Hello Families and Catechists,

I hope you are doing well! All staff here at Holy Family and our relatives are doing well. Thank you for the prayers and well-wishes I see from you on our parish Facebook Page. Please know that I pray for you all at 8:30 every day.

I'm just checking in with some actual news. Movement is happening!! and I want to make sure you are kept up-to-date.

Just to enumerate the big items:

1. The Bishop continues to excuse Catholics in the Diocese of Palm Beach from missing Mass. This is called a dispensation. Read his letter in English or in Spanish.
   
2. For those of you who want to come to Mass, first think about what the Bishop wrote in his letter, then please read the entire HOME page on Holy Family's website. Weekday and Sunday Masses are resuming, but some Mass times have been eliminated. The Sacrament of Reconciliation time and place has also been modified. 
   
   1. Remember: if you choose to stay home, you can always watch Mass, give your donations, and check the bulletin on our LIVE page.
      
   2. We will be following strict social distancing protocol at the church.
      
      1. Everyone is expected to wear masks, but no one is allowed to wear gloves.
         
      2. Everyone is expected to graciously follow direction from ushers and signs in and around the church. These instructions include where you can sit (no saving seats, no moving your seat, sitting in pre-designated places, etc.), how you can enter the church and how you can exit the church, and how you may not enter the church if full capacity has been met.
         
      3. Details will be provided on our website HOME page the week of May 25, 2020, so please check back often for updates.
         
   3. Holy Family is also active on Facebook (where our handle is @HolyFamilyCCPSLFL and our page is available to all) and myParish app (where our nickname is "Holy Family PSL").
      
3. We have received a letter from the Diocese saying no Religious Education programming of any type will happen over the summer. The letter did not specify whether or not programming will resume online or face-to-face in the fall. I will be in touch about that.
   

Christ and His angels and saints protect you!

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Mary Acevedo
Director of Religious Education

Dear First Communicants, Parents, and Friends,

We have really missed you! Really, we have. You guys make a lot of noise in the poor acoustics of the Parish Hall, sometimes you put your heads down on the desks because you are sooooo tired after a long day at school, sometimes you forget and break the no-running rule. We miss all that craziness and we miss you.

We are also so proud of you. We know that you've been put into an unexpected challenge, but you've done it! You are so close to the end of your obligations-- only 14 more days of online schooling before summer break finally happens. Thank you for doing your best to focus on meeting your school obligations so that you obey and please your family and teachers. Your obedience has helped your parents and teachers in ways you might not understand right now. Thank you.

So now it's time to think about First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. You worked so hard in the past two years, coming to class every week, learning about the members of the Blessed Trinity and the members of the Holy Family, forming a relationship with Jesus. We are so excited to finally celebrate your growth. Please take out your calendars and note these dates and times:

Friday, May 29, 5:15pm - ? is rehearsal in the main church.

1. Parents should stay for this.
2. This is mandatory because this year it will be very different. 

Saturday, May 30, 8:30am - 12:15pm is retreat in the Parish Hall.

1. This is mandatory for children and optional for parents.
2. Your child will make and receive keepsakes and review the protocol for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
3. Between now and May 30, please actively review the Act of Contrition prayer.

Friday, June 5, 5:15pm - ? is Sacrament of First Reconciliation in the main church.

1. Parents must stay.

Sunday, June 7, 3:00pm is Sacrament of First Holy Communion in the main church.

1. Parents must stay.
2. Note the change in the time.
3. This is now a private Mass, just for First Communicants and their families.
4. The First Communicant is allowed to bring 10 guests. We suggest parents, grandparents, godparents, and siblings.
5. If everyone brings 10 guests, we expect church capacity to reach 338 persons.

I will call each of your families this week and next. Please be ready to discuss your willingness to participate in these group activities.

• Strict social distancing protocol will be enforced at all activities; this will be discussed in detail on May 29 at the rehearsal.
• In our private phone call, please express to me any hesitation you have with participation due to
  • exposure to/diagnosis of the coronavirus,
  • your child or a member of your family who is high risk,
  • etc.

I'm excited to see you again!
Mrs. Mary Acevedo, M.Ed.
Director of Religious Education

PS: Please read the entire HOME page on Holy Family's website. Weekday and Sunday Masses are resuming, but some Mass times have been eliminated. The Sacrament of Reconciliation time and place has also been modified. Please also understand that the Bishop's decision to excuse Mass attendance still continues, so no one is obligated to go to Mass right now.

Remember you can always watch Mass, give your donations, and check the bulletin on our LIVE page.

Holy Family is also active on Facebook (where our handle is @HolyFamilyCCPSLFL and our page is available to all) and myParish app (where our nickname is "Holy Family PSL").