*** St. Athanasius & St. Francis COVID-19 Procedures are found below. ***
(Please check back, as they will change as needed.)
(Please check back, as they will change as needed.)
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St. Athanasius Procedures for COVID-19
After consultation and considerable prayer, the Archbishop has decided – out of an abundance of caution and with devotion to the common good – to take steps aimed at slowing down the spread of the coronavirus, to flatten the curve, as they say, so as not to overburden the healthcare system.
We, at St. Athanasius and St. Francis will be implementing the following immediately (March 17, 2020) until further notice (last updated 3/18/2020):
- All public celebrations of Holy Mass are canceled. The Archbishop has dispensed all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Dubuque from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
- Funerals, scheduled Weddings, and scheduled Baptisms will continue to be held, but will be limited to the immediate family, or to no more persons than the up-to-date CDC guidelines allow (as of 3/18/20: 10 people). Funeral dinners and public visitations will not be allowed.
- All other communal liturgies will also be canceled, including our communal penance services and weekly recitation of the Stations of the Cross. Private, one-on-one confessions will be made available weekly at times TBD, and are always available by appointment, just call the office.
- Wednesday Youth Faith Formation classes/activities are canceled as long as schools are canceled. Lori or Nicole will be in contact with 2nd Graders in preparation for First Holy Communion.
- All events, activities, organization meetings, parish meetings, etc. (whether held at the church or off-site) are canceled. (This includes staff meetings, KC meetings, CDA meetings, Finance/Pastoral/FF meetings, choir practices, RCIA sessions, etc.) Any and all essential decisions should be handled by leadership via phone/email. ["Out of Hibernation" has already been postponed to a date TBD.]
- All events, activities, organization meetings hosted at the church or the school are to be canceled: including Jesup AA, sports-teams' practices, family reunions, etc.
- Regular and routine visits to nursing homes, care facilities, hospitals, and the homebound will be suspended for the time being. Families are asked to keep Fr. Dole in the know about the conditions of loved-ones. In cases of emergency, risk of extreme illness, and especially in the danger of death, Fr. Dole IS ALWAYS, always available for Anointings, Confessions, Viaticum, Pastoral Care... so PLEASE, please call!
- 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 remain operational, 8am-3pm, M-F, according to the best of our ability; HOWEVER, the offices are CLOSED to the public. If you have business with the office (for example, you need to drop something off) please call, 319-827-6682, and we will assist you.
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.
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.