A Special Edition of From the Pastor Updated May 19, 2021
 
Dear Friends:
 
Bishop Gregory Parkes, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, issued a statement announcing that the general dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days for Catholics in the Diocese of St. Petersburg will expire on the Vigil of Pentecost, Saturday, May 22, 2021. Details about these particular dispensations can be found on the diocesan website (www.dosp.org/coronavirus) and diocesan social media sites.  Please see below for additional information from Bishop Parkes regarding particular dispensations.
 
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order on Monday, May 3, 2021, that immediately suspended the state’s remaining Covid-19 public health restrictions. The CDC announced on May 13, 2021 that those fully vaccinated do not need to wear a mask or practice distancing.  This particular development occurred after our church bulletin was sent away to be printed. We look to the CDC to provide us guidance as we take steps back to normalcy. The CDC recommended for those with immune issues ought to continue with the wearing of a mask. It has been our desire from the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis to keep our community safe. We recognize that St. Jerome parish is composed of many senior parishioners who have are part of the vulnerable population that have been affected most by the coronavirus. Also, at this time the number of people fully vaccinated in Pinellas County is 37.3%.  Please see: https://data.democratandchronicle.com/covid-19-vaccine-tracker/florida/pinellas-county/12103/ for any updates to this statistic. For those who still feel it is necessary or want to wear a mask, we certainly invite you to do so. We will work toward the next steps as they become possible. We will for the moment continue to practice social distancing at our Masses as we develop this aspect of our plan.

Our plan to transition to a more normal spiritual and social environment here at St. Jerome is presented below.  Please come back to this site as updates are posted.
 
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Tom Morgan

St. Jerome Pastor’s COVID-19 Transition Plan through September 1, 2021

Currently:

• In light of the CDC’s May 13, 2021 announcement the wearing of masks at Mass of parish gatherings is optional. Anyone with health issues is encouraged to wear a mask.
• Congregational singing resumes during Mass
• Sunday church bulletin and other material now being distributed at Sunday Mass (the bulletin is also available on the parish web site and parish Facebook page)
• Large print missalettes and Breaking Bread Missal and Hymnal are now available in the church for use at Mass.
• Livestreaming of Masses and other liturgical events continues
• Drive-through Confession continues at the northern entrance of the church
• Drive-through distribution of Holy Communion on Saturday at 5:00 pm and Sunday at 12 noon at the northern entrance of the church
• We have returned to having a priest lead the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Saturday Mornings at 8:45 am. The Novena will, as in the past, be livestreamed
• Ministries or individual groups meeting and under agreed guidelines for COVID-19 safety: Baptism Classes, RCIA, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Confirmation and Youth Ministry, AA and AL anon, Grief Share, Life-Line Food Bank, Homeless Meal Ministry, Legion of Mary, 11:00 am Sunday Choir, Spirit Singers Children Choir, and our Life Teen 5:00 pm Sunday Mass Choir
• The priests, deacons, and Eucharistic Ministers will continue to wear masks during the distribution of Holy Communion

Beginning the weekend of May 22/23, 2021, and through the months of June, July, and August: 

• Holy Water will return to the Baptismal Font and the Holy Water fonts at the entrances of our church and chapel
• We will return to having parishioners bring forward the offertory gifts at our Sunday Masses
• We continue to practice social distancing in our church and parish buildings.
• We also remind anyone not feeling well to avoid attending Mass and you are encouraged to participate in the Mass by watching our Livestream broadcasts
• We anticipate during this time having drive-up Confessions and the opportunity of receiving the Eucharist at the north entrance of the church on Saturday at 5:00 pm and Sunday at 12 noon
• Daily Mass will continue to be celebrated in the church
• We are anticipating discontinuing our 9:00 am and 11:00 am additional Masses in the parish center at some point when and if the additional Masses are no longer needed

It is our hope that as of September 1, 2021:

• Social distancing will no longer be necessary in our church and parish buildings.
• 4:00 pm Saturday Vigil Mass in the Parish Center ends
• Our previous Sunday Mass schedule returns for September, 2021 – May, 2022:

                 Saturday Vigil: 4:00 pm and 5:30pm
                 Sunday: 7:30 am, 9:00 am (Family Liturgy), 10:45 am, 12:30 pm, and 5:00 pm (Life Teen Mass)

• St. Jerome Van Ministry (ride to church) will begin on the weekend of September 4.
• The sign of peace will resume during Mass.
• We will return to having those at Mass come forward for the reception of Holy Communion
• We will resume the distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds when we have been authorized to do so.
• We will return to hearing Confessions on Saturday in our chapel. The time will soon be announced
  
• We will no longer be distributing the Eucharist on a drive through basis. As in pre-COVID times, those unable to participate at a public Mass will be asked to contact Sr. Lucia Brady to arrange for a Eucharistic Minister to bring the Eucharist to the home.
• Coffee and doughnuts will resume in the Parish Center following the 7:30 am, 9:00 am, and 10:45 am on Sunday September 19th
• Weekly Friday visits to our homebound parishioners by a priest will resume
• Priest visitation of the nursing homes located within the boundaries of our parish will resume
• Daily Mass will return to the chapel
• Parish Center Rededication on Sunday September 12, 2021 following the 11:00 am Sunday Mass, at approximately at 12:15 pm
• Parish ministries return to meeting: Bethlehem Center, ALPHA, Stephen Ministry, Vocation Ministry, Small Christian Community Advent and Lent Groups, St. Joseph Covenant Keepers and That Man is You Men’s groups, St. Jerome Health Ministry, Adult Faith Formation Ministry, Sunday Coffee and Doughnuts, Adult Bible Studies, RCIA weekly in person meetings, Altar Society, Returning Catholics, Hospitality Table returns to Sunday Masses, Greeters at all of our Sunday Masses, the St. Jerome Gift Shop reopens, Funeral Ministry and Funeral Family receptions resume, Martha Mary Guild, Respite Ministry, Social Committee, Bingo, and in person Knights of Columbus meetings and more.
• Bingo resumes on Thursday September 16th in the Parish Center
• The new gift shop located in the main gathering space in the church is opened.
• Livestreaming of our Masses in the church and chapel continues
• St. Jerome Feast Day Celebration Sunday September 26th, Parish Center, time to be announced

 
* The above are subject to the circumstances that our country finds itself regarding COVID-19.

Bishop Gregory Parkes’ Specific Instances Where the Dispensation Will Continue

One does not have an obligation to attend Mass on Sunday in the following circumstances:

1. You are ill, or your health condition would be significantly compromised if you were to contract an infectious illness (i.e., you have underlying conditions or are in a high-risk category). Please use the dispensation and do not attend Mass.
2. You exhibit flu-like symptoms. Please use the dispensation and do not attend Mass.
3. You have good reason to think you might be asymptomatic of a contagious illness (e.g., you were in recent contact with someone who tested positive for a contagious illness such as COVID or influenza). Please use the dispensation and do not attend Mass.
4. You care for the sick, homebound, or infirmed.
5. You are pregnant.
6. Those 65 years of age or older (per the CDC's recommendation of high-risk individuals).
7. You cannot attend Mass through no fault of your own (e.g., no Mass is offered, you are infirmed, or, while wanting to go, you are prevented for some reason you cannot control (e.g., your ride did not show up, the church was at capacity).
8. If you have significant and reasonable fear or anxiety of becoming ill by being at Mass.

Click here for Bishop Parke's complete letter.