After having reflected upon your survey responses; after having discussed at length and
listened attentively to the advice of the parish council; and after praying assiduously about this matter; I have decided upon the following Mass schedule posted below. This schedule is effective January 1, 2023.
New Mass Schedule:
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m.
Confessions remain the same:
Saturdays: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Tuesdays: 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Exposition remains the same:
Monday – Friday: 7:15 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
(Church opens 7:10 a.m.)
Family of Faith Catechesis:
9:30 – 11:00 a.m. every first and third Sundays
Baptisms:
Every second and fourth Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
Period of Eucharistic Worship:
Every first Sunday at 11:30 a.m. (with Holiday
exceptions)
The schedule above makes us compliant with Bishop Sullivan’s decree on the reduction of parish Masses. I assume full responsibility for the final schedule shown above for our parish.
I would like to explain the rationale for the new schedule. The Sunday schedule is an equitable representation of the cumulative data provided by the survey you completed. The new Sunday Mass schedule, while embracing the statistical distribution of the preferred/recommended Mass times indicated in the survey, also attempts to
provide some measure of pastoral sensitivity as well.
You can see that the 4:00 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass was untouched. This was done in deference to the senior population of our parish who wish to avoid driving in the dark during the fall, winter and early spring.
Regarding the first Mass on Sunday, it must be noted that the current 7:30 a.m. Mass is the least attended Mass on Sundays and therefore could not stand. I pray that the 8:30 a.m. Mass will be manageable for most of our 7:30 a.m. attendees.
The daily Mass had to be reduced from two to one due to the array of other Masses during the week: funerals, nursing home Masses, school Masses, etc. Thus, the weekday schedule was set at 9:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. Here is the explanation for this. The 6:45 a.m. Mass is the least attended. Most attendees are retired or not working
outside the home. Those who attend Mass at St. Peter’s before work, number between five and eight at a given Mass. This early Mass could not stand as the only daily Mass. Regrettably, some of our most dedicated parishioners attend this Mass.
A midpoint between the 6:45 a.m. and the 9:00 a.m. was considered, but this was not feasible due to the arrival of our school children. They begin arriving at 7:30 a.m. and taper off after 8:00 a.m. Mass at 8:30 a.m. was considered, but since a number of parishioners who attend the second Mass like to come early for prayer and meditation, I
thought it best to simply leave the 9:00 a.m. Mass in place. The Saturday morning Mass was left at 9:00 a.m. as well. The idea of varying Mass times throughout the week would cause major confusion.
Finally, it seemed reasonable to have our Family of Faith program after the 8:30 a.m. Mass. If it followed the 10:30 a.m. Mass, the program would conclude at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon; too late for most families.
I fully realize this new Mass schedule may cause real inconvenience for some. It was made with the intention of minimizing the burden and disappointment for as many as possible. I wish to express my sincere apologies for those who are negatively impacted by these changes. Of course, a myriad of Mass schedule possibilities could be conceived. None would satisfy everyone.
With steadfast hope in the renewal of our Catholic Church,
Fr. Tim Byerley, Pastor