*** At ALL Masses, please follow the posted procedures. ***
(St. Athanasius & St. Francis COVID-19 Procedures are found below.)
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Procedures for COVID-19

Until further notice, the following procedures will be utilized in the Catholic parishes of
​St. Athanasius, Jesup, and St. Francis, Barclay:
[Updated 2/1/2021]

Firstly, please note:
  • The Archbishop is still dispensing all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Dubuque from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Weekend Masses will continue to be live-streamed, and the faithful who want to receive Holy Communion can still satisfy that desire at a weekday Mass.
  • Please STAY SAFE AT HOME and do NOT come to Mass (this includes clergy) if you…
    - Are sick, or have recently been sick, or have an underlying medical condition;
    - Are frail due to advanced age;
    - Are nervous about contracting COVID-19;
    - Live with and/or care for someone sick, elderly, at risk, or with COVID-19; or
    - Work at or regularly visit high-risk situations, where there are COVID-19 cases.
    Even if Mass is being offered in parishes, the above-mentioned folks should stay home, either to protect themselves or others from contagion.
The following procedures allow parishioners of St. Athanasius and St. Francis to gather for outreach to the poor, for Catholic school & faith formation programs, and for the public celebration of Mass and the Sacraments:
  • The faithful are asked to practice good hygiene and observe social distancing requirements, like:
    - using hand sanitizer or washing one's hands upon entry;
    - wearing a face mask;
    - maintaining safe, social distancing (a min. of 6 ft.) from others outside of their own household;
    - avoiding unnecessary gatherings and mingling; etc.
  • Public celebrations of Holy Mass, Funerals, Weddings & Baptisms will require social distancing practices. Thus, there is only room for a MUCH SMALLER number of people to attend each Liturgy (for example, every other pew will need to remain vacant). If there is no space for a family in the church or parish center/hall, they may need to return home.
  • The celebrations of each liturgy have required some changes, as well, such as:
    - fewer ministers (for example: no servers, no choirs, only one reader, only one extraordinary Communion minister, etc.);
    - avoiding physical contact (thus, no hand-holding or hand-shaking at the Our Father, the Sign of Peace, etc.);
    - social distancing while in Communion lines;
    - receiving only the Host at Communion and preferably in the hand; and
    - avoiding mingling before/after gathering in church.
  • Confessions at regular confession times require the use of a face mask. If you prefer not to wear a face mask, please arrange a confession by appointment, outside of the regular times.
  • St. A School and Youth Faith Formation (YFF) classes and activities will follow these and other procedures/protocols for the safety of students and participants. For more details, please contact the Parish or School Office.
  • Social gatherings, activities & events, including funeral meals, wedding receptions, choir practices, family reunions, gym use, and large gatherings will not be allowed in the church or in the school. Indoor spaces in the church and school are not available for rent at this time.
  • Meetings of more than 10 people will continue to not be allowed in the church or school; groups are still encouraged to utilize one of the online-based, virtual forums to conduct group business.
  • Regular and routine visits to nursing homes, care facilities, hospitals, and the homebound is still suspended for the time being. Emergency visits and visits to those in danger of death are sill available. Families are asked to keep Fr. Dole in the know about the conditions of loved-ones. In the cases of an emergency, please call Fr. Dole immediately!
  • If you are homebound or in need of being quarantined and are unable to buy groceries, pick up medications, or run any other errands for essentials, please call the office, 319-827-6682. We will try to assist you or direct you to resources in the community.
  • Parish & school offices will be OPEN to the public; however, we ask visitors to please observe the social distancing guidelines posted, and if you can be helped over the phone, we ask that you please call instead: for Kayla, in the Parish Office: 319-827-6682; for Sue, in the School Office: 319-827-1314.

Please remember, we’re not yet out of the woods; the coronavirus is still with us. If we’re not careful, it could come back with a vengeance. Data will continue to be monitored. Parishioners are kindly asked to understand if Mass is not available locally, should the priest decide that it isn’t prudent to hold an event on account of his own compromised health situation, or because the coronavirus is still raging in the area.
In the words of our Archbishop:
God, come to our assistance. Lord, make haste to help us.
Mary, health of the sick, pray for us.
St. Raphael, patron of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, and patron of healing, pray for us.
635 Stevens St.  |   PO Box 316  |   Jesup, IA 50648  |   Phone: (319) 827-6682   |   Fax: (319) 827-1124