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Immaculate Conception Church75 Church StreetFranklin, NJ 07416Rev. Boguslaw Kobus, Pastor
Parish Office 973-827-9575 Religious Education Office: 973-827-9501
Parish Office Hours: Monday through Wednesday 10AM-Noon
*** Parish Office Closed Thursday, June 25 until Tuesday, July 7 ***
Religious Education Office Hours: Monday through Wednesday 9AM-1PM
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Clarification of Mass Attendance Guidelines
The Bishop’s directive that “Anyone 60 or older, anyone with underlying health conditions, or those who are symptomatic should stay home” - does NOT mean that anyone over 60 may not attend Mass. Best judgement needs to be exercised. If you are over 60, in good health and are comfortable being around others, are willing to maintain 6 feet of distance, are able to wear face covering without adverse health effects, and in general are able to follow the current regulations, you are most welcome to celebrate Mass in person. Each person must decide individually regarding their personal health and safety, and the health and safety of those they live with as well as those they may come in contact with at Mass. Remember that the dispensation from the obligation to participate in Sunday Masses is still in effect, and because of limited access to the church, attendance at Mass on another day satisfies the Sunday obligation at this time. Mass may be followed at home via live stream or television until all restrictions are removed.
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Public Masses Resume June 13-14
The following letter was mailed to all active parishioners. It contains the regulations to be followed for Immaculate Conception Parish upon reopening of the Church. The Parish regulations are in accordance with the Mandate from Bishop Serratelli. The Bishop's Mandate can be found in full following this letter.
Immaculate Conception Church
75 Church Street
Franklin, N.J. 07416
973-827-9575
Rev. Boguslaw Kobus, PastorJune 9, 2020
Dear Immaculate Conception Parishioners,
Welcome back to Church! Immaculate Conception Church will be opening this coming weekend, June 13-14, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. Bishop Serratelli has issued guidelines mandated for the opening of churches. Those guidelines are included in full in this mailing. Please read them to understand our specific Parish guidelines. Our opening schedule is as follows:
∙ Immaculate Conception will be open for private prayer daily from 9am to 4pm beginning Friday,
June 12.
∙ The regular Sunday Mass schedule will resume Saturday, June 13 at 5pm, Sunday, June 14 at
7:30am, 9:30am and 11:30 am.
∙ Weekday Masses will resume on Monday, June 15.
∙ Sunday Masses will continue to be broadcast for those unable to attend Mass in person.
∙ Confession will be available on Saturdays from 4pm to 4:30pm in the Lyceum.
Your cooperation is appreciated in adhering to our Parish regulations which must be followed in order to ensure everyone’s safety:
∙ A maximum of 35 people will be allowed in the church at any one time. Ushers/Volunteers will
count those entering, and will assist in seating. Once the limit of 35 people is reached, all
others will be turned away.
∙ We would be grateful if Mass attendees would wait outside the church until they are asked to
enter.
∙ Seating will be on a first come-first served basis.
∙ Everyone over the age of 2 must wear a mask in the church, and bring your own hand sanitizer
to use before entering the church and reception of the Eucharist. There will be a limited supply
at the church entrance.
∙ Individuals must maintain a 6 foot distance from each other. Families, couples and members of
the same household may sit together. Seating is allowed only in designated pews. There will
be some areas of the church reserved for family seating only. Please advise the
ushers/volunteers how many are attending together so seating can be done efficiently.
∙ Please maintain the six-foot distance while in church, including during reception of the
Eucharist, and entering and exiting.
∙ Reception of the Eucharist will be in the hand only, the Body of Christ only, and no Precious
Blood.
∙ The Holy Water fonts will remain empty until further notice.
∙ Entry to and exit from the church will be through the main door only. All other doors will be
locked.
∙ For the time being, there will be no Altar Servers or Eucharistic Ministers at Masses.
∙ There will be instrumental music, but no singing, due to the risk of viral spread.
∙ There will be a stationary basket at the back of the church for the offertory collections instead of
passing a basket. Online giving is available through our website.
∙ Anyone 60 or older, anyone with underlying health conditions, or those who are symptomatic
should stay home.
We are asking for help:
∙ We will need extra ushers and volunteers to assist with seating and counting those
entering.
∙ Volunteers are needed to assist in sanitizing the church after all Masses.
∙ Please see Fr. Bogie at Mass, leave a message on the Office phone 973-827-9575 or
email the office at icchurch@ptd.net if interested in volunteering.
∙ The ushers and volunteers should arrive at Church early to receive instructions.
Please continue to visit our website www.iccfranklin.org for updates. For those who are not yet comfortable with returning to Church because of health and safety concerns, Mass will continue to be available through the Parish website. Go to the website and click on our YouTube channel name to access Masses.
The Parish Office will be staffed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am to Noon, beginning Monday, June 15. Anyone planning to visit the office should call first, as only one person at a time will be admitted, and office hours may vary. All visitors are required to wear masks, and to use hand sanitizer upon entering. We encourage you to continue to conduct as much business as possible by phone (973-827-9575) or email (icchurch@ptd.net). Phone messages and emails are checked regularly. Masses are best arranged by phone or email, and the stipend can be dropped off in the mail slot, mailed to the office or put in the collection basket in an envelope labeled “Attention Office Mass Stipend”. Stipends may also be offered through online giving. Choose the Mass Stipends fund, and utilize a credit card or direct withdrawal from a bank account. Mass cards can be mailed from the office, or left in a convenient place to be picked up.
We thank you for your understanding and cooperation with attention to these regulations for the health and safety of all.
I look forward to seeing each of you at Mass and to celebrating and receiving the Eucharist together. Let us continue to pray for all who have been affected by the COVID-19 virus. My sincere thanks to all who have faithfully continued to support our parish financially through these difficult weeks of closure. Your generosity has been a great blessing to the Parish.
You are all in my prayers.
Sincerely,
Fr. Bogie -
Immaculate Conception YouTube Channel
Please visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSujdNoY6ckultGpBU9t0_A/
For liturgies, recitation of the Rosary & Novena from Immaculate Conception Chapel, with Fr. Boguslaw Kobus presiding.
Please check back often for updates. -
Mandate from Bishop Serratelli May 18
By Mandate of
The Apostolic Administrator
of The Diocese of Paterson
Protocols for the Reopening of Churches to Public Liturgical Celebrations
The Diocese of Paterson has been in close communication with State officials, medical professionals, and the other dioceses of the State. We wish to provide the faithful with access to the liturgical life of the Church while maintaining the public health and safety of the faithful and others with whom they may have contact.
These mandated guidelines are general enough to be adapted to diverse parish settings and institutions of the diocese. They are also specific enough to attend to the health and safety of the clergy and faithful as we provide for the spiritual good of our people.
Each parish community or institution will be required to work closely together, involving clergy, staff, and volunteers in order to implement these guidelines and to provide, as much as it is humanly possible, a safe environment proper for Liturgy during this pandemic.
THESE GUIDELINES ARE NOT SUGGESTIONS. THEY ARE, FOR THE MEANTIME, PARTICULAR LAW OF THE DIOCESE OF PATERSON, ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE AUTHORITY OF THE APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR WHO POSSESSES THE AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FOR THE ORDINARY FUNCTIONING OF THE DIOCESE.
THE GUIDELINES BELOW PERTAIN TO THE APPROPRIATE AND SAFE FUNCTIONING OF ORDINARY LITURGICAL LIFE IN THE LOCAL CHURCH OF PATERSON. THEREFORE, THESE MATTERS REQUIRE ADHERENCE BY ALL PARISHES AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES WHERE THE SACRED LITURGY IS CELEBRATED.
General Guidelines
1. We will notify you the date when Churches are to reopen. At that time, public liturgies, including the sacraments, such as Baptism and Matrimony, funerals and Memorial Masses for those who have died during the pandemic may be celebrated.
2. The dispensation from the obligation to participate in Sunday and Holy Day Masses remains in effect until further notice. For this reason, those who wish to attend Sunday Eucharist and are unable to do so because of the limited access to the church may choose to attend Mass on another day.
3. Those who are particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus, i.e. those sixty (60) years of age and over, and especially those with one or several underlying medical conditions, should follow Mass at home via live stream or television until all restrictions are removed.
4. A person with a cough or fever of any kind should stay home to protect the health of others.
5. Live-streaming of Mass should be continued for those unable to attend.
6. No group for any celebration of the Mass, sacraments, and funerals should be larger than 25% of the total seating capacity within the Church.
7. Churches may be open for private visits outside of scheduled services, but this is left to the discretion of the pastor. The hours should be posted. There should be a plan to properly clean the church and keep it a safe environment after the hours of private visits.
8. Regularly cleaning and disinfecting commonly-touched surfaces in the church is necessary. This should be done after every service in the church.
9. A reasonable period of "empty time" should be scheduled after the time when people leave the church so the entire church can be washed, wiped down, and sanitized. Only then can people be admitted into the next Mass.
10. Pastors should establish and publicize the hours when the parish church and offices will be open. It is advisable to schedule special times at the end of the day when the entire building can be empty and cleaned to the fullest extent needed.
In opening offices it should be kept in mind that provision for supplies of adequate hand sanitizer and masks for both staff and guests should be readily available.
11. Maintenance staff should use the guidelines from the diocese or Center for Disease Control on the best and most practical ways to sanitize their building.
12. All hymnals and missalettes should be removed from the church pews.
13. Hand sanitizers are to be placed at the entrance into the church and in a place easily accessible to the priest presiding at the liturgy.
14. All persons over the age of 2 should wear face masks.
15. Restrooms should only be used in case of necessity. They should be supplied with cleaning materials. Instructions should be posted so that anyone who uses the facility knows exactly what to do.
16. Only one entrance/door should be open for each building. However, all doors should allow for egress in case of emergency.
17. Exits and emergency exits should be tested beforehand and well known to the congregation in case of the need to exit in an emergency.
18. Provision should be made for the handicapped.
Particular Guidelines
1. Mass attendance must be limited to 25% of seating capacity, as noted above. It is left to the discretion of the pastor to determine how this is to be, e.g. first-come, first-served basis, registering on line, lottery etc.
Pastors must clearly publicize in advance whatever way they select so that people may understand that, if they arrive after the permitted number has been reached, they may have to be turned away. This is to protect everyone's health and to follow the regulations on health and safety.
2. Volunteers should be available to welcome parishioners to church, maintaining six feet of social distance, directing them toward seating and limiting the number of persons to whom the church is accessible.
3. Holy Water fonts and the baptismal fonts are to remain empty. When Baptism is celebrated, small individual bottles of purified water should be blessed and be used for each adult or infant individually.
4. Depending on availability of priests, parishes may schedule more frequent Masses to accommodate their people with smaller congregations.
5. All of those attending the Liturgy must wear a face mask. A good number of disposable face masks may be available to the faithful for those who neglect to bring them. The faithful need to be informed of this safety precaution.
6. All people inside the church must practice social distancing by keeping 6 feet from other persons. People in the same household do not have to follow the social distancing guidelines, but must keep 6 feet from all those not in their household.
7. Certain pews may be closed to make certain that social distancing is maintained. Temporary and safe markings should be made on the floor or carpet to maintain social distancing as well.
8. Those assisting at the altar should maintain a 6-foot distance from the priest and from each other. The Roman Missal should be placed on a stand before the presider's chair or in the center of the altar. It is not to be held by a server.
9. Altar Servers should not assist at the altar until a later date when the risk of contagion is further ameliorated.
10. There is to be no choir. Singing should be discouraged in general. Singing, especially in close proximity to others, may increase the risk of viral spread.
The parts of the Mass, e.g., Gloria, Gospel Acclamation, etc. must be recited.
11. There is to be no offertory procession. Collection baskets are to be placed in appropriate places to receive the offering of the faithful.
Electronic giving should be encouraged weekly so that the practice becomes more widespread now and permanently into the future.
Ushers should wear gloves when placing the offerings into the plastic security bags mandated through Diocesan Collection Procedures.
13. The Exchange of Peace is to be shared without human contact.
14. Social distancing should be maintained by the faithful when they approach to receive the Eucharist at Communion time. Please allow six feet between each person in the line going to receive the Eucharist. The faithful should be encouraged to bring hand sanitizer to use before the reception of Holy Communion,
15. The Body of Christ should be placed in the hands of the communicant.
16. The distribution of the Precious Blood from the chalice is discontinued for the foreseeable future. The Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ is received under either species.
17. The priest should have a hand sanitizer near him during the distribution of Holy Communion to use as he sees fit. If, per chance, a communicant's saliva comes in contact with the priest, he should immediately stop and use the sanitizer.
18. To avoid crowding at the end of Mass, people may be dismissed by the ushers one pew at a time to avoid crowding.
19. For now, when a priest is approached for celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the confessional is not used. There should be a safe social distance between the priest and penitent in a public and yet appropriate space.
A special note: Priests who have special health considerations and underlying health conditions that predispose them to contracting the coronavirus should seek younger members of the presbyterate to celebrate when possible or approach the Office of Monsignor Mahoney or Monsignor Hart to arrange for the coverage of Masses during this time of pandemic.
These Protocols and Procedures are promulgated for the Diocese of Paterson and effective when churches are opened to the public. They are effective immediately, unless, if, by the content of the particular protocol or procedure, it is clear that it is a protocol which must immediately be implemented.
All to the contrary notwithstanding.
Most Reverend Arthur J. Serratelli, S.T.D., S.S.L., D.D.
Apostolic Administrator -
Pope names new Bishop of Paterson Diocese
Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli;
Names Father Kevin Sweeney of Diocese of Brooklyn as Successor
April 15, 2020
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Arthur J. Serratellii from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Paterson and has named Father Kevin Sweeney, a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn as Bishop-elect of Paterson. He will become the Diocese of Paterson’s eighth Bishop.
Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, publicized the appointment in Washington, D.C. on April 15, 2020.
Bishop Serratelli was installed as the Diocese of Paterson’s seventh bishop on July 6, 2004 and served as Bishop for nearly 16 years.
Bishop-elect Sweeney was born on Jan. 17, 1970 in Elmhurst, Queens and grew up in Whitestone, Queens. His parents, the late James P. Sweeney and the late Agnes Blewitt were both born and raised in County Mayo, Ireland. Agnes came to New York in 1951 and James in 1963. They were married in St. Bartholomew’s Church in Elmhurst, N.Y. in 1967 and moved to Whitestone in 1971.
Bishop-Elect Sweeney attended St.Luke’s Parochial School in Whitestone and Cathedral Preparatory High School in Elmhurst. He graduated from St. John’s University in Jamaica, N.Y., with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 1992 and received a master’s degree in Divinity from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, Long Island in 1997. Bishop-Elect Sweeney was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Brooklyn by the Most Reverend Thomas V. Daily at St. James’ Cathedral on June 28, 1997. He was assigned as Parochial Vicar to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish in Jamaica, where he served until June of 2003. He was then assigned to Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Corona, where he served for a year. Rev. Sweeney was named as the Vocation Director of the Diocese of Brooklyn by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio in June of 2004. In January 2010, he was named Pastor of St. Michael Parish in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, where he continues to serve.
The date of Bishop-elect Sweeney’s episcopal ordination as the eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Paterson has not been scheduled due to the pandemic. Bishop Serratelli will serve as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Paterson until that time.
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Mass Times
- Saturday: 5:00 PM EnglishEnglishEN
- Sunday: 7:30 AM EnglishEnglishEN 9:30 AM EnglishEnglishEN 11:30 AM EnglishEnglishEN
- Monday: 7:00 PM EnglishEnglishEN Followed by Novena & Benediction
- Tuesday: 7:30 AM EnglishEnglishEN
- Wednesday: 7:30 AM EnglishEnglishEN
- Friday: 7:30 AM EnglishEnglishEN
- Saturday: 9:00 AM EnglishEnglishEN
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Confession Times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM
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ADORATION TIMES
- Temporarily Suspended
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Links