This is Hayashi, the chief priest, to all members of the Machida Church,
as well as to applicants for baptism and seekers.
On May 25, the declaration of emergency in the Tokyo metropolitan area was lifted.
In response to this, a message from Archbishop Kikuchi was posted on the
Tokyo Parish website, but I will also send a second message to everyone
at Machida Church.
Please forgive me because there are some parts that overlap with the message
of the Archbishop.
This time, I would like to inform you of the following three points.
1. Open masses and activities within the church will be suspended for a while.
2. I asked you to refrain from praying at the church, but I will cancel
it.
However, please refrain from keeping in touch and gathering at church.
3. The latest issue of the church newsletter "IKAZUCHI NO KO"
has been published.
It's in the church. You can also see it on the Machida Church website.
1. Open masses and activities within the church will be suspended for a while.
As I wrote in the last message of the chief priest, even if the emergency
is lifted, the public mass cannot be resumed immediately.
It takes more time to perform a mass that considers the prevention of coronavirus
infection.
Currently, the steering committee is in the center of discussions so that
everyone can join the mass safely and securely.
We will inform you again when the public mass can be resumed.
2. I asked you to refrain from praying at the church, but I will cancel it.
However, please refrain from keeping in touch and gathering at church.
I was asked to refrain from coming to the church as much as possible because it was "STAY HOME" while the emergency declaration was being issued.
Now that the emergency has been lifted, you can come to church to visit the Eucharist and get your handouts.
However, the risk of infection has not gone to zero, so please refrain from keeping friends in touch with each other and gathering at the church for long hours.
Also, as stated in the message from the Archbishop, it is very distressing for those who are old or have a chronic disease, but we ask that you continue praying at home.
Please observe the following when visiting the church.
In that case, don't forget to wear a mask.
As per the previous message, the church is unlocked from about 8:00 to
18:00.
3. The latest issue of the church newsletter "IKAZUCHI NO KO" has been published.
It's in the church. You can also see it on the Machida Church website.
The latest issue of "IKAZUCHI NO KO" was published on the 24th, thanks to the efforts of everyone in charge of editing the church newsletter.
The paper medium is kept in the church, so please bring it if you can come.
You can also view the contents on the Machida Church website.
Also, other printed materials such as "SUNDAY LITURGY" and "Tokyo
Diocese News" are on the shelves at the entrance of the cathedral
.
Let's all hope for the mass reopening and keep praying with one heart.
Incidentally, I have been keeping private mass since 7:00 am.
Please pray together at your home and receive the spiritual communion.
May the blessings of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit be poured out to everyone.