Reopening Star of the Sea Church
Public Celebration of the Mass will be celebrated:
Saturday 5pm Sunday 8am and 12noon
10am Sunday Mass will be live streamed only and closed to the public for those who are vulnerable or have underlying conditions.
When coming to the public Masses: Doors open 1 hour before each Mass, please arrive at least 30 minutes early. We can only accommodate 120 people so it is first come, first serve. The doors will be closed 5 minutes after the Mass has be begun. If you are here after that, you will have to wait for the next available Mass. We have temporarily moved the Blessed Sacrament to the main church. This means that when you pass the Blessed Sacrament please remember to genuflect or offer a profound bow to the tabernacle. This also means that talking in the worship space should be at a minimum out of respect for the Blessed Sacrament. Everyone 10 years old and up MUST wear a mask or face covering at all times, making sure both, nose and mouth are covered. Our plan is to use the doors on each end of the entrance to the church, if we do not get the needed volunteers to assist the staff there will only be one entrance. You will line up outside the far most entrance doors, 6 feet apart. Staff and assistants will be available to assist you and there will be 6ft markings on the ground to ensure social distancing. Staff members will be at the door to ask each individual/family for contact information and a few questions and to ensure everyone over the age of 10 is wearing a face mask or covering.
A staff member or assistant will be outside while you are in line to take down your family name and the best way to contact you to keep on file for contact tracing as mandated by the Diocese. Next, a staff member will meet you to take you to your seat. There are sections for families and sections for individuals. You will be seated based on that and 6 feet apart from the next individual or family. Please be patient and understanding as we adapt to this change. During the Mass, we ask that you refrain from singing out loud and shaking/holding hands There will be no offertory procession or passing of the collection basket. For communion, everyone will be escorted to the center aisle, there will be a basket to the left and right of the front two pews for you to place your much needed donations. Thank you for your generosity. Fr. Steve will be the only one to distribute communion. You will be prompted by the staff or assistant when your pew can line up for communion. We will start from the back of the middle pews to the front and alternate each section. Then we will move to the outside pews, Staff or assistants again will start from the back and line people up to go down the center aisle. There are 6 foot markings on the floor to ensure social distancing while waiting for communion. Fr. Steve will be at the front of the altar behind a table. You will receive communion from Father Steve, with your mask on then step to the side to the designated marking where you will lower your mask and consume the Sacred Body of Christ. Then you will put your mask back up and proceed to your seat. There will be staff and assistants helping to direct this process. Communicants who normally receive on the tongue are respectfully asked to consider the reverent act of receiving in the hand. If you still wish to receive on the tongue you are asked to receive after all those who receive in the hand and you should inform the greeter from your section. Father Steve will disinfect his hands after each communicant. Anyone who needs assistance for communion, please inform the staff or assistant as you enter the Church so that you may be seated in the chapel and Fr. Steve will bring you communion last. After Mass has ended, the two far most doors will be open for you to exit. Please continue to practice social distancing as you leave. A note about the bathrooms. If you must use the restroom while at Mass only one stall will be available for each male and female bathroom and only one person can be in the bathroom at a time. The bathroom will have to be cleaned after each use before the next person can go in. We kindly ask that you not linger after Mass in prayer so that we can prepare for the next Mass. In addition, please do not depart before the conclusion of the Mass. We realize that this is a lot of changes and we hope and pray for this to be short term. Until we return to “normal” we have to adhere to the diocesan and state guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety. Please be patient during these times. Daily Masses are open to the Public: Tuesday 6:15pm, Wednesday- Friday 8am in Crawford Hall. Doors open 30 minutes before, please arrive early. We look forward to seeing you all again!!!!
The Weekday Masses will be public and live streamed:
Tuesday at 6:15 pm and Wednesday- Friday at 8 am via Facebook live
On Sunday, Mass at 10 am will only be live streamed via Facebook live
Sunday Mass at 10 am may also be found on You Tube Watch Mass here.
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
E-giving for the parish is available HERE.
You may also mail in your donations if you prefer:
Star of the Sea Church
1404 Pacific Avenue
Virginia Beach VA 23451
Please stay safe and healthy, God Bless.