Come here to find information on parish programs, catechesis, cancellations and other updates with the everchanging status concerning COVID-19.

Due to increaseed COVID-19 cases throughout the Diocese of Des Moines, the increased hospitalizations, and the anticipated difficulties that the winter season will bring, the Diocese of Des Moines is suspending all parish and diocesan sponsored or hosted social events, beginning on November 23 through January 10.

This includes, but is not limited to the following types of events:

• Events and gatherings not directly connected to faith formation or parish administration/operations. Examples are: staff and parishioner Christmas parties, coffee and donuts, end of year celebrations for parish or other groups, such as Knights of Columbus.
• Wedding receptions or funeral luncheons
• Hall rentals to parishioners or outside groups

• Faith formation and other parish meetings and gatherings should not be serving food or drink
• When an event or meeting involves a faith formation or administrative function, and includes a social function, the social portion should be cancelled.

All Masses have resumed. We are observing our normal Mass schedule;

• 5:00 pm on Saturday
• 8:30 and 10:30 am on Sunday
• 5:30 pm onTuesday
• 9:00 am Wednesday-Friday 

Sunday obligation remains suspended. Mass will still be available Sunday by 8:30 am through a post on the parish Facebook page and a link on the parish website.

Church doors will be open 30 minutes before Mass begins. Please observe physical distancing in the parking lot and stagger your entrance through the entrance doors to give others a six-foot leeway. Maintain a six-foot distance from other households in the parish hall.

Everyone age 5 and older is strongly encouraged to wear a mask in the church building and for the entirety of Mass, except for the brief moment of receiving Communion. Wearing face masks is very important to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and is a charitable act toward others as we try to protect each other from contracting the virus.

We will have to be mindful of avoiding physical contact and extended conversation, including gathering and clustering together before and after Mass, including in the parking lot.

Everyone will be asked to leave directly after Mass. Please follow our ushers’ directions for seating. Every-other-pew will remain unoccupied for social distancing. Ushers will seat front to back and exit back to front. Family members within a household may sit together in one pew.

There are special procedures and protocols that we must follow, for the sake of safety and health. 

• Before leaving home, please do these four things: (1) have everyone use the bathroom; (2) make sure everyone 5 and older has a face covering; (3) bring hand sanitizer to use before receiving Holy Communion, if you have it; (4) check everyone for symptoms of coronavirus; If one person has symptoms, the entire household should stay home.
• If you are at risk (65+, compromised immune system, underlying health conditions, sick or caring for someone who is sick, concerned about being in a large group, etc.), we encourage you to stay home. The Sunday Mass obligation remains suspended. We will continue to offer a recording of Mass via YouTube on our website.
• Please plan on arriving10-30 minutes before Mass begins to allow everyone to enter the sanctuary in a timely manner with safe distancing. Follow the guidance of the ushers to move to a seat quickly so everyone may enter.
• Everyone ages 5 and up should wear a face mask in church and on church property. Put your face masks on before leaving your vehicle and lower it only for the reception of Communion. A limited number of masks will be available for those who may not have one.
• Please observe physical distancing throughout your time on church property, before, during and after Mass. Individuals and household units should remain at least 6 feet away from others. We ask you not to gather with others in the gathering space or the parking lot.
• Place your offertory gift in the box in the gathering space or the basket on the gift table in the sanctuary. Do not hand offerings or other documents to ushers or other ministers; place them in the box or in the basket. Thank you for supporting our ministry during these historic days.
• For Communion people will process up the side aisles as usual, but in a single file line with households and individuals spaced 6 feet apart. We will alternate one pew from one side of the aisle then one pew from the other side. Follow the guidance of the ushers.
• Bishop Joensen strongly urges that we receive Communion only on the hand for the common good.
• Use hand sanitizer when entering and leaving the church. If you bring your own, use it before receiving Communion.

Other Notes...

For now, we are unable to visit or take Communion to parishioners at local care centers in Bondurant, Altoona and Mitchellville, at Prairie Vista Village, or at hospitals in Des Moines. All these facilities are off limits for visitors indefinitely. 

Children's Liturgy of the Word: is not taking place in person at this time. Find more information about available alternatives.
Adoration: resumes Monday, June 29

Other On-line Liturgies

St. John's Abbey, Collegeville
University of Notre Dame

Following guidelines set forth by the Diocese,the parish office will be closed to foot traffic. Phones will be answered from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Staff members will rotate working from home to maintain physical distancing and minimize physical contact with staff and others. When at home, staff will check voice mail remotely and return calls as soon as possible, sometimes from cell phones.

If you need to reach a staff member, you can contact them by phone or email. If services you require cannot be handled by phone or email, you can call to set up an appointment. Find staff contact information here.

Our desire is to protect our parishioners, staff and our partners in the broader community, and to provide services throughout this period of vulnerability due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Some parish ministries are beginning to meet again:
Prayer Shawl Ministry: meeting in the Risen Christ Prayer Garden
Men's Bible Study: meeting in the Risen Christ Prayer Garden
Finance Council & Building Project Committees meeting in the social room to allow for easier physical distancing.
Anointing of the Sick: If you need to celebrate this sacrament, email Fr. Tim.
Reconciliation: Saturday at 4 pm, or contact Fr. Tim to set up an individual time.
Knights of Columbus: Regular monthly meetings are held by the Risen Christ Prayer Garden, weather permitting; back-up location is the FDC social room.

Some parish ministries are still cancelled:
Small Faith-sharing Groups
SSJP Playgroup
JustFaith
Choir practices
Facility Rentals: will be suspended for the time being. 

Outside groups will no longer meet in the parish facilities until further notice. This includes, but is not limited to:
Girl Scouts, Kindermusik, yoga class.

We will update changes in status as they occur.

RCIA: will sometimes meet physically at the parish as circumstances permit, and is prepared to move online when necessary.
JP Kidz and Tweens: are currently meeting in person, but may switch to online if circumstances warrant. Parents will be kept up-to-date on the status via email.
Teen Group and Juniorhigh Youth  Ministry: are currently meeting in person, but may switch to online if circumstances warrant. A simple meal is offered prior to the start of the sessions, but the serving of food will be discontinued after the November 18th sessions due to the increase in the COVID-19 spread and diocesan guidelines.  Parents will be notified via email on the status of sessions.
Parish Intergenerational Faith Formation: Virtual gatherings for households are held monthly, on a Sunday, and repeated again on the following Wednesday. A video of the online gatherings is available on the faith formation website, Kitchen Table Faith, for those who are unable to attend. There you will also find follow-up activities and resources for households each month.  Find more information on faith formation opportunities, including calendars, for your entire household here.
Sacramental preparation will have a combination of in person and online sessions, along with at home preparation. Parents will be kept up-to-date via email. Find more information on the First Reconciliation/First Eucharist page and on the Confirmation page.

OCP Resources from Home

As communities across the world are impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19), we pray for those impacted, and those working to treat those infected. Find resources for worship and prayer during this difficult time.

Give Us This Day

Concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 virus have left many parishes with the difficult decision to suspend liturgies. To support our community's prayer, Give Us This Day has made available at no charge a digital file of our periodical, which includes daily Mass texts. Visit GUTD.net and select "Digital" in the upper right of the screen. While it is not a replacement for community worship, we hope this resource will support you during this challenging time. Please share this resource with friends and family.

The Diocese of Des Moines Coronavirus Webpage has information concerning the following:

• COVID-19 and precautionary measures to take
• Precautions and changes to the Liturgy
• Livestream Masses and other ways to join in liturgy and prayer while at home
• Social Services for help with counseling, food or other needs
• Visitor restrictions for MercyOne and Bishop Drumm Retirement Center
• Catholic Schools information
• Prayer at this time