• Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m.
• Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m.
• Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.

If you are at risk for contracting the Coronavirus, or feel you are at risk if you attend the public celebration of the Mass during the pandemic, please join us for our live-streamed Masses each weekend from Blessed Sacrament Church.  Mass times are Saturday at 4:30 PM, and Aunday mornings at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM.  We will begin to go live on Facebook approximately 10 minutes before Mass begins to allow you to join us on time for the beginning of the Mass.  Click here or on the picture to join us for the Masses on the Church of the Blessed Sacrament Facebook page.

Bishop Brennan hosted a recent Facebook Live event to encourage, teach and connect with the faithful of the Diocese of Columbus as we prepare to return to public celebrations of the Mass May 30 / 31.  View by clicking on the picture or by clicking here.

My brothers and sisters,
 
From my first day as your new pastor last year, I have experienced your fidelity, love and generosity.  During this time of hardship and crisis with the Covid-19 pandemic, which we are hopefully emerging from, you have demonstrated concretely how great your Faith, Hope, Charity and generosity truly are and how these virtues continue to grow.  I am so thankful for your prayers and support during this time and look forward to coming together to celebrate our Faith in the risen Lord.
 
I know we have experienced many emotions these past few months: fear, anxiety, frustration to name a few.  We have felt a great physical separation from loved ones plus our community and have been separated in a particular way from the sacramental life of the Church.  In spite of all of these deprivations, the risen Lord has walked with us and given us courage.  The Holy Spirit has been poured into our hearts to bring peace in the face of frustration and loneliness.
 
As a parish, we emerge from this current crisis and begin to gather together again in the sacramental life of the Church; as your pastor I want to do so in a way that is safe and brings comfort, utilizing safety precautions and common sense.  I ask for your patience and understanding, remembering that not everyone is at the same place regarding how they have experienced, or are experiencing, the current crisis.  As a parish family, we will need to allow the grace of the risen Lord to assist us and move us forward.  (Please see the attached sheet detailing important safety precautions we are asking you to follow and differences to our worship which we will be experiencing as we re-open).
 
On a separate and related note, last Fall, Bishop Brennan gathered the priests of the diocese to begin a strategic planning process.  Many facts, statistics, and items of information were shared with us.  Some of the most critical information was the overall number, age, and health of our diocesan priests.  What was made abundantly clear was that in order for us to be effective and vibrant as parishes, there is a necessity for us to examine how we are able to keep our priests healthy, having our parishes focus on concrete priorities that help engage people in their Faith in a deeper way; all while the number of priests will decline in the foreseeable future.  In a practical way, we were asked to examine our Mass schedules as well as look at the number of Masses, attendance and the capacity of the church.   If possible, we were to look at reducing Masses and cooperating with staggered Mass schedules with neighboring parishes.  In other words, as the number of priest decline how can we most effectively begin to prepare for the future in a reasonable way, protecting the health of priests and the overall vibrancy of parish life?
 
Since meeting with the bishop last Fall, on several occasions I have shared this information and began our own strategic plan with various committees and individual parishioners.  I have gotten realistic words of encouragement as we look to the future and how we can legitimately sustain a vibrant parish life.  Since my arrival last July, with very few exceptions, I have celebrated all weekend liturgies and to the best of my ability, I have come to understand the history of adding a fourth Mass to our weekend schedule only three years ago.  Based upon the direction of the Diocese and statistics at this time, the fact is that having four obligatory Sunday Masses in a parish with one priest is not a sustainable long-term model based on our overall average attendance.
 
In addition, we do not have regular weekend assistance and retaining regular assistance cannot reasonably be expected in the proximate future based on the statistics of our diocesan clergy.
 
With this in mind and following the directions given by Bishop Brennan, I am announcing our new weekend Mass schedule effective Pentecost Sunday, May 30/31; Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m.; Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
 
Ideally, under normal circumstances, we would have had more time to implement and explain the need for this adjustment; however, the unique circumstances of the last two months, did not allow this to occur.  Please be assured that this decision was not taken lightly, and again, after having consulted with several parishioners, representative of various aspects of parish life in our parish, and in a spirit of collaboration, it was decided to make this adjustment to our Sunday Mass schedule at this time.  One of the main reasons communicated to me is that so much has changed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which was out of our immediate control, we wanted to be proactive as a parish. Knowing the information and direction of the diocese, we did not want to cause further disruption in the future.  (For more information and statistics please see the reverse page of attached sheet).
 
Due to the unique circumstances in which we are returning to celebrate Mass together at this time we will continue live-streaming Mass for the immediate future and will provide “overflow” space (as needed) at Shepherd Hall, which will have the Mass live-streamed and the Eucharist will be distributed.
 
If you are not able to attend Sunday Mass, or do not feel comfortable doing so, I plan on returning to our regular daily Mass schedule beginning June 2nd and would invite you to attend.  At this time, the Sacrament of Reconciliation can be arranged by appointment, until we can adequately ensure proper safety precautions.  I ask that you be patient in returning to this sacrament, mindful of God’s great mercy and patience and the universal Church’s instructions during this pandemic.  We will have the church open for private prayer; however, the hours may be restricted based on cleaning schedules.   Our regular scheduled Exposition and Adoration may need to be adjusted in the short term.  Please know we will communicate information as we are able and as the current situation allows.
 
I have missed seeing all of you and look forward to gathering and celebrating our Faith together once again!  I can’t say this enough: thank you for your continued patience, understanding and continued generosity!  Crisis and difficulties in life allow our true character to shine.  Our local community needs your Faith, Hope, and Love to shine forth now, more than ever.  I know that Blessed Sacrament, as a faithful and generous parish, will emerge from this current situation, and with the grace of the risen Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit, will bring new life and vibrancy to our parish, and to our local community.
 
In Christ,
 
Fr. Anthony P. Lonzo
 
Reopening Blessed Sacrament: Specific Details of Health Concerns / Dispensations / General Procedures 
Our primary concern is for the health and safety of all parishioners.  This is the foundational principle behind the actions described in this document as we reopen the church for Masses.
Most importantly, please consider these facts:

• Dispensation from Mass attendance: Especially those Catholics in the Diocese of Columbus who are ill, experiencing any illness, or at high risk of contracting Coronavirus, you are dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass at least through September 13, 2020.   Please continue to view the live-streamed Mass on Facebook.
• Please be mindful of Social Distancing needs:  To maintain safety while attending Mass, we must use the standards set by the Department of Health to try to maintain a 6-feet distance between each other.
• You are responsible for your own health: If you are feeling ill, please do not come to church for Mass.
• Proper hygiene, especially washing of hands, is highly encouraged.   Hand sanitizer is available.
• You are strongly encouraged to wear face masks.  Please provide your own masks if you are able. 

• Addressing Social Distancing Concerns:

• Maintaining Cleanliness and Sanitizing Concerns:

• For the elect members of the RCIA, their receipt of the sacraments is scheduled for the 10:30 AM Mass on Sunday, June 14, 2020, Corpus Christi Sunday.  
• For members of our First Holy Communion class, we will communicate to each family our plan for celebrating each child’s reception of First Holy Communion in the coming weeks.  

 
 
 
 
Church of the Blessed Sacrament
Facts and Information
 
Average Mass Attendance—Based on annual “October Counts”
     2013:    679     3 Sunday Masses per weekend
     2014:    652
     2015:    639
     2016:    613
 
     2017:    628     4th Sunday Mass added
     2018:    634
     2019:    622
 
As a parish we maintain consistent average Mass attendance; however, the addition of the fourth Sunday Mass did not substantially change attendance.
 
Average Mass attendance per Mass:
     5:00 p.m. Saturday:       160
     8:00 a.m. Sunday:         145
   10:45 a.m. Sunday:         200
     5:00 p.m. Sunday:         110
 
Our current Mass schedule (under normal conditions) range around only 30%-55% of our seating capacity.
 
Statistics Regarding Priests within the Diocese
Currently we have less than 90 active priests with 105 parishes.  Several priests are over the age of 70 and still active as pastors.
 
The median age of priests within the diocese of Columbus is 63 years old
 
The statistics show that the number of priests are declining and are in general getting older.
 

Bishop Brennan Letter April 28, 2020
Ohio Conference of Catholic Bishops Letter April 28, 2020
Diocesan Recommendations for Divine Mercy devotions during the Covid-19 pandemic
The Forgiveness of Sins, Indulgences, Absolution, & God's Mercy during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Diocese of Columbus Easter Resources
Conference of Catholic Bishop's Letter of April 2, 2020
Bishop Brennan's Letter to the Faithful March 18, 2020
Fr. Lonzo's Letter to the Parish, March 17, 2020
Ohio Conference of Catholic Bishop's Letter of March 16, 2020
Online Resources for the Family to use during this time as recommended by the Diocese of Columbus Office of Religious Education
If You Can't Receive Communion, Make a Spiritual Communion - Article from the National Catholic Register, March 17, 2020

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• Daily Mass on Tuesdays at 6:15 p.m.
• Daily Mass: Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at 8:30 a.m.
• Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m.
• Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m.
• Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.

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