral or atrium, except for silent prayer. Parishioners who wish to visit with each other must do so outside in the open air.
• Given the size of the Cathedral church and overflow in the atrium, the normal size of our weekend Masses, and using a temporary seating capacity of 25%, it is not foreseen that any type of reservation system or lottery will need to be employed for those wishing to attend Mass.
• Thank you for your understanding and consideration of these realities that we must temporarily observe.

Having shared with you these temporary changes and practices, I remind you that:

• Bishop Paprocki’s general dispensation that lifts the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains in effect. Those who choose not to attend Sunday Mass do not commit a grave sin.
• Those parishioners suffering from a contagious illness or who have been exposed to a contagious illness, such as COVID-19, are not to attend Mass. This observance should always be practiced, even outside of a pandemic.
• Those parishioners who are have greater health risks due to age or other factors as defined by the CDC are strongly asked to exercise prudence in prayerfully discerning their own Mass attendance at this time.
• The Sunday 10AM Mass will continue to be live streamed at www.dio.org/live.

Once again, we are grateful for your cooperation with the above measures.  It is our greatest privilege as priests to celebrate Mass for you and with you.  Please know of our continued prayers for you and our gratitude for your prayers for us. I remain

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Very Reverend Brian C. Alford
Rector

For those who have not heard the happy news, with the lifting of the governor’s stay-at-home order, Bishop Paprocki has called for the resumption of public Masses in our diocese. The Cathedral will resume its regular Mass, Reconciliation, and Exposition schedule beginning with the 4PM Mass on Saturday, June 6^th. 

As you might imagine, there will be some changes in how we worship for the time being:

• Masses will be celebrated using safe distancing practices. You may find that, for now, your favorite pew has been closed to achieve this practice. With the practice of safe distancing being used, masks will not be required for those coming for Mass, as long as safe distancing is respected. Those wishing to use masks for the entirety of their time in the Cathedral are free to do so. There will be chairs set up in the atrium for those who wish to attend Mass from there but they will need to enter the Cathedral if they wish to receive Holy Communion.

• There will be music at the Sunday Masses but there will be no congregational singing. The music that is chosen will be done to lend itself to this temporary restriction and the parts of the Mass will be spoken. The hymnals and missalettes will be removed from the pews. At this time, there is to be no distribution of parish bulletins but please visit www.spicathedral.org where the weekly bulletin may be found.

• Distribution of the Precious Blood and the physical Sign of Peace will continue to not be offered at this time.

• Following Mass, the pews will need to be sanitized, therefore the faithful will not be allowed to congregate in the Cathedral or atrium, accept for silent prayer. Parishioners who wish to visit with each other must do so outside in the open air. 

• Given the size of the Cathedral church and overflow in the atrium, the normal size of our weekend Masses, and using a temporary seating capacity of 25%, it is not foreseen that any type of reservation system or lottery will need to be employed for those wishing to attend Mass.

• Thank you for your understanding and consideration of these realities that we must temporarily observe.

Having shared with you these temporary changes and practices, I remind you that:

• Bishop Paprocki’s general dispensation that lifts the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains in effect. Those who choose not to attend Sunday Mass do not commit a grave sin.

• Those parishioners suffering from a contagious illness or who have been exposed to a contagious illness, such as COVID-19, are not to attend Mass. This observence should always be practiced, even outside of a pandemic. 

• Those parishioners who are have greater health risks due to age or other factors as defined by the CDC are strongly asked to exercise prudence in prayerfully discerning their own Mass attendance at this time. 

• The Sunday 10AM Mass will continue to be live streamed at www.dio.org/live. Weekday Masses will no longer be live streamed after the morning Mass on Saturday June 6^th. The daily live stream is done using a smart phone and tri-pod in front of the altar and this set up will not be practical with the resumption of weekday Masses with a congregation. Daily Mass can be found live streamed at many locations on the internet such as at www.ewtn.com/tv. 

To say that these past months have been strange is an understatement, but thanks be to God that, in so many corners, we are able to resume some normalcy in our everyday living as we press forward. In all that we do, we need to exercise prudential judgment. 

On a personal note, I know that Fathers Friedel and Rankin, along with myself, are happy to have this ability to worship with you again before our new assignments take effect with the priest personnel changes across the diocese on July 1^st.

I pray that the Lord will continue to bless you and yours with good health and all good gifts. Let us be mindful of all those who are sick, suffering, unemployed or underemployed, or in need in any way. Let us also continue to pray for healing in our nation, that we may always have the grace to see people for who they are first and foremost, children of God. I remain

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Very Reverend Christopher A. House

Rector

Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Cathedral,

Peace in the risen Lord! This weekend Bishop Paprocki announced that our parishes will begin distributing Holy Communion as a step to taking back our liturgical life as the Church in this diocese. Beginning this Sunday, May 17^th, we will begin distributing Holy Communion as follows:

• The distribution of Holy Communion at the Cathedral will take place from 8AM to 9AM and from 11:30AM to 12:30PM on Sundays until we are able to return to the celebration of Holy Mass. While some parishes are opting for sign-up times, this was judged logistically not beneficial for the Cathedral given the large number of the faithful who come to Mass at the parish. With everyone’s cooperation, this should be able to be done quickly, efficiently, and reverently.
• Holy Communion will be distributed at three stations: in the vestibule of the Cathedral, at the Sixth Street entrance of the Cathedral atrium, and at the Fifth Street entrance of the Cathedral atrium. Being that the Fifth Street entrance is the most accessible for those who may have accessibility needs, those who physically able are asked to please consider using the vestibule station or the Sixth Street atrium station.
• Holy Communion will be given to groups of nine persons, the minister making ten persons, so that the governor’s executive order is respected. There will be someone assisting with the groups, apart from the minister.
• The distribution of Holy Communion will be a very short rite comprised of the Lord’s Prayer and the Dominus Non Sum Dignus (Lord I am not worthy…). After reception of Holy Communion, the faithful must return to their vehicles, as prayer will not be allowed in the Cathedral during these hours due to the potential for larger crowds than allowed by law at this time.

What is needed from those who wish to make use of this opportunity to receive our Lord in Holy Communion:

• Patience and courtesy. This is by no means a convenient way to make Holy Communion available, but this have been judged the best option that we have at present while staying within the bounds of the civil law that is currently in effect.
• Social distancing must be practiced while waiting for the opportunity to receive Holy Communion. Should it please God to bless us with favorable weather, this will be easier to do by spreading out on the property. Please be prepared for the weather as this will likely involve time waiting outside.
• The minister will wear a mask during this time. Those wishing to receive Holy Communion are asked to do so as well, removing the mask only for the reception of the Blessed Sacrament.
• There is no obligation to receive Holy Communion at this time and there is no penalty of sin for those who choose not to do so.
• Please pray that we will be able to return to the public celebration of Mass soon as that is the ordinary way for the reception of Holy Communion and the most fitting expression of our shared faith as the mystical body of Christ.

Thank you for your attentiveness to the details of this letter. Again, this is by no means ideal but it is what we have at the moment and our attempt to make the best out of what has been a rather unpleasant situation, to put it mildly, over the past two months. I pray that this situation is short-lived and that we might return to fuller worship soon at Mass. May God continue to bless you and yours!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Very Reverend Christopher A. House
Rector

Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Cathedral,

Greetings in the risen Lord! These past several weeks have been challenging on many levels for many individuals; however, we look to the future with hope for a return to life beyond the days of this current pandemic, because, as Pope St. John Paul II taught the Church, we are a resurrection people. Part of that return means normal acts of governance in the life of our diocese and in our parish. Looking forward, it is time to announce the upcoming priest personnel changes in the diocese and these will greatly affect the parish. These changes will take place on July 1^st.

Bishop Paprocki has asked Father Rankin to assume full time duties as Priest-Secretary to the bishop and master of ceremonies as well as becoming Associate Director of the Office for Vocations. Father Rankin will remain in residence at the Cathedral but he will no longer be serving as parochial vicar of the parish.

Father Friedel will complete his service as parochial vicar of the Cathedral Parish and as chaplain at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, and become pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and St. Thomas Parish, and chaplain at Millikin University, all in Decatur. He will also continue to serve as an associate vocation director for the diocese.

Finally, I will be stepping down as Rector of the Cathedral and as Diocesan Chancellor. I will remain as Vicar Judicial of the diocese and Director of the Department for Canonical and Pastoral Services while also becoming pastor of Christ the King Parish here in Springfield.

I am happy to announce to you that Father Brian Alford, currently Pastor of St. Jude Parish in Rochester and Vicar for Priests, will succeed me as rector. Father Alford is no stranger to the Cathedral Parish, having lived here when he served as Bishop Paprocki’s priest-secretary and master of ceremonies from 2013-2016. Father Alford is a fine man and a holy priest who will serve you well. I am also happy to announce to you that Deacon Dominic Vahling and Deacon Peter Chineke will both be assigned as parochial vicars here at the Cathedral following their ordinations to the Priesthood.

These announcements are always made with mixed emotions, which are even more complicated this year by our physical separation from you due to the COVID-19 pandemic. God willing, we will soon return to prayer as a community in the Cathedral Church and to other aspects of parish life. Until then, I ask that you please keep us priests of the parish, and those who will succeed us, in your prayers and know that you remain in ours.

May God bless you and yours with the fullness of Easter peace. I remain

Yours in the risen Lord,

Very Reverend Christopher A. House
Rector

Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Cathedral,

As of today, March 18th, out of concern for the common good of all in our community and beyond, Bishop Paprocki has suspended the public celebration of all Masses and the sacraments effective immediately. Mass is still being celebrated daily but only in private. For detailed information and on-going updates from the diocese, please visit www.dio.org/coronavirus.

Concerning the Cathedral, the church will be open every day for private prayer from 8:00AM to 5:00PM. Individual confessions will continue to be offered every day from 4:00PM to 5 :00PM, in the Reconciliation room, and observing the proper distance norms as recommended by the CDC. Mass will be livestreamed on the Cathedral’s Facebook page at 7:00AM each morning which will then be available for replay. We are working on seeing if it can be made available to the Cathedral’s webpage. There are also other places on the internet where Mass can be viewed such as EWTN and Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire Ministries.

Please remain updated by visiting the Cathedral webpage, www.spicathedral.org, the Cathedral’s Facebook page, and the diocesan website which I listed above. The parish office remains open and the Cathedral clergy and staff remains here to serve you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the staff if you or someone else that you know is in need.

To say that we are all in unchartered waters is an understatement and that we are in an historical moment that we would have preferred pass us by. I am reminded of a dialogue between Frodo and Gandalf in Tolkien’s book The Fellowship of the Ring. Frodo laments to Gandalf that he is in possession of the Ring of Power which he must seek to destroy out of fear that it will be used to wreak unspeakable evil. Frodo says to Gandalf: I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened. Gandalf responds: So do all who live to see such times, but that is not.for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.

In His great love, while God has bound Himself to the sacraments, He is not bound by the sacraments. Though the sacraments are the primary ways God makes His grace abundant in the Church, please do not doubt that He will continue to pour out His grace and love in other ways into your life and into the lives of all who seek Him: Place your trust in Him.

As always, but especially in this time, I commend all of us to the love and care of Mary, our Blessed Mother and the Immaculate Conception, that she may enfold us in the mantle of her protection. Finally, please know of my love and prayers for all of you.

Very Reverend Christopher A. House
Rector