This is the most Up-To-Date information we have
regarding the Church and COVID-19.
March 28, 2021
Greetings Folks:
As more and more people are being vaccinated there is a light at the end of the tunnel. That the time of isolation, social distancing and the wearing of masks will end, hopefully soon. The temptation, due to how long it has been since this all started, is to rush the process and take needless risks with our wellbeing and the wellbeing of others. I encourage you to resist this urge and be cautious for at least a while longer– we must be patient. It has been my intention and the intention of the entire staff of Holy Angels to provide a safe environment, or as safe as we can, for all who come to pray. As a result we have asked people to wear masks when they come to church and to maintain social distancing. The exception, to this expectation, has been for those who are not able to wear masks for medical reasons. Thanks to all who have so generously cooperated with us as we try to keep each other safe and healthy as we gather to pray.
I am asking all who gather here to continue to wear a mask and maintain social distancing until such time we are given the okay to remove them. I understand it is an inconvenience and we do not want to wear them but we are not there yet – we must be patient. As I have mentioned to a few folks, this is not about us individually and what we want or do not want to do. This is about Christian charity and we need to do to keep each other healthy. What does this all practically mean?
· We will continue to require folks to wear masks (medical reason is exception)
· We will continue to maintain social distancing.
· We will continue to have folks come to the carport to enter the church.
· We will continue to limit the capacity of the church.
· We will continue our process for the reception of communion.
· We will continue to keep the church as sanitary as we are able.
· We will continue to monitor the situation and when we are able to make adjustments safely, we will do so.
I am well aware there will be those who will not be pleased with these decision but I must do what I believe will help the people who gather here remain safe and healthy. If you feel very strongly that this is not what you want to do then I urge you, for the time being, to choose one of the other churches in the area where you have the options you wish. We are all Catholic, we just have different approaches and the leadership of the other parishes must follow their own consciences when it comes to these decisions. Blessings to you and let us keep praying we will all get beyond these limitations soon.
Stay safe and healthy, Fr. Howard
As more and more people are being vaccinated there is a light at the end of the tunnel. That the time of isolation, social distancing and the wearing of masks will end, hopefully soon. The temptation, due to how long it has been since this all started, is to rush the process and take needless risks with our wellbeing and the wellbeing of others. I encourage you to resist this urge and be cautious for at least a while longer– we must be patient. It has been my intention and the intention of the entire staff of Holy Angels to provide a safe environment, or as safe as we can, for all who come to pray. As a result we have asked people to wear masks when they come to church and to maintain social distancing. The exception, to this expectation, has been for those who are not able to wear masks for medical reasons. Thanks to all who have so generously cooperated with us as we try to keep each other safe and healthy as we gather to pray.
I am asking all who gather here to continue to wear a mask and maintain social distancing until such time we are given the okay to remove them. I understand it is an inconvenience and we do not want to wear them but we are not there yet – we must be patient. As I have mentioned to a few folks, this is not about us individually and what we want or do not want to do. This is about Christian charity and we need to do to keep each other healthy. What does this all practically mean?
· We will continue to require folks to wear masks (medical reason is exception)
· We will continue to maintain social distancing.
· We will continue to have folks come to the carport to enter the church.
· We will continue to limit the capacity of the church.
· We will continue our process for the reception of communion.
· We will continue to keep the church as sanitary as we are able.
· We will continue to monitor the situation and when we are able to make adjustments safely, we will do so.
I am well aware there will be those who will not be pleased with these decision but I must do what I believe will help the people who gather here remain safe and healthy. If you feel very strongly that this is not what you want to do then I urge you, for the time being, to choose one of the other churches in the area where you have the options you wish. We are all Catholic, we just have different approaches and the leadership of the other parishes must follow their own consciences when it comes to these decisions. Blessings to you and let us keep praying we will all get beyond these limitations soon.
Stay safe and healthy, Fr. Howard
December 22, 2020
Below are important items to keep in mind for when you attend Christmas Mass in person at Holy Angels. (Reservations are Required!)
1) To keep everyone safe, while also maximizing space in the pews, we are creating a seating chart. So there is no reason to come to the church early! Which brings us to #2...
2) Doors Open:
3:30pm for 4pm Mass
5:30pm for 6pm Mass
7:30pm for 8pm Mass
11:30pm for 12(midnight) Mass
7:30am for 8am Mass
9:15am for 9:30am Mass*
10:45am for 11am Mass*
*Please note the shortened time for the two Sunday Masses so we have a chance to clean.
2) Once you arrive at the Church please enter in the carport doors and there will be a Staff Member checking you in and letting you know which pew you will be sitting in as well as Ushers to help you find your seat. If you are not arriving with your entire party, please make sure everyone knows they need to check in using the name the reservation was made under.
3) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes before Mass starts so we can get everyone seated and start as on time as possible!
4) Like a normal weekend Mass, the Eucharistic Ministers will come to you.
5) Unless you you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing one, everyone 5 years and older must wear a mask at all times.
6) If you are waiting to enter or exit the Church, please maintain 6 feet of distance between you and the next party.
7) If you need to make any last minute changes to your reservation you are able to do that online or call the office before noon on Christmas Eve.
8) Finally, if you or someone in your family is feeling sick or in quarantine please do not attend in person! We will be live streaming the 4pm, 12(midnight), and 9:30am Masses on Facebook and our website.
If there are any questions or concerns feel free to call the office at 262-334-3038. We will be answering phone calls and checking voicemails until 12(noon) on Christmas Eve.
Fr. Howard and the staff at Holy Angels cannot wait to celebrate Christmas with you!
See you soon,
Lindsey VanderWielen
1) To keep everyone safe, while also maximizing space in the pews, we are creating a seating chart. So there is no reason to come to the church early! Which brings us to #2...
2) Doors Open:
3:30pm for 4pm Mass
5:30pm for 6pm Mass
7:30pm for 8pm Mass
11:30pm for 12(midnight) Mass
7:30am for 8am Mass
9:15am for 9:30am Mass*
10:45am for 11am Mass*
*Please note the shortened time for the two Sunday Masses so we have a chance to clean.
2) Once you arrive at the Church please enter in the carport doors and there will be a Staff Member checking you in and letting you know which pew you will be sitting in as well as Ushers to help you find your seat. If you are not arriving with your entire party, please make sure everyone knows they need to check in using the name the reservation was made under.
3) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes before Mass starts so we can get everyone seated and start as on time as possible!
4) Like a normal weekend Mass, the Eucharistic Ministers will come to you.
5) Unless you you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing one, everyone 5 years and older must wear a mask at all times.
6) If you are waiting to enter or exit the Church, please maintain 6 feet of distance between you and the next party.
7) If you need to make any last minute changes to your reservation you are able to do that online or call the office before noon on Christmas Eve.
8) Finally, if you or someone in your family is feeling sick or in quarantine please do not attend in person! We will be live streaming the 4pm, 12(midnight), and 9:30am Masses on Facebook and our website.
If there are any questions or concerns feel free to call the office at 262-334-3038. We will be answering phone calls and checking voicemails until 12(noon) on Christmas Eve.
Fr. Howard and the staff at Holy Angels cannot wait to celebrate Christmas with you!
See you soon,
Lindsey VanderWielen
September 11, 2020
Greetings Everyone,
First, I just hope and pray you are all well and staying as healthy as you can during these rather challenging times.
Secondly, my intent with this letter is to simply inform you of what has been taking place at the parish these last months and offer some clarifications to issues that have arisen. I am not going to ask you for anything, no heavy message to cause a little more stress – plenty of that going around. I do wish to share some information and make a few clarifications.
One final issue I wish to bring to your attention; the Archbishop is lifting the dispensation from the obligation to attend mass on Monday, September 14th. This is a major change because for many the last time they attended Mass, in person, was in mid-March. The obligation to attend mass on Sunday is something every Catholic should take seriously because of what it can bring to the spiritual life of each individual and the community in general. Canons 1247-1248, in the Church’s “Code of Canon Law” (CIC), state very clearly the importance of attending mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation. The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” (CCC), in numbers 2180 – 2183, also speaks of the obligation one has to participate in the Mass. Both texts are rooted in the belief the “Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice.” (CCC, 2181.) Everything we do and are as Catholic Christians flows in and out of this primary act of worship. It does not get more basic than that. This sacred act of worship, the Sunday Eucharist, is so important we believe if one “deliberately fails in this obligation they commit grave sin.”(CCC, 2181.)
Having given you the official rules of the Church in the aforementioned paragraph, I must also help you understand there is another side to that coin. Both the CIC and the CCC speak to the reality there are times when one may not be able to meet the obligation one has to attend the Eucharist. With a good reason there is no sin incurred by the individual; it is not just about the rules! Canons 1247-1248 (CIC) and number 2183 (CCC) both speak to the times when one may not be able to attend Mass and it is not only when one is near death. They speak of - caring for child\spouse\senior, illness, act of charity, hardship, in this time of COVID-19 the susceptibility of contracting the virus would be included; the local pastor may also dispense a person from the obligation. (That would be me.) The point of the rules was to help folks understand how important it is to worship together and how by doing so, we give testimony of belonging and being faithful to Christ and his Church; it was not to be a “threat of going to hell if we missed mass.” Too often, we stressed the latter and did not do so well with stressing the former.
Where do we go from here? Though the dispensation from the obligation to attend mass is being lifted, take a deep breath and relax. Do not simply run off and attend church “because I have to” until you take some time to think things through. There are those who should not be in church yet, stay home and pray for us. Speak with your doctor, speak with me; whatever you do, make a solid decision and follow through. A well-formed conscience can do wonders and is to be followed. Remember, God’s love is bigger than any mistake we could possibly make, trust in that. See you at mass when it is time for you to be there.
Blessings,
Fr. Howard
First, I just hope and pray you are all well and staying as healthy as you can during these rather challenging times.
Secondly, my intent with this letter is to simply inform you of what has been taking place at the parish these last months and offer some clarifications to issues that have arisen. I am not going to ask you for anything, no heavy message to cause a little more stress – plenty of that going around. I do wish to share some information and make a few clarifications.
- Despite how things may appear there is and has been a lot going on these past months. We continue to celebrate Mass, weddings, funerals, baptisms and the Sacrament of Anointing on a regular basis. Homebound members are receiving communion to the degree we are able to provide it to people around the area. The good news is we are able to increase the opportunities available to people who wish to take Communion to the homebound. (If you have a loved one who would wish to receive Communion, please contact Deacon Mark or me and we will help to make the appropriate arrangements.) There is a lot happening, some of it simply in different ways!
- There are folks who find the ropes and tape in church annoying – I could not agree more, however, it is in the interest of keeping folks healthy that we keep them in place. Members of the staff have had to remind folks to maintain a semblance of social distancing and not remove the ropes because they want to sit in a particular pew. (We are creatures of habit!) As more people come to church that have not been back in a while, we want to alert them as to how to proceed so they feel comfortable. Just give it some time!
- I am aware the signage around the church may appear rather foreboding – we will be softening that in the next few weeks to have a better sense of welcome, yet making sure folks know what to do and expect.
- I have really been proud of those in the parish who continue to support Holy Angels financially. I am well aware many are experiencing great hardship when it comes to jobs, wages, family and much, much more. I want you to know many hold you in prayer these days. On the other side of that coin there are many who step up and support the parish in ways they had not done in the past. Though we are down a bit financially (approximately $9 thousand) that is nowhere near what I was expecting based on initial reports by other parishes. We are tremendously blessed and I give thanks to God and to you for the financial stability of Holy Angels.
- The 9:30am Sunday Mass is now open to the public. Though this has been by far the most popular time for Mass in the past we still have to stay within the limited numbers we have been using for the past months. The good news is the number of folks coming to mass on the weekends has been slowly increasing and we have yet to turn anyone away. And don’t worry we will continue to live stream the 9:30am Mass as well.
- I wish to bring to your attention a very practical issue, the cleaning of the church. After every Mass/service the church is cleaned and prepared for the next group, this all takes time and increases the costs of keeping things sanitary. Simply stated, if you don’t need to go to the back of the church please don’t; use the next available pew/seat. This helps us to cut down on time and cost of cleaning the church.
One final issue I wish to bring to your attention; the Archbishop is lifting the dispensation from the obligation to attend mass on Monday, September 14th. This is a major change because for many the last time they attended Mass, in person, was in mid-March. The obligation to attend mass on Sunday is something every Catholic should take seriously because of what it can bring to the spiritual life of each individual and the community in general. Canons 1247-1248, in the Church’s “Code of Canon Law” (CIC), state very clearly the importance of attending mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation. The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” (CCC), in numbers 2180 – 2183, also speaks of the obligation one has to participate in the Mass. Both texts are rooted in the belief the “Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice.” (CCC, 2181.) Everything we do and are as Catholic Christians flows in and out of this primary act of worship. It does not get more basic than that. This sacred act of worship, the Sunday Eucharist, is so important we believe if one “deliberately fails in this obligation they commit grave sin.”(CCC, 2181.)
Having given you the official rules of the Church in the aforementioned paragraph, I must also help you understand there is another side to that coin. Both the CIC and the CCC speak to the reality there are times when one may not be able to meet the obligation one has to attend the Eucharist. With a good reason there is no sin incurred by the individual; it is not just about the rules! Canons 1247-1248 (CIC) and number 2183 (CCC) both speak to the times when one may not be able to attend Mass and it is not only when one is near death. They speak of - caring for child\spouse\senior, illness, act of charity, hardship, in this time of COVID-19 the susceptibility of contracting the virus would be included; the local pastor may also dispense a person from the obligation. (That would be me.) The point of the rules was to help folks understand how important it is to worship together and how by doing so, we give testimony of belonging and being faithful to Christ and his Church; it was not to be a “threat of going to hell if we missed mass.” Too often, we stressed the latter and did not do so well with stressing the former.
Where do we go from here? Though the dispensation from the obligation to attend mass is being lifted, take a deep breath and relax. Do not simply run off and attend church “because I have to” until you take some time to think things through. There are those who should not be in church yet, stay home and pray for us. Speak with your doctor, speak with me; whatever you do, make a solid decision and follow through. A well-formed conscience can do wonders and is to be followed. Remember, God’s love is bigger than any mistake we could possibly make, trust in that. See you at mass when it is time for you to be there.
Blessings,
Fr. Howard
August 4, 2020
The staff at Holy Angels is committed to keeping everyone that walks through the doors to worship as safe as possible. Since March, information about Coronavirus and how to best keep everyone safe has changed on an almost daily basis. We work every day to keep in compliance with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin. Going forward, while the mask mandate is in effect in Wisconsin, we will be requiring all people coming to the church 5 years of age and older to wear masks in the church. You are exempt from wearing a mask only if you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing a face covering.
We appreciate the complexities of the situation but ask that those coming to the church cooperate with the statewide mandate. There is always a risk when we gather in a large group, but with your help we can continue to hold public Masses in the safest way possible. Thank you.
We appreciate the complexities of the situation but ask that those coming to the church cooperate with the statewide mandate. There is always a risk when we gather in a large group, but with your help we can continue to hold public Masses in the safest way possible. Thank you.
May 22, 2020
Fr. Howard and the Holy Angels Staff are excited to announce that we are working with Archbishop Listecki’s “Catholic Comeback” plan which sees parishes opening their doors for public weekend Masses starting on Pentecost, May 30/31, 2020.
While we cannot wait to welcome our Holy Angels family back through the doors, there will be some changes made to keep you, our celebrants, and our ministers safe. Just note that no matter what precautions are taken, there are always health risks when we gather in large groups. Per the Archdiocese, the changes that everyone will need to adhere to are as follows:
We also wanted to let you know that on the advice of Fr. Howard’s physician and meeting the guidelines of the Archbishop for clergy, he will not be celebrating mass on Sundays for a while. (Time to be determined.) Don’t worry, he’s not going anywhere; he just happens to be part of a “demographic” where it is not safe for him to be around larger crowds right now. You will see him around and he will still be presiding at the live streamed masses on the weekend and during the week. Fr. Dennis Dirkx and the priests of St. Frances Cabrini/St. Mary’s will be assisting us until he can jump back into the mix.
In preparation for opening our doors we are putting out a call to action! We are currently taking donations of hand sanitizer (if you have any extra!) and hand sewn facemasks. You can drop them off in the specified boxes in the carport.
We know this is a lot of information and we do not expect you to memorize it all. The staff just wanted to inform you on what to expect when you come to Mass because it will not be the same as when you came on March 8th. But don’t worry, there will be signs everywhere and the ministers and celebrants will help you along. We will be holding a live streamed Q&A session with Fr. Howard on Wednesday, May 27th at 6:30pm on our Facebook page – facebook.com/HolyAngelsWB. We encourage you to virtually attend this session, but especially if you have questions.
Please note that re-opening is an ever-evolving process that might change once we find out what works and what does not. Thank you so much for your patience! Let’s keep each other in prayer and we cannot wait to see you back in the church.
God Bless,
Fr. Howard and your Holy Angels Staff
While we cannot wait to welcome our Holy Angels family back through the doors, there will be some changes made to keep you, our celebrants, and our ministers safe. Just note that no matter what precautions are taken, there are always health risks when we gather in large groups. Per the Archdiocese, the changes that everyone will need to adhere to are as follows:
- First and foremost, if you are feeling sick or are sick, please stay home! If you are defined by the health department as more vulnerable (60+ years of age, those with compromised immune systems, those with underlying health conditions, or even those that are especially anxious about being in large groups) you are encouraged to stay home. We understand you want to come back to Mass but we also want to make sure that Holy Angels stays a safe place for everyone. The obligation to attend Sunday Mass is dispensed through Sunday, July 5th.
- Public Masses will only be celebrated on Sunday with a vigil on Saturday. Because of cleaning procedures – which we will talk about more below – the Mass schedule for Holy Angels will be Saturdays at 4:00pm and Sundays at 8:00am and 11:00am. We will continue to live stream only our 9:30am Sunday Masses. There will not be any public weekday Masses, but we will continue to live stream Masses on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 12(noon).
- Attendance at our three Masses, open to the public, will be limited to 25 percent of the Church’s Occupancy Permit or 150 people. Ushers will be counting parishioners as they enter. Once the Church reaches capacity, people will be turned away. Please be assured, we will not split up families. Parishioners will be allowed to enter on a first come basis. Doors will not be open until 30 minutes before the start of the Mass.
- Everyone will be required to enter through the carport doors. Before Mass begins all other doors will be locked and will be labeled exit only.
- There will be hand sanitizer available at the entrance of the church however feel free to bring your own as well.
- Facemasks are strongly encouraged.
- Holy Water will not be available in the church.
- Ushers will seat everyone. We will have designated spaces in pews open for seating as well as two empty pews in between so we can maintain a social distance. The cry room and the side chapel will be closed.
- For the time being all books have been removed from the pews and we will not have orders of worship. Prayers will be projected onto the wall. To keep our celebration simple and safe singing will be kept to a minimum.
- The gifts of bread and wine will remain in the Sanctuary during the Mass. There will be no presentation of the Gifts.
- There will be no physical contact during the Sign of Peace, unless you are from the same household.
- All our celebrants, deacons, and minsters will wash their hands before and after Mass and before and after the distribution of Communion.
- For Communion the priest, deacon or designated Extraordinary Minister will come to you. Parishioners will not line up in the aisle.
- Communion is to be received ONLY in the HAND and will not be distributed by the Cup.
- At the end of the Mass parishioners will be dismissed from their pew. Please do not leave before you have been dismissed.
- Bulletins will be distributed by the Ushers at the carport door and the back door only. No bulletins will be left in the holders.
- After all Masses, pews, door handles, and bathrooms will be cleaned. To give our staff time to clean after the 8am Mass, we will lock the doors and live stream the 9:30am Mass with only those that need to be there.
- For the time being we are limiting the ministers needed at each Mass to a cantor, an accompanist, a lector, a sacristan, and a few prescheduled and trained Eucharistic Ministers.
- It is suggested that you wash your hands and clothes following the Mass.
- Directly from the Archdiocese: “There is no pre-determined timeline for how long restrictions will be in place.”
We also wanted to let you know that on the advice of Fr. Howard’s physician and meeting the guidelines of the Archbishop for clergy, he will not be celebrating mass on Sundays for a while. (Time to be determined.) Don’t worry, he’s not going anywhere; he just happens to be part of a “demographic” where it is not safe for him to be around larger crowds right now. You will see him around and he will still be presiding at the live streamed masses on the weekend and during the week. Fr. Dennis Dirkx and the priests of St. Frances Cabrini/St. Mary’s will be assisting us until he can jump back into the mix.
In preparation for opening our doors we are putting out a call to action! We are currently taking donations of hand sanitizer (if you have any extra!) and hand sewn facemasks. You can drop them off in the specified boxes in the carport.
We know this is a lot of information and we do not expect you to memorize it all. The staff just wanted to inform you on what to expect when you come to Mass because it will not be the same as when you came on March 8th. But don’t worry, there will be signs everywhere and the ministers and celebrants will help you along. We will be holding a live streamed Q&A session with Fr. Howard on Wednesday, May 27th at 6:30pm on our Facebook page – facebook.com/HolyAngelsWB. We encourage you to virtually attend this session, but especially if you have questions.
Please note that re-opening is an ever-evolving process that might change once we find out what works and what does not. Thank you so much for your patience! Let’s keep each other in prayer and we cannot wait to see you back in the church.
God Bless,
Fr. Howard and your Holy Angels Staff
May 1, 2020
“What’s Happening?”
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been asked by a few folks, “so what’s it like not having much to do because of the Corona Virus?” My usual response has been “when I find some spare time I will let you know.” I am well aware I have been asked the question in jest but I do think it’s important folks know what the staff has been doing these past weeks when everything appears to be locked up and shut down. Though we have had to function in a new way to accomplish a few (actually more than a few) things, the entire staff of the parish and school have been very busy and I must say, have accomplished a lot in spite of the Corona Virus. After you read this article please read the article written by our principal, Anne Weise, to learn what has been taking place in the school through the tremendous work of our teachers. She is able to share with you, better than I can, of all the activity taking place at the North end of the parking lot. I will share with you what has been happening in the rectory behind closed doors (in a manner of speaking). I will break the information down in key areas and use bullet points or else I could go on for pages. (you don’t want that)
Business/Finance
Music
Parish Life/Communication/Music & Liturgy
All of this and more is happening while we are also trying to maintain the tasks we normally do such as funerals, planning of weddings, baptisms, crisis calls and so much more. I have watched this staff work closely together (maintaining social distance of course) as they fill in for each other, back each other up; when asked to help the response is not “that’s not my job but “how can I help.” We have learned to do things in ways we would never have expected and we have learned a lot about each other in ways we would not have expected.
Folks you can be proud of the whole staff we have here at Holy Angels. A key question always being asked is: “How do we stay connected with the parishioners and how do we help them grow in faith during this difficult time?” Do we always do this perfectly, of course not, but I would say we do it very well and we all work hard to do it better as time goes on. I felt it was important you all know that there is a lot going on whether the staff is working in their office or from home. I believe we will be a better staff and a stronger faith community once we get through this. It will not happen by accident but because people believe in the Gospel message and do all they can to share that message through thick and thin.
I also want to thank you for the generosity you have shown during this time. Your contributions are terribly important to make sure we are able to support the staff of the entire parish/school and to remain a financially strong faith community. I am incredibly blessed to be working/ministering with wonderful, faith-filled and generous people.
God is indeed good – All the time!
Fr. Howard
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been asked by a few folks, “so what’s it like not having much to do because of the Corona Virus?” My usual response has been “when I find some spare time I will let you know.” I am well aware I have been asked the question in jest but I do think it’s important folks know what the staff has been doing these past weeks when everything appears to be locked up and shut down. Though we have had to function in a new way to accomplish a few (actually more than a few) things, the entire staff of the parish and school have been very busy and I must say, have accomplished a lot in spite of the Corona Virus. After you read this article please read the article written by our principal, Anne Weise, to learn what has been taking place in the school through the tremendous work of our teachers. She is able to share with you, better than I can, of all the activity taking place at the North end of the parking lot. I will share with you what has been happening in the rectory behind closed doors (in a manner of speaking). I will break the information down in key areas and use bullet points or else I could go on for pages. (you don’t want that)
Business/Finance
- Closely watching the budget to make sure we stay on solid financial ground.
- Watching that hours are staggered and practicing social distancing.
- Keep up to date with phone and email messages.
- Overseeing the application for the SBA Cares Loan/Grant
- Monitoring all contributions and maintaining payment of bills - because of your generosity we are able to keep up with the normal bills and pay our staff.
- Assisting at Masses or other live streaming events as needed.
- Being an active member of the discussions of how to bring the church to you during this time.
Music
- Planning of music and accompanying for streamed masses and funerals.
- Assisting with technology as needed - it has certainly been needed these days.
- Assisting us in maintaining our sense of humor.
- Assisting with a lot of tech work.
- Filming Stations of the Cross
- Reading Children's Stories that are streamed.
- Promoting online Youth Ministry.
- Keeping up with Mission Trips and other Summer activities - of course all dependent on the virus.
- Visioning and planning for next year.
- Sending weekly emails to Formation families with suggestions of how to grow in faith at home. Gospel reflections and activity booklets for the children of both Formation Program and school.
- Researching different prayer experiences to live stream for parish in general.
- Posting daily Spiritual Practices for parish members on Instagram.
- Planning Formation Program for next year using much of what we have learned this year during the pandemic.
- Assisting with masses and other liturgical rituals.
Parish Life/Communication/Music & Liturgy
- Major role in live streaming of masses.
- Producer (Lindsey likes that term) of live streaming process that has evolved over time.
- Posting regularly on the website and sending out emails that we might be as transparent and available as possible.
- Does the layout and distribution of our weekly bulletin.
- Updated the parish website on regular basis with information from the Archdiocesan Center.
- Played huge part in figuring out hot technology can help us during this time.
- Producer of the podcast "Faith Facts with Fr. Howard" (that's me) on a weekly basis.
- Worked with Kurt to make sure we have music for masses, prayer services and much more.
- Has been the resource for all our cantoring.
- Major part of the coordination for Holy Week.
- Answering phones, emails, etc.
- Calling people on a regular basis, particularly if they are homebound, to check up on them and see how they are doing.
- Making sure bulletins are delivered to various facilities we normally serve.
- Tending to families that are struggling particularly if there is a death in the family.
- Writing notes and delivering surprise packages to homes and facilities reminding folks we are thinking about them during this difficult time.
- Participating in discussions with the rest of the staff; helping to make sure we do connect with folks who are struggling.
- Helping to distribute as much material as we can to folks to assist them in their prayer life.
- Normal work that has to be done whether or not people are here.
- Cleaning and sanitizing of buildings and facilities.
- Non-routine work to help teachers/staff work in non-routine ways.
All of this and more is happening while we are also trying to maintain the tasks we normally do such as funerals, planning of weddings, baptisms, crisis calls and so much more. I have watched this staff work closely together (maintaining social distance of course) as they fill in for each other, back each other up; when asked to help the response is not “that’s not my job but “how can I help.” We have learned to do things in ways we would never have expected and we have learned a lot about each other in ways we would not have expected.
Folks you can be proud of the whole staff we have here at Holy Angels. A key question always being asked is: “How do we stay connected with the parishioners and how do we help them grow in faith during this difficult time?” Do we always do this perfectly, of course not, but I would say we do it very well and we all work hard to do it better as time goes on. I felt it was important you all know that there is a lot going on whether the staff is working in their office or from home. I believe we will be a better staff and a stronger faith community once we get through this. It will not happen by accident but because people believe in the Gospel message and do all they can to share that message through thick and thin.
I also want to thank you for the generosity you have shown during this time. Your contributions are terribly important to make sure we are able to support the staff of the entire parish/school and to remain a financially strong faith community. I am incredibly blessed to be working/ministering with wonderful, faith-filled and generous people.
God is indeed good – All the time!
Fr. Howard
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Many Easter blessings to you and your family. Let us give glory and praise to our Risen Lord as we begin our journey through the Easter season. I hope this note finds you and your family healthy and doing well under these extraordinary circumstances. Holy Angels School continues to follow the guidelines set forth by Governor Evers, and will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
Although the doors to the school may be closed, learning at Holy Angels is definitely wide open! As I write this letter, we are six weeks removed from the traditional classroom setting and fully transitioned to our distance learning platform. I am so impressed by the success of our distance learning program. I’m in daily contact with the teachers and they are working diligently to provide resources and learning activities to our students. They are doing an extraordinary job preparing and presenting instruction to our students. They not only prepare video lessons for the students, they also engage with the students in real-time activities using Zoom and Google Meet. I have enjoyed popping into the teachers’ Google Classrooms to read student work, look at their art projects, and see the photos they are posting of the work they are doing. The teachers’ dedication to the students brings a smile to my face every day. My admiration for them continues to grow as they embrace the situation and look for opportunities to engage our students.
To keep a sense of normalcy for the students, I video record my morning announcements so the students can hear the weather report, some fun facts, and birthday announcements. I also read the Mission and the daily scripture and prayer before closing with the Pledge of Allegiance. Parents have commented that they enjoy watching the announcements in the morning with their child(ren).
I must also give a shout out to the parents. They have been taking the brunt of this – trying to work from home, manage their household, and have become the designated teacher. We could not do this without their support. Their patience and understanding through this transition has been invaluable.
I want to thank you all for your steadfast support as we continue to provide quality education in the safest learning environment that we possibly can. I want to extend my prayers and thoughts to you and your family for a holy, blessed and happy Easter season. The joyous, resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, is one of hope. Let us all rejoice and look forward to moving from this time of darkness to one of great light and hope.
Be well, be healthy, and be safe.
In Christ,
Anne Weise, Principal
Although the doors to the school may be closed, learning at Holy Angels is definitely wide open! As I write this letter, we are six weeks removed from the traditional classroom setting and fully transitioned to our distance learning platform. I am so impressed by the success of our distance learning program. I’m in daily contact with the teachers and they are working diligently to provide resources and learning activities to our students. They are doing an extraordinary job preparing and presenting instruction to our students. They not only prepare video lessons for the students, they also engage with the students in real-time activities using Zoom and Google Meet. I have enjoyed popping into the teachers’ Google Classrooms to read student work, look at their art projects, and see the photos they are posting of the work they are doing. The teachers’ dedication to the students brings a smile to my face every day. My admiration for them continues to grow as they embrace the situation and look for opportunities to engage our students.
To keep a sense of normalcy for the students, I video record my morning announcements so the students can hear the weather report, some fun facts, and birthday announcements. I also read the Mission and the daily scripture and prayer before closing with the Pledge of Allegiance. Parents have commented that they enjoy watching the announcements in the morning with their child(ren).
I must also give a shout out to the parents. They have been taking the brunt of this – trying to work from home, manage their household, and have become the designated teacher. We could not do this without their support. Their patience and understanding through this transition has been invaluable.
I want to thank you all for your steadfast support as we continue to provide quality education in the safest learning environment that we possibly can. I want to extend my prayers and thoughts to you and your family for a holy, blessed and happy Easter season. The joyous, resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, is one of hope. Let us all rejoice and look forward to moving from this time of darkness to one of great light and hope.
Be well, be healthy, and be safe.
In Christ,
Anne Weise, Principal
April 2, 2020
First a few updates:
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has extended the suspension of public Masses through May 3rd. The Church remains open Monday-Friday 7am-11:45am and 1pm-5pm for individual prayer. Please make sure there are no more than 10 people in the church at one time.
Until it is deemed safe for you and for Fr. Howard, individual Reconciliation has been suspended.
From the Archdiocese: As taught in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 1452) when penitents’ access to the sacrament is restricted, they can be assured that their sins are forgiven if they make a good examination of conscience and an act of contrition with a firm resolve to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation after the safer-at-home order is lifted.
I know that many of you go to confession before Easter… Many will say to me:
‘But Father…I can't leave the house and I want to make my peace with the Lord.
I want Him to embrace me… How can I do that unless I find a priest?’. Do what
the catechism says. It's very clear. If you don't find a priest to go to confession,
speak to God. He's your Father. Tell Him the truth: ‘Lord. I did this and this and
this. Pardon me.’ Ask His forgiveness with all your heart with an act of contrition,
and promise Him, ‘afterward I will go to confession.’ You will return to God's grace
immediately. You yourself can draw near, as the catechism teaches us, to God's
forgiveness, is without having a priest at hand.”
(Pope Francis, Homily, March 20, 2020)
The Parish Office remains closed. The staff is around only as needed for live streaming otherwise we are working from home. If you have questions or need anything, please do not hesitate to call or email. If you call and get voicemail, please leave a message. We are checking them! We are also getting mail so feel free to mail in contributions or other items. If you have something to drop off, please put it in the mail slot to the left of the Rectory Office Door.
Second, the staff is getting quite a few Frequently Asked Questions and we thought we would answer them in one spot:
native to this country. In fact, all of the palm trees in this country have been imported from the Mediterranean. We encourage
you to celebrate Palm Sunday with branches or plants from your own yard--bringing what you have available before the Lord.
2. Q: Are you going to live stream Holy Week and Easter Services?A: Yes! We will be live streaming Palm Sunday Mass (9:30am),
Holy Thursday Mass (7:00pm), Good Friday Service (12pm), Easter Vigil Mass (8:00pm), and Easter Sunday Mass (9:30am).
Keep in mind, are working with technology that sometimes has a mind of it’s own. Please bear with us. We are constantly
watching the feed while we stream to make sure everything is working correctly. If for some reason the feed goes down we do
our best to immediately stop, fix the problem and get the feed going again. We are working hard so please be patient with us!
If the feed does go down, we encourage you to wait for a minute and refresh the feed to see the newest feed.
3. Q: Why don’t you just record Masses and then upload it for people to watch when they can.
A: Per the Archdiocese and the Vatican, we are only allowed to live stream Masses not record them early to upload them at a
later time. This is so that we have the opportunity to pray together.
4. Q: Will you continue live streaming Masses after Easter?
A: Yes! Until we are able to hold public Masses, we will continue to live stream them.
5. Q: My loved one is dying or has died. Can we have a Funeral Mass?
A: Yes. We are still allowed to have Funerals as long as we keep the number to no more than 10 people in attendance and we
maintain the correct social distance. Another option is to have a small burial now and schedule a memorial Mass for when it is
safe to hold public Masses again so more people have the option of attending.
6. Q: When are sacraments like First Communion and Confirmation going to be rescheduled?
A: We know how important these sacraments are and we would love to tell you we have a new date for you. Unfortunately, we can’t give you a date yet. We are waiting to find out how long the suspension of Mass is going to be and when the Safer-At-
Home order is going to lift. Just like you, we have no idea when that might be. All we can tell you now is First Communions and
Confirmations are postponed to a later date. You will receive more information from Hannah and Brian about the new dates in
the future. Please be patient!
7. Q: We have people in our house who are supposed to go on a Mission Trip this summer. Is that going to happen?
A: At this point the trips are happening as scheduled.
8. Q: Is Vacation Bible School happening?
A: As of now Vacation Bible School is on track to happen in July as scheduled. You will be receiving more information about
that in about a month.
9. Q: Are the new Living Faith books available?
A: Yes! If you are coming for individual prayer in the church they are at the car port and back entrances. However we highly
encourage, instead of coming to get a physical book that you use the digital copy which you can find here:
https://www.livingfaith.com/index.php They are offering the reflections for free on their website right now.
10. Q: How can I support Holy Angels right now?
A: Thank you so much for asking! First you can pray with us. We are streaming masses, prayers, and services throughout the
week, and we would love for you to join us (facebook.com/holyangelswb). Commenting that you are praying with us or
“joining” the feed is a great way for us to know who is taking part and it helps us to feel like more of a community! Praying for
us is also a big help. We will never say no to prayers! Finally, another major way to help is to continue with your monthly or
weekly contribution. With no public Masses people have also stopped giving. Now if you are in a situation where you can no
longer give because of loss of income we completely understand! However, if you can continue supporting the parish, that
would be incredibly helpful. You can mail in your contribution to the office (138 N. 8th Ave, West Bend, WI 53095), you can
call the office (262-334-3038) and set it up to have Barb take a donation from your account each month, or you can try online
giving right from your home. Just go to hawb.org/online-giving and follow the steps.
We know this is a challenging time and we appreciate you hanging in there with us as we discover new ways to feed your spiritual needs. If you have a suggestion for us, please let us know! We may not be able to take all of the suggestions due to logistics and
rules/guidelines, but we would certainly love to hear them because it may get us thinking about different ways we can be of service.
Thanks for your continued support!
We pray you all stay safe, stay healthy, and can stay home!
Fr. Howard and your Holy Angels Staff
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has extended the suspension of public Masses through May 3rd. The Church remains open Monday-Friday 7am-11:45am and 1pm-5pm for individual prayer. Please make sure there are no more than 10 people in the church at one time.
Until it is deemed safe for you and for Fr. Howard, individual Reconciliation has been suspended.
From the Archdiocese: As taught in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 1452) when penitents’ access to the sacrament is restricted, they can be assured that their sins are forgiven if they make a good examination of conscience and an act of contrition with a firm resolve to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation after the safer-at-home order is lifted.
I know that many of you go to confession before Easter… Many will say to me:
‘But Father…I can't leave the house and I want to make my peace with the Lord.
I want Him to embrace me… How can I do that unless I find a priest?’. Do what
the catechism says. It's very clear. If you don't find a priest to go to confession,
speak to God. He's your Father. Tell Him the truth: ‘Lord. I did this and this and
this. Pardon me.’ Ask His forgiveness with all your heart with an act of contrition,
and promise Him, ‘afterward I will go to confession.’ You will return to God's grace
immediately. You yourself can draw near, as the catechism teaches us, to God's
forgiveness, is without having a priest at hand.”
(Pope Francis, Homily, March 20, 2020)
The Parish Office remains closed. The staff is around only as needed for live streaming otherwise we are working from home. If you have questions or need anything, please do not hesitate to call or email. If you call and get voicemail, please leave a message. We are checking them! We are also getting mail so feel free to mail in contributions or other items. If you have something to drop off, please put it in the mail slot to the left of the Rectory Office Door.
Second, the staff is getting quite a few Frequently Asked Questions and we thought we would answer them in one spot:
- Q: Will you be distributing palms for Palm Sunday or can we pick them up during the week when the church is open? A: Per the Archdiocese, we will NOT be distributing palms for Palm Sunday in any way. We know this is a disappointment for
native to this country. In fact, all of the palm trees in this country have been imported from the Mediterranean. We encourage
you to celebrate Palm Sunday with branches or plants from your own yard--bringing what you have available before the Lord.
2. Q: Are you going to live stream Holy Week and Easter Services?A: Yes! We will be live streaming Palm Sunday Mass (9:30am),
Holy Thursday Mass (7:00pm), Good Friday Service (12pm), Easter Vigil Mass (8:00pm), and Easter Sunday Mass (9:30am).
Keep in mind, are working with technology that sometimes has a mind of it’s own. Please bear with us. We are constantly
watching the feed while we stream to make sure everything is working correctly. If for some reason the feed goes down we do
our best to immediately stop, fix the problem and get the feed going again. We are working hard so please be patient with us!
If the feed does go down, we encourage you to wait for a minute and refresh the feed to see the newest feed.
3. Q: Why don’t you just record Masses and then upload it for people to watch when they can.
A: Per the Archdiocese and the Vatican, we are only allowed to live stream Masses not record them early to upload them at a
later time. This is so that we have the opportunity to pray together.
4. Q: Will you continue live streaming Masses after Easter?
A: Yes! Until we are able to hold public Masses, we will continue to live stream them.
5. Q: My loved one is dying or has died. Can we have a Funeral Mass?
A: Yes. We are still allowed to have Funerals as long as we keep the number to no more than 10 people in attendance and we
maintain the correct social distance. Another option is to have a small burial now and schedule a memorial Mass for when it is
safe to hold public Masses again so more people have the option of attending.
6. Q: When are sacraments like First Communion and Confirmation going to be rescheduled?
A: We know how important these sacraments are and we would love to tell you we have a new date for you. Unfortunately, we can’t give you a date yet. We are waiting to find out how long the suspension of Mass is going to be and when the Safer-At-
Home order is going to lift. Just like you, we have no idea when that might be. All we can tell you now is First Communions and
Confirmations are postponed to a later date. You will receive more information from Hannah and Brian about the new dates in
the future. Please be patient!
7. Q: We have people in our house who are supposed to go on a Mission Trip this summer. Is that going to happen?
A: At this point the trips are happening as scheduled.
8. Q: Is Vacation Bible School happening?
A: As of now Vacation Bible School is on track to happen in July as scheduled. You will be receiving more information about
that in about a month.
9. Q: Are the new Living Faith books available?
A: Yes! If you are coming for individual prayer in the church they are at the car port and back entrances. However we highly
encourage, instead of coming to get a physical book that you use the digital copy which you can find here:
https://www.livingfaith.com/index.php They are offering the reflections for free on their website right now.
10. Q: How can I support Holy Angels right now?
A: Thank you so much for asking! First you can pray with us. We are streaming masses, prayers, and services throughout the
week, and we would love for you to join us (facebook.com/holyangelswb). Commenting that you are praying with us or
“joining” the feed is a great way for us to know who is taking part and it helps us to feel like more of a community! Praying for
us is also a big help. We will never say no to prayers! Finally, another major way to help is to continue with your monthly or
weekly contribution. With no public Masses people have also stopped giving. Now if you are in a situation where you can no
longer give because of loss of income we completely understand! However, if you can continue supporting the parish, that
would be incredibly helpful. You can mail in your contribution to the office (138 N. 8th Ave, West Bend, WI 53095), you can
call the office (262-334-3038) and set it up to have Barb take a donation from your account each month, or you can try online
giving right from your home. Just go to hawb.org/online-giving and follow the steps.
We know this is a challenging time and we appreciate you hanging in there with us as we discover new ways to feed your spiritual needs. If you have a suggestion for us, please let us know! We may not be able to take all of the suggestions due to logistics and
rules/guidelines, but we would certainly love to hear them because it may get us thinking about different ways we can be of service.
Thanks for your continued support!
We pray you all stay safe, stay healthy, and can stay home!
Fr. Howard and your Holy Angels Staff
March 21, 2020
For the safety and wellbeing of all of our Adorers, the Mary Queen of Angels Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is closed until further notice.
Holy Angels Church will be unlocked during the hours of 7:00AM to 11:45AM and 1:00PM to 5:00PM Monday through Friday. Anyone is welcome to be in Church to adore the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle, however, per our current restrictions there can only be 10 persons in the Church at any one time.
Thanks for your continued understanding during these unprecedented times.Please continue to pray for our families, our communities, and our world.
Holy Angels Church will be unlocked during the hours of 7:00AM to 11:45AM and 1:00PM to 5:00PM Monday through Friday. Anyone is welcome to be in Church to adore the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle, however, per our current restrictions there can only be 10 persons in the Church at any one time.
Thanks for your continued understanding during these unprecedented times.Please continue to pray for our families, our communities, and our world.
March 19, 2020
Hello Holy Angels Parish Family!
Life has changed drastically in the last week for everyone. Holy Angels is not immune to these changes and we wanted to keep you up to date with what is happening here.
First and foremost, per the Archdiocese of Milwaukee: As of Wednesday, March 18th Holy Angels has suspended all daily and weekend Masses through Friday, April 3rd. The church building will remain open for private prayer during the week from the hours of 8am-4pm. We understand that people have a desire to receive Communion and we apologize we cannot offer Communion at this time. Please note, it is not acceptable or permitted to take the Blessed Sacrament from the Tabernacle and take it home for later. However, it will be offered as viaticum for emergencies.
All Mass intentions that were listed for the suspended dates will be honored; however, many will need to be changed to the earliest available open date. At this time, we are also suspending taking any new Mass intentions so we accommodate existing intentions.
We will still celebrate funerals, but we ask that only immediate family members attend because we need to follow the restriction of no more than 10 people gathered. Individual Reconciliation will still be celebrated on Saturday mornings at 7:30am or you can call for an appointment. St. Frances Cabrini will be holding Reconciliation every day from 12pm-1pm and on Tuesdays at 5:30pm. As of now, the 12 Hours of Reconciliation at Resurrection Parish in Allenton is still scheduled to happen on April 1st as well.
Currently the Adoration Chapel remains open. We know this is an important way for people to pray. We are asking however that no more than five people are in the chapel at a time so we can have the appropriate amount of distance between people. If you come and there are more than five in the chapel, you are more than welcome to pray in the main body of the church which houses the Tabernacle.
Starting Monday, March 23rd the Parish Office will be open for walk-in visits from 9:30am – 11am only. This is for the protection of the staff. However, there will be people working in the office most days so if you have any concerns or issues please do not hesitate to call – 262-334-3038. If you need to drop something off, you can always put it in the mail slot which is found to the left of the front door.
During this time the staff has by no means stopped working. We are here for you! We’ve just had to get creative in the way we serve the parish family. Here is the list of ways we have come up with so we can meet your spiritual needs:
Rest assured; you do not need Facebook in order to watch the Live Streams. All you need is a computer. Go to facebook.com/holyangelswb and you will be able to watch the Live Stream. If you are unable to watch it live, we will also be putting it on our website hawb.org/live after the event happens. Just be patient with us because we are new at this so there may be some technology problems as we begin!
The staff is very excited to offer you these new opportunities. That being said, only staff and possibly a few members of their family will be in attendance during the Live Streaming Sessions to assist with this new technology and with the mass or service. We are keeping with the directive of no more than 10 people coming together while also offering a way for our community to pray as one. We ask that you please assist us with this and not try to physically attend these sessions. If it becomes an issue, we will have to make other arrangements or discontinue the live streams completely, and no one wants that.
We will certainly miss seeing your smiling faces every Sunday, but we sure hope you are able to be a part of what we can offer you. Feel free to share this news with family and friends so that they too can take part in the Mass if theirs has been cancelled. All are welcome. No questions and no exceptions!
Stay healthy everyone and God Bless!
Fr. Howard and your Holy Angels Staff
Life has changed drastically in the last week for everyone. Holy Angels is not immune to these changes and we wanted to keep you up to date with what is happening here.
First and foremost, per the Archdiocese of Milwaukee: As of Wednesday, March 18th Holy Angels has suspended all daily and weekend Masses through Friday, April 3rd. The church building will remain open for private prayer during the week from the hours of 8am-4pm. We understand that people have a desire to receive Communion and we apologize we cannot offer Communion at this time. Please note, it is not acceptable or permitted to take the Blessed Sacrament from the Tabernacle and take it home for later. However, it will be offered as viaticum for emergencies.
All Mass intentions that were listed for the suspended dates will be honored; however, many will need to be changed to the earliest available open date. At this time, we are also suspending taking any new Mass intentions so we accommodate existing intentions.
We will still celebrate funerals, but we ask that only immediate family members attend because we need to follow the restriction of no more than 10 people gathered. Individual Reconciliation will still be celebrated on Saturday mornings at 7:30am or you can call for an appointment. St. Frances Cabrini will be holding Reconciliation every day from 12pm-1pm and on Tuesdays at 5:30pm. As of now, the 12 Hours of Reconciliation at Resurrection Parish in Allenton is still scheduled to happen on April 1st as well.
Currently the Adoration Chapel remains open. We know this is an important way for people to pray. We are asking however that no more than five people are in the chapel at a time so we can have the appropriate amount of distance between people. If you come and there are more than five in the chapel, you are more than welcome to pray in the main body of the church which houses the Tabernacle.
Starting Monday, March 23rd the Parish Office will be open for walk-in visits from 9:30am – 11am only. This is for the protection of the staff. However, there will be people working in the office most days so if you have any concerns or issues please do not hesitate to call – 262-334-3038. If you need to drop something off, you can always put it in the mail slot which is found to the left of the front door.
During this time the staff has by no means stopped working. We are here for you! We’ve just had to get creative in the way we serve the parish family. Here is the list of ways we have come up with so we can meet your spiritual needs:
- Until we can hold public Mass again, we will Live Stream Sunday Mass at 9:30am on Facebook starting March 22nd.
- We will also Live Stream weekday Masses on Facebook on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 12pm starting on Monday, March 23rd.
- On Tuesdays at 10am we will Live Stream Faith Based Story Time geared for ages in pre-school through 2nd grade, but really, who doesn’t love a good story! This will also be on Facebook.
- On Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12pm we will Live Stream on Facebook and Instagram a Prayer Service or Stations of the Cross. We started this today (March 19th) but we will continue this on Tuesday, March 24th.
- On Wednesday at 2pm we will continue Live Streaming our Trials and Triduum Adult Study on Facebook.
- Watch for our Faith based Arts and Crafts videos!
- Finally, we will continue releasing our weekly Podcast “Faith Facts with Fr. Howard”.
Rest assured; you do not need Facebook in order to watch the Live Streams. All you need is a computer. Go to facebook.com/holyangelswb and you will be able to watch the Live Stream. If you are unable to watch it live, we will also be putting it on our website hawb.org/live after the event happens. Just be patient with us because we are new at this so there may be some technology problems as we begin!
The staff is very excited to offer you these new opportunities. That being said, only staff and possibly a few members of their family will be in attendance during the Live Streaming Sessions to assist with this new technology and with the mass or service. We are keeping with the directive of no more than 10 people coming together while also offering a way for our community to pray as one. We ask that you please assist us with this and not try to physically attend these sessions. If it becomes an issue, we will have to make other arrangements or discontinue the live streams completely, and no one wants that.
We will certainly miss seeing your smiling faces every Sunday, but we sure hope you are able to be a part of what we can offer you. Feel free to share this news with family and friends so that they too can take part in the Mass if theirs has been cancelled. All are welcome. No questions and no exceptions!
Stay healthy everyone and God Bless!
Fr. Howard and your Holy Angels Staff
March 16, 2020:
Starting Wednesday, March 18th the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is suspending the public celebration of Mass until Friday, April 3rd. This includes weekday and Sunday Masses.
You can read Archbishop Listecki's full letter here: https://www.archmil.org/ArchMil/attachments/CoVID19UpdateforMass.pdf
Activities that will still happen:
Activities that are Postponed:
We will continue to update as we learn more!
You can read Archbishop Listecki's full letter here: https://www.archmil.org/ArchMil/attachments/CoVID19UpdateforMass.pdf
Activities that will still happen:
- Adoration in the Chapel
- Individual Reconciliation
- Funerals - though we ask that they are attended by immediate family members only.
- The Church will be open daily for individual prayer.
- As of now, First Communion will go on as scheduled!
Activities that are Postponed:
- All Daily and Weekend Masses through Friday, April 3rd
- Reconciliation Services that were scheduled for Wednesday, March 18th at Holy Angels and Saturday, March 21st at St. Frances Cabrini
- Holy Angels Fish Fry and Gifts from the Heart Raffle which was scheduled for Friday, March 20th
- Confirmation which was scheduled for Tuesday, March 24th
- Ecumenical Services held on Wednesdays
- Trials and Triduum Study
- Friday evening Stations of the Cross
- All music rehearsals; including those for Holy Week and Easter
- Palm Sunday Staged Reading Rehearsals
- Palm Sunday Passion Play
- Pancake Breakfast scheduled for April 5th
- Scrip Sales - though please continue to order online
- Pause to Worship Scheduled for April 2nd
We will continue to update as we learn more!
March 14, 2020:
Below is a letter that Fr. Howard wrote to the Parish in regards to coming to Mass during the Coronavirus outbreak.
| Issues Surrounding Coronavirus |
March 13, 2020:
In addition, per the Archdiocese almost all activities besides Masses, should be cancelled or postponed.
These activities will still happen:
These are being postponed:
We will be reassessing everything as new information comes out, but again please use your best judgement when deciding to attend any event.
NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL:
Holy Angels will be closed to help stop the spread of COVID-19. We will follow the guidelines set by the WBSD (closed March 16th to April 13th). At this time we plan to resume classes after Spring Break on April 14th. Teachers and staff will report to school on Monday to strategize and plan for this closure and continuing the education of our students. You will hear from your child's teacher in the early part of the week. We thank you for your patience during this time.
Holy Angels Gifts from the Heart Raffle and Fish Fry Postponed
Due to COVID-19 concerns, we have made the very difficult decision to postpone our event that is scheduled for March 20th. Memos from national and local health authorities have determined that social distancing reduces the risk of spreading or contracting the virus. We are taking the CDC recommended precautions to avoid the possibility of unnecessarily exposing our community to any potential illnesses. Watch for an update with a new date for the event in the coming months. Thank you for understanding.
These activities will still happen:
- Masses
- Adoration
- Stations of the Cross
- The City-Wide Reconciliation Service
- Individual Reconciliation
These are being postponed:
- All School and Religious Ed Classes
- First Communion Retreat
- Passion Play
- Wednesday Music Rehearsals
- Meetings such as Pastoral Council and Finance Council
- Easter Egg Hunt
- Donut Sunday
- Fish Fry and Gifts from the Heart Raffle
- Trials and Triduum Adult Study
- Confirmation
- Grandparents Day at the School
- Palm Sunday Staged Reading Rehearsals
- All Communion Services to Assisted Living Locations
We will be reassessing everything as new information comes out, but again please use your best judgement when deciding to attend any event.
NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL:
Holy Angels will be closed to help stop the spread of COVID-19. We will follow the guidelines set by the WBSD (closed March 16th to April 13th). At this time we plan to resume classes after Spring Break on April 14th. Teachers and staff will report to school on Monday to strategize and plan for this closure and continuing the education of our students. You will hear from your child's teacher in the early part of the week. We thank you for your patience during this time.
Holy Angels Gifts from the Heart Raffle and Fish Fry Postponed
Due to COVID-19 concerns, we have made the very difficult decision to postpone our event that is scheduled for March 20th. Memos from national and local health authorities have determined that social distancing reduces the risk of spreading or contracting the virus. We are taking the CDC recommended precautions to avoid the possibility of unnecessarily exposing our community to any potential illnesses. Watch for an update with a new date for the event in the coming months. Thank you for understanding.
March 12, 2020:
In accordance with the Archdiocese, Holy Angels will still be holding daily and weekend Masses.
However, there is a dispensation for those that are uncomfortable or not healthy enough to come to Mass through March 29, 2020. When making your decision on whether to come to Mass, please use your best judgement.
However, there is a dispensation for those that are uncomfortable or not healthy enough to come to Mass through March 29, 2020. When making your decision on whether to come to Mass, please use your best judgement.
