TO: All Saint Malachi Staff, Volunteers, and General Parish Community
FR: Fr. Michael Gurnick, Administrator RE: Emergency Measures at This Time – Effective Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Due to the incredible demands being placed on everyone due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) our priority must be on safety of all people: staff, volunteers, parishioners, and those we serve everyday through our charity-related activities. As part of the safety protocols, our dedicated but small maintenance staff is required to disinfect all areas of our campus exposed to visitors. Guided by the principle of “social distancing,” we also need to consider the safety of all who are employed here, our volunteers, and our liturgical ministers.
Therefore, effective on Wednesday, March 18th, the following measures will be taken until further notice:
LITURGICAL LIFE, RCIA, and ALL FAITH FORMATION PROGRAMS
All Masses/liturgies, by decree of the Bishops of Ohio, have ceased effective 16 March 2020. Please check out our Sunday bulletin on line this Friday for some creative ways to gather in spirit for the Day of the Lord.
Any Baptisms or Weddings are to be postponed unless there is a pastoral urgency. Special protocols apply.
is recommended that the Rite of Committal take place at the cemetery in a timely fashion with a Memorial Mass celebrated after this health crisis has passed. I will offer a special Mass in private upon news of any parishioner’s death.
Communion to the Sick is suspended at all nursing homes and other healthcare facilities, including to people’s individual homes. The celebration of the Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum to the Dying will be administered at any time, provided we are not restricted by any civil regulation. Special protocols apply.
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). At this time, confessions are limited to being in danger of death, per diocesan directives. Confessions are not able to be administered via technology of any kind.
2459 Washington Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44113 · Phone 216-861–5343 · Fax 216–861–5343
- E–Mail rectory@stmalachi.org • Website: stmalachi.org
All Faith Formation / Adult Enrichment Programming is suspended until further notice, including those activities with our partner parishes. Many of these groups have already been notified.
CHARITY & OTHER OUTREACH-BASED ACTIVITIES
Back Door Ministry will continue with limited hours of operation (9:00am until 1:00pm) and new procedures are in place for the protection of everyone involved. Because of the new social distancing directives, only staff will be working with this ministry until further notice.
Monday Night Meals will continue with a revised service procedure. No indoor access to the general public. Meals will be served to take out at the Washington Street Door only. We are asking that those volunteers who are especially at-risk immediately cease activity with this ministry. Anyone under 18 is restricted from offering to assist at this time.
We are working with the Metanoia Project leadership regarding the overnight shelter accommodations. Currently, their staff members are working with city and county personnel as they make provisions. We intend to honor our contractual relationship which concludes 15 April 2020; however their model will shift in accord with the current government directives. Please contact Metanoia directly for additional information.
Due to Malachi House’s mission and their status as a regulated facility, all non–essential staff and visitors are restricted from entering. Emergency pastoral care will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
The Malachi Center is suspending their after school program until further notice and they are trimming other services. Please contact them directly for additional information.
Alcoholics Anonymous and other support programs are currently being addressed with individual group leaders. We realize the positive impact these regular meetings have for our friends in recovery. However, each group must comply with current government guidelines at the time of each meeting (which may change daily). Regulations include capacity in attendance.
At this time, all other groups or organizations serving food or who are a source for gathering substantial numbers of individuals outside of normal weekly hours of operation, are temporarily suspended from our parish campus, again, for the safety of all involved. This includes the Saturday Morning Breakfast program.
THE RECTORY OFFICES ARE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Staff members will be working mostly from home with some individuals stopping in each day to address routine business such as voicemails, general correspondence, and financial operations. Please call or email if you need assistance as we will be monitoring both. Because the rectory building itself is a home, it is restricted to Fr. Walters and other essential personnel only, no exceptions, please!
ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES ON CAMPUS
To honor the efforts of our local, state, and federal government’s plan to prevent the further spread of COVID – 19, all other activities are suspended until further notice. I understand that these measures may appear extreme but we need to maintain the safety of our community members and those we serve. This notification will soon be followed by ideas for maintaining our communal sense of prayer and we remain committed to serving our sisters and brothers who rely on the many services provided here. Please know that I will be offering daily Mass for our parish family. Thank you for your kind understanding, prayerful support, and cooperation as we make it – and we WILL make it – through these challenging days ahead. Should additional government or diocesan directives be ordered we will modify any and all current plans listed here. Keep in touch at: stmalachi.org.
May the Lord bless us and keep us all in His tender care and mercy as we peacefully and joyfully bear witness to the Gospel of Light and Hope.
