Be strong and be courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.– Joshua 1:9
It is up to each of us to do everything we can do to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. With that in mind, and in cooperation with the Diocese of Davenport, we are taking a number of steps to help keep everyone healthy. Beginning Tuesday, March 17, and until further notice:
- All Catholics are dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
- All public celebrations of the Mass, along with other liturgies and devotions (Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Stations of the Cross, etc…) are cancelled.
- Fr. Crossen and Fr. Weber will continue to offer Mass (without a congregation), for your intentions.
- All parish events, meetings, and gatherings are cancelled. This includes Parish Council, Finance Council, Board of Education, Religious Education, Youth Ministry, Bible Studies, etc….
- Lourdes Catholic School will be closed until April 13. LCS families and staff will continue to receive updates directly from the school.
In the meantime, we will continue to do everything we can to support and encourage one another as we face this crisis together. Specifically:
- The Church will be open from 8am-4pm every day for private prayer.
- Please enter through the handicap doors, using the button to open the door.
- Please maintain a minimum 6’ of social distancing, and if you are sick or caring for someone who is, please stay home.
- Confessions will be offered from 12pm-1pm on Tuesdays and from 3pm-4pm on Thursdays.
- We encourage you to continue your sacrificial offerings using our online giving service. This will allow us to continue to pay our lay staff and provide important services in this difficult time. Please click here for online giving.
- In the very near future we will be organizing volunteers to look in on our elderly and vulnerable parishioners. This will include things like dropping off grocery orders or calling once or twice a week to check on those with no family in the area.
As this situation continues to unfold we will use Flocknote to keep you informed.
As we work together to do all that we can to stop the spread of COVID-19 let us continue to hold one another in prayer.
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God, cast into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.