This is Hayashi, the chief priest, to all members of the Machida Church,
as well as to applicants for baptism and seekers.
Today, Archbishop Kikuchi announced that he would move from "Stage
4" to "Stage 3" regarding church activities in the Parish
of Tokyo (please read Archbishop Kikuchi's message regarding "Stage").
In response to this, I will discuss the future activities of Machida Church
with me and the management committee, and let me know the decided matters
.
I would like to tell you about the following three points.
1. The public mass of the Sunday will be resumed from 18:30 on Saturday,
June 20th.
However, it will be a mass with a limited number of participants, which will be conducted by regional block.
The allocation of blocks for each mass will be announced next Sunday (June
14th).
2. If you are elderly or have a basic illness, please continue praying
at home.
We will do our best to bring the Eucharist to your home.
3. Activities other than Sunday Mass will continue to be cancelled.
1. The public mass of the Sunday will be resumed from 18:30 on Saturday,
June 20th.
However, it will be a mass with a limited number of participants, which
will be conducted by regional block.
The allocation of blocks for each mass will be announced next Sunday (June 14th).
As I wrote in the messages of the chief priests so far, even if we say
"resuming public mass", we must consider the prevention of coronavirus
infection, and a maximum of 60 people can participate in one mass.
Therefore, we will specify the masses that can participate in each regional block.
Which block will be given to which mass will be finalized at a briefing
session with representatives of each block next Sunday (June 14th).
I think we can show you the list next week.
Please wait a moment.
We apologize for the infectious disease, so please refrain from participating
in masses other than those designated.
Please pray at home on non-designated days.
In addition, weekday masses will continue to be canceled.
The priest conducts a private mass.
2. If you are elderly or have a basic illness, please continue praying at home.
We will do our best to bring the Eucharist to your home.
Despite the limited number of people, it is very painful to ask elderly people and people with underlying illnesses to continue praying at home while the public mass is being resumed.
However, please understand that when the highest priority is to protect
your life, you must ask.
However, regarding the Eucharist, we aim to create a system that allows
friends and people in the same block to bring the Eucharist to their homes.
We would like to ask all of you, those who come to Mass and those who pray at home, to keep in touch with each other and cooperate so that many brothers and sisters can join the sacrament of the Eucharist.
If you want to carry the Eucharist, please bring a container for the Eucharist
(it is not necessary to use the dedicated Eucharist (Pixis)).
Please note that the duty on Sunday Mass is still exempted, so if you are
worried about going out or coming to church, please do not overdo it and
continue praying at home.
3. Activities other than Sunday Mass will continue to be cancelled.
Public Sunday Mass will be resumed, but other church activities (courses, meetings, etc.) will continue to be canceled for the time being.
There are also people who want to pray slowly in the cathedral after the
Sunday Mass, and those who want to have time to talk with friends, but
please refrain from doing it during "Stage 3".
It is a mass restart with various restrictions, but at any rate, let's
thank God and pray with one heart that we can take a step forward. May
the blessings of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be poured richly
on our church family.
10-Jun-20