COVID-19 Response

We have now been living with Covid-19 for nearly a year. Initially we were very concerned and scared. We didn’t really know what it was we had to do. In all kinds of ways, we have experienced limitations on what we can and cannot do for safety. A year later there is the danger that we are now complacent. Our attitude has become that if we do the things we are asked to do, everything will be fine. Right now everything is not fine. We have entered Stage 5 of the pandemic. The Governor’s office has advised people to stay at home as much as possible. We are to continue with social distancing and wear our masks when we are out and about.  Hospitals are now at full capacity. This is the time when we must be make a commitment to be safe.

For that reason, may I remind people of some of the regulations that were handed down by the Diocese.  “The following members of the faithful are dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation during the time of this pandemic. These include
 

1. those who are sick;
2. those who are 65 or older
3. those who have been advised by health care workers or caregivers to not attend     Mass;
4. those who sincerely believe that attending Mass will jeopardize their health or the health of a person with whom they reside; and
5. those who sincerely believe that because of the limitations imposed by the temporary protocols attending Mass is not reasonable; and that those who are dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays or holy days of obligation are to make other acts of spiritual devotion such as a spiritual communion, and viewing Mass by remote means.”

For the time being, the parish offices will be closed to the public. If you wish to conduct business with the office, you may do that on the phone. The priests will not be taking appointments in person. You may speak to your priest on the phone. Business with parish reception must be conducted on the phone. The priests will not be visiting the nursing homes right now. They will only visit a loved one who is sick under very strict circumstances. We will continue to monitor the situation. When we feel it is safe to do so we will revisit these regulations again.
 

May God bless you,
Fr. Pat and staff

Pastoral Message to the Faithful from Bishop Joe S. Vásquez
regarding recently released vaccines for COVID-19

I am grateful for the recent news from Governor Abbott that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has earmarked over 1.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for the state of Texas to start arriving in mid-December. While this is wonderful news, we know that vaccinating an entire country will take several months and our precautions to stop the spread of the virus remain as important as ever.

As these vaccines have been developed, concerns as to the moral permissibility of using them have arisen from the faithful, particularly the vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has deliberated on these concerns thoroughly and specifically clarified that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are not derived from cell lines originating from fetal tissue of aborted babies. While it is true that there was a tainted cell line used in confirmatory testing, Catholic moralists have determined that any cooperation in the evil of this tainted cell line is so remote, and the good to be gained for society so valuable, that one may take these vaccines in good conscience.

Brothers and sisters, I want to assure you that it is morally permissible to receive these vaccines.
The USCCB has also discerned that the AztraZeneca vaccine, while originating from fetal tissue of aborted babies, remains acceptable from a moral theology perspective, provided it is the only vaccine available in an area and will serve the health of the greater good of society.1
Join me in continuing to pray for those who have lost their lives from COVID-19 and the families that have been affected. I also ask that we continue to pray for our health care workers who serve every day on the front lines of this battle against the pandemic, that God will give them the strength and grace they need to serve all people.

Printed letter from Bishop Vasquez
 

Corona Virus Update from Fr. Pat

We have received this information from the Bishop’s office: 

Temporary COVID-19 Protocols for the celebration of the Sacraments in the Diocese of Austin. Parishes are to return to their pre-pandemic Mass schedules for Sunday and Daily Mass and confessions no later than October 4th, 2020. 

The following members of the faithful are dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation during the time that the Temporary COVID-19 Protocols remain in effect: 

Those who are sick; 
Those who are 65 or older; 
Those who have been advised by health care workers or caregivers to not attend Mass; 
Those who sincerely believe that attending Mass will jeopardize their health or the health of a person with whom they reside; 
Those who sincerely believe that because of the limitations imposed by the temporary protocols attending Mass is not reasonable. 

The Bishop’s office has informed us that if you are 65 or older and you feel fine, you are welcome to come to Mass. Masks must be worn in the church at all times. Sanitizers are available at all the church doors. 

I wish to announce that beginning the weekend of Oct. 3 – 4, 2020, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church will return to the normal schedule of Masses.  Click here to read the full letter.
 

Dear Parishioners and friends,
 
This is an official announcement on behalf of the Bishop of the Diocese of Austin. On Thursday, April 30, 2020, Bishop Joe Vasquez issued a decree authorizing the parishes of the Diocese to begin to offer Masses and Sacraments with the people of the parish present. The celebration of public Masses will resume under very restricted conditions beginning on Tuesday, May 5.  The Bishop has also given a dispensation from attending Mass to those over 65, those who have underlying health conditions or those who feel unsafe attending, and to those who live with persons in these circumstances. The arrangements we are about to announce are temporary. (Click here to read Fr. Pat's complete letter.)

St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church is closely following information and directives from the Diocese of Austin and the City of Austin in regards to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Please view below for the latest updates.

In order to serve our community in the best way possible, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church is implementing ways to keep us connected in the weeks to come.

• We are live streaming the Daily Mass & Sunday Mass at the following times:

Daily Mass:           Daily at 12 p.m., Monday through Friday, 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday
Weekend Mass:   5:00 p.m. on Saturday
                                 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.,1:15 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. on Sunday

• Give Online: With the recent changes to our worship life arising from COVID-19, St. Catherine is facing many concerns. Although our work at the church continues, we fear that tithing will diminish. Although public events may be cancelled or postpoed, we are still here for our parishioners and need to continue to pay our staff and meet all of our financial obligations.

• Mail checks to the Parish Office: 4800 Convict Hill Road, Austin, TX 78749
• ONLINE:  Establish an online arrangement though our Stewardship page. If you need assistance, please contact Erin Hummel at (512) 892-2420 or erin.hummel@stcatherine-austin.org

• Weekday Schedule:
  • Monday – Friday:   Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament  9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 
                                    Mass at 12:00 p.m.
  • Tuesdays:               Confessions at 6:00 p.m. in the Choir Room 
                                    Mass at 7:00 p.m. 
    We require all who attend to continue with social distancing. Those who attend Mass will be required to wear a mask. If you are not wearing a mask, you will be asked to leave. We will continue to live stream our Daily Masses. We ask that there will be no gathering after Mass, Once Mass is over, we ask you to go to your car and depart immediately.

• Weekend Masses:  Beginning the weekend of Oct. 3-4, 2020, we will return to our regular Mass schedule and will celebrate public Masses at these times:
  • Saturday:   
    • Confessions   3:30 - 4:30 PM in the Choir Room
    • Vigil Mass       5:00 pm*
  • Sunday:
    • 7:30 am, 9:30 am*, 11:30 am, 1:15 pm*, and 5:00 pm  

• We will continue with our existing Pandemic protocols at all Masses. 
• People entering the Church will be required to wear a mask. We will exercise social distancing and public safety precautions. 
• We ask that there will be no gathering in the narthex before or after Mass, Once Mass is over, we ask you to go to your car and depart immediately.
• The Church will be sanitized after each Mass.

• Important Livestream Changes: We will continue to livestream the Masses listed above.  However, all parishes have been instructed by the Diocese that the faithful are to participate in each Mass as a gathered community – whether at church or at home – only at the actual time the Mass is being celebrated.  The practice of archiving video of Masses for ‘On Demand’ viewing has now been prohibited in the Diocese of Austin.  Click here to read the interview with Bishop Vasquez in the November 2020 issue of the Catholic Spirit explaining his decision.

• Adoration Chapel and Day Chapel are currently closed.  We currently are offering Eucharistic Adoration in the Church from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday. The church will open immediately before Adoration begins. All who attend must observe social distancing at all times, using only the areas marked for seating in the church; congregating in the Narthex or other areas will not be permitted.  These hours are intended for private prayer.

• The Church Office is currently closed to the public.  All business will be conducted over the phone. The priests will not be taking appointments in person. You may speak to your priest on the phone. Business with parish reception must be conducted on the phone. The priests will not be visiting the nursing homes right now. They will only visit a loved one who is sick under very strict circumstances. We will continue to monitor the situation. When we feel it is safe to do so we will revisit these regulations again.

• Staying Connected to the Parish