Update from Father (2 Apr 2020)
Dear Faithful,
I hope that you are all well and growing spiritually as this pandemic continues.
As I am sure most of you have now seen, the Governor of Texas has issued an order declaring that Churches are essential and cannot be ordered closed by the local authorities. This is indeed a great blessing, but not yet a complete return to normalcy as it does still have restrictions attached. The guidelines for Churches that were issued by the attorney general specify that CDC guidelines and social distancing measures must still be followed.
I have spoken with my superiors and they have mandated that it is important for us as Catholics to follow not only the letter but also the spirit of the laws issued by authorities. Therefore we will be able to use the Chapels, but only to the ten person limit in place by the CDC and President Trump.
The only way that I see that this can work practically is to copy what is being done in Denver, CO., Dickinson, TX. and other places, which is to have the Blessed Sacrament exposed and have online sign ups where groups of ten may come and adore the Blessed Sacrament in different time slots, while confessions will be available and Holy Communion distributed each slot.
Given that there are two Chapels and only one priest, The schedule will be the following:
On Friday April 3, in Sanger: there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 2:00p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with confessions and Communion. (note that to fulfil a First Friday it is not necessary to attend Mass but only to receive Communion and to go to confession 8 days before or after in reparation to the Sacred Heart.)
On Saturday April 4, in North Richland Hills: there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with confessions and Communion at each time slot (note to receive Communion and meditating for 15 min. on the mysteries of the rosary on the day and confession within 8 days in reparation to the Immaculate Heart fulfills the First Saturday).
On Sunday April 5, I will have to split between the two Chapels. In order to get more people in there will be half hour slots for four hours at each chapel.
In North Richland Hills there will be exposition from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00p.m. With confessions and Communion.
In Sanger there will be exposition from 1:00p.m. until 5:00p.m. With Confessions and Communion.
With ten for each time slot this will hopefully give many the opportunity to receive the Sacraments. Please sign up for one slot only If you are able to come on Friday or Saturday and so, in your charity, leave a spot available for others to come on Sunday, please do so. If on Saturday night at 8 p.m. there are still some slots open then you may sign up for another slot on Sunday.
To sign up for your slot please use the following links.
This link will take you to the Signups for Sanger: https://signup.com/go/JexQkGB
This link will take you to the Signups for North Richland Hills: https://signup.com/go/PbZuCed
I am sorry that it is so limited, but I think that is all that I am physically able to do.
I know that not having Mass is a great disappointment, but we can thank God for providing this at least. He is not leaving us totally without His nourishing presence.
I think you by now have seen the various streamed Masses available on-line. This is certainly not the same, but it can help uplift the heart and aid us in uniting ourselves to the sacrifice of the Cross being offered around the world even if in private.
Please be assured of my continued prayers for you, and remembrances at Mass.
In the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Fr. Brueggemann
