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

Permission given to resume Sunday Liturgies June 27-28

Bishop Joensen has given permission for the parishes in Polk County to resume weekend liturgies starting June 27-28. We will observe our normal weekend schedule; 5:00 pm on Saturday, and 8:30 and 10:30 am on Sunday.

Church doors will be open 30 minutes before Mass begins. 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.

Bishop William Joensen's Letter to the Faithful - June 3, 2020

Effective Thursday, June 11, Bishop Joensen will open Polk County for Phase 1, resuming public daily Mass. Ss. John and Paul will celebrate daily Mass in the parish hall for now, where chairs can be placed apart for social distancing. We will follow our regular daily Mass schedule:

• Tuesday: 5:30 pm
• Wednesday-Friday: 9 am

Please observe physical distancing in the parking lot and stagger your entrance through the parish hall 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.

Sunday Masses will resume the weekend of June 27/28. We will follow the same protocols as with daily Mass. Mass will still be available on Sundays through a post on the parish Facebook page or the link on the parish website. The time is to be determined.

Everyone ages 5 and older is strongly encouraged to wear face masks for the duration of Mass, except for the brief moment when receiving Communion. We will have to be mindful of physical distancing in the worship space, and avoiding physical contact and extended conversation, including gathering and clustering together before and after Mass, in the gathering space and parking lot.

Weekday Masses are celebrated with our normal weekday schedule: Tuesday, 5:30 pm; Wednesday-Friday, 9 am. Daily Mass will temporarily take place in the parish hall.

• The worship space will be open on Sundays from 9 am-12 noon for individual prayer.

• No more than 10 people are allowed in the church at any one time.
• We remind everyone of the extreme need for keeping our physical distance, covering coughs and sneezes with an elbow, washing hands frequently, not shaking hands or having any other physical contact, and staying home if you’re sick.
• If people have underlying health issues or compromised immune systems, or fall into one of the CDC risk standards, you are encouraged to stay home. The CDC risk standards include:
  • pregnant women
  • persons with compromised immune systems due to cancer, HIV, history of organ transplant or other medical conditions
  • persons less than 60 years of age with underlying chronic conditions
  • persons over 60
  • those who care for someone who is high risk

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. 

Other Notes...

High School Senior Mass & Reception scheduled for May 24 is postponed. A Mass for all high school and college graduates is rescheduled for Sunday, August 2 at 10:30 am.
Confirmation Liturgy scheduled for Saturday, May 30 is postponed. Confirmation will be celebrated at three different Masses to reduce the amount of candidates at each celebration: Saturday, July 25 at 5 pm; Sunday, July 26 at 10:30 am; or Sunday, September 
Children's Liturgy of the Word: cancelled. 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 3 pm, Monday through Thursday, and from 9 am-12 noon on 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.

CAN YOU HELP LEND A HAND WITH VULNERABLE PARISHIONERS?

If you are a college or high school student at home due to school closings, or a healthy, able-bodied adult who does not fall into one of the CDC risk categories* would you like to lend a hand with vulnerable and at-risk parishioners who need help with errands? Click here to give your contact information and the days and times you are available.

* CDC High Risk Categories: pregnant women; persons with compromised immune systems due to cancer, HIV, history of organ transplant or other medical conditions; persons less than 60 years of age with underlying chronic conditions; or persons over 60; or those who care for someone who is high risk.

ADOPT A HOME-BOUND PARISHIONER OR RESIDENT OF A CARE CENTER

Looking for something to do with the kiddos? Right now residents of care centers and at-risk homebound persons are unable to physically have visitors. Consider adopting one our homebound parishioners or one of the care center residents we minister to and become a pen pal. We will pair you up with an isolated individual and you can write letters and draw pictures or send a cheerful card. Email Jenni Lihs if you are interested or to find out more.

All parish activities are cancelled until further notice. This includes, but is not limited to:

Anointing of the Sick: If you need to celebrate this sacrament, email Fr. Tim.
Reconciliation: If you need to celebrate this sacrament, contact Fr. Tim to set up an individual time.
All council and committee meetings
Small Faith-sharing Groups
Prayer Shawl Ministry
SSJP Playgroup
JustFaith
Choir practices
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Men's Bible Study
Facility Rentals: will be suspended for the time being. We will continue monitoring the situation for already scheduled rentals.

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

We will update changes in status as they occur.

Catholic HEART Workcamp service trip scheduled July 4-10 for high school students is cancelled.
RCIA: will not meet physically at the parish going forward, but online preparation has been set up.
JP Kidz and Tweens: cancelled until further notice
Confirmation Prep, Teen Group and Juniorhigh Youth  Ministry: in person meetings cancelled until further notice. Teens and parents will be contacted re: virtual meetings and online resources.
May Parish Intergenerational Faith Formation: in person gatherings cancelled. Virtual gatherings for adults of the parish were held May 3 & 6 at 7 pm. A video of the online gatherings will be available soon for those who were unable to attend. Also look at online faith formation opportunities for your entire household here.

Faith formation staff is providing online options and virtual gatherings, and sharing with the parish.

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