Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

​I wish to inform you that after a careful review of the medical situation, and hearing the recent concerns of our Governor and civic leaders on television, I have been advised by Diocesan leadership to suspend public worship. I agree with their recommendation and the suspension of public worship is effective as of today, July 1st, 2020.  This returns us temporarily to those protocols we were following just prior to the reopening of our parishes.  You should anticipate a suspension of approximately four weeks but the matter will be reviewed daily and the suspension could be for a shorter or longer duration.  

Those who follow national news are aware that the State of Arizona has been referenced across the nation for our substantial spike in Covid-19 cases.  When the pandemic began I stressed that a primary factor on reopening would be the ability of our hospitals and medical personnel to respond adequately to the sick.  Members of the medical community—who daily place themselves at great risk to serve us—are now telling us that we are at a crisis point.  I believe that we owe it to these noble men and women to do our part in bringing the pandemic under control. 

For now, let us be committed to journeying in solidarity with the sick, the suffering, the unemployed, the frightened, and the healthcare workers who must daily face this pandemic without flinching.  Join with your local parish for televised or internet Masses, or log onto the Diocese of Tucson web page and join me for daily Mass. The protocols we instituted for our parishes at the time of our reopening were sensible, thorough, and implemented with care and sensitivity. When we are able to open up once again these protocols will be reinstated. But for now, where it is safe, pastors will arrange for an outdoor distribution of Holy Communion after members of the faithful have observed a Mass via technology.  Confessions will be heard only out-of-doors.  The only public Masses will be funerals and weddings, and with a limit of ten persons in the congregation.  

I wish to express my deep gratitude for the clergy and parish ministers who have responded so very well throughout the pandemic.  They are extraordinary men and women and their fidelity to you and intense desire to be of service is a witness to the grace of their vocation. 

Let us pray that this suspension is brief and that we can soon be in one another’s company.  Let us also be unified in our resolve to lead the way in battling this pandemic.  The witness and example of our lives and the intensity of our prayers will surely help to heal the world.

May God bless you abundantly,

+Edward J. Weisenburger
  Bishop of Tucson

St. John the Evangelist
Catholic Church
Parish Office
 602 W. Ajo Way   Tucson, Arizona 85713
(520) 624-7409, ext. 101

NEW REGULATIONS
First Phase
 
Dear Parishioners of St. John’s Parish,
 
Praised be God! Led by the Holy Spirit and in consultation with others, Bishop Weisenburger has given us permission to resume public masses on Sundays, beginning May 31st, Pentecost Sunday.  Please keep in mind that as we implement this plan, more regulations may result or change our current procedures to improve its functionality. Our intention is that we will follow all of the following procedures to keep parishioners reasonably safe while on Church property.

Facility Safety Standards

• We have cleaned and disinfected our church currently, and we are going to maintain the church and bathrooms clean and disinfected for their use.
• Pews and bathrooms will be disinfected between all Masses with a solution of Clorox and Water, all areas and spaces where congregants have touched or occupied such as hand rails, pews, kneelers and all door handles (even though doors will be propped open for entrance/exit of the church. 
• Pews and church will be washed during the weekdays when the church is closed.  This will include, but not be limited to, all areas congregants have been in contact with as mentioned above (floors, walls).
• The social distancing will limit church capacity to about 150 people. Once we are to the full capacity, we are going to ask that you attend the next scheduled Mass.  A sign will be posted on the door once the limit has been reached: The Church is now full.
• The entrance to the Church will be the North East door and will be opened no more than 15 minutes prior to Mass.
• Pews not in use are going to be marked for no seating, so you will know best where to sit. Ushers will be available to help you find seating. Please respect and listen to them.
• There will be no holy water font, no Mass or hymn books or any other items in the pews.
• Church doors will be open before and after Mass so you do not have to touch them.
• The Chapel will remain closed during this first phase and all gatherings will be in the main church.

 
Liturgy Safety Standards

• Social distancing of 6 feet will be observed at all times between persons in attendance. (Members of the same household may sit closer than 6 feet.)
• Small children and adults are encouraged NOT to use the bathroom, if possible; however after each use, the bathroom will be sanitized.
• The hymnals and pew aide cards have been removed and congregational singing is suspended as singing puts an infinitely greater number of contagion droplets in the air.
• Ushers and Ministers of Communion will wear face masks while ministering.
• Ministers must sanitize their hands before and after Mass.
• Communion ministers will sanitize their hands before giving communion and afterwards.
• Communion will be distributed at the end of Mass with clear markings on the floor of the 6-feet distancing standard.  Communion should be received in the hand and consumed in the presence of the minister.  After consuming communion, you will exit the church in silence and reverence.
• In lieu of “passing the basket” from person to person and avoiding contact, collection baskets will be placed at the Northeast and Northwest exits for you to place your offertory.
• Please, do not stay nor gather with other people outside the church, keeping your distance and allowing others to do the same.

Congregants
While our intention is to keep everyone reasonably safe, please understand that there are certain risks that cannot be controlled in attending any public event, including religious services.  Prudent judgment on your part is very important.  Consequently, a parishioner’s presence constitutes his or her understanding and acceptance of this essential level of risk.  Let us please be flexible with our response to this pandemic situation.

• All those attending Mass are urged to wear face masks.
• We strongly request that those of you who are over 65 or with secondary health issues to NOT attend Mass.  This would also apply to those who care or live with a vulnerable person.
• If you are feeling sick in any way, please stay home.
• Sunday Mass obligation is suspended indefinitely for everyone living or visiting the Diocese of Tucson until further notice.
• No public daily Mass will be offered during this phase in the church from Monday through Thursday.
• Daily Mass is offered virtually on the Diocesan website.
• Mass schedule for Pentecost Sunday, May 31st is:

                    8:00 AM    Spanish
                    10:00 AM  English
                    6:30 PM    Bilingual (in your car in the north parking lot)

• Beginning Friday, June 5th and Saturday, June 6th, our Sunday Mass schedule will be as follows: (these Masses will fulfill the Sunday Mass)

            Friday:            6:00 PM    Spanish
            Saturday:       5:00 PM    English
            Sunday:         8:00 AM    Spanish
                                      10:00 AM  English
                                      6:30 PM    Bilingual (in your car in the north parking lot)
 
Communion for those Sheltering in Place
Communion distribution for those who decide to shelter in place, and once they have watched any televised or online Mass, is from 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM. To allow those who publicly attend our Masses to leave the parking lot, we ask that you arrive no earlier than 5 minutes prior to that half hour.
When arriving for communion, you need to enter the parking lot through the 14th Avenue gate entrance and drive in line behind the Church. Priests and/or Eucharistic Ministers will be at the road between Casa San Juan and the Sacristy of the Church. Those and only those, who are receiving communion, should get out from the car, receive Jesus and leave. Please, no blessings or visiting at this time.
Please check our website, Flocknote and the school's Facebook page for continuing information.  If you would like to receive text and/or email messages through Flocknote, please click here.

​Many Blessings,
 
Msgr. Raul P. Trevizo

NUEVO REGLAMENTO
Primera fase
 
Queridos feligreses de la parroquia de San Juan,
 
¡Alabado sea Dios! Dirigido por el Espíritu Santo y en consulta con otros, el obispo Weisenburger nos ha dado permiso para reanudar misas públicas los domingos, a partir del 31 de mayo, domingo de Pentecostés. Tenga en cuenta que a medida que implementemos este plan, pueden surgir más regulaciones o cambiar nuestros procedimientos actuales para mejorar su funcionalidad. Nuestra intención es que sigamos todos los procedimientos para mantener a los feligreses razonablemente seguros mientras estén en propiedad de la Iglesia.
 
Estándares de seguridad de las instalaciones

• Hemos limpiado y desinfectado nuestra iglesia actualmente y vamos a mantener la iglesia y mantener los baños limpios y desinfectados para su uso.
• Las bancas y los baños se desinfectarán entre cada las misa con una solución de Cloro y agua en todas las áreas y espacios donde los congregantes las hayan tocado u ocupado, como pasamanos, bancos, rodilleras y todas las manijas de las puertas (aunque las puertas estarán abiertas para la entrada / salida de la iglesia. · Los bancos y la iglesia se lavarán durante los días de semana cuando la iglesia esté cerrada. Esto incluirá, entre otros, todas las áreas con las que los congregantes han estado en contacto como se mencionó anteriormente (pisos, paredes).
• El distanciamiento social limitará la capacidad de la iglesia a unas 150 personas. Una vez que estemos a plena capacidad, le pediremos que asista a la próxima misa programada. Se colocará un letrero en la puerta una vez que se haya alcanzado el límite: la Iglesia ya está llena.
• La entrada a la Iglesia será la puerta del noreste y se abrirá no más de 15 minutos antes de la misa.
• Las bancas que no estén en uso se marcarán para que no haya asientos, por lo que sabrá mejor dónde sentarse. Los ujieres estarán disponibles para ayudarlo a asignar su asiento. Por favor, respételos y escúchalos.
• No habrá fuentes de agua bendita, ni libros de misas o himnos ni ningún otro elemento en los bancos.
• Las puertas de la iglesia estarán abiertas antes y después de la misa para que no tenga que tocarlas.
• La Capilla permanecerá cerrada durante esta primera fase y todas las reuniones serán en la iglesia principal.

 
Estándares de seguridad litúrgica

• Se observará un distanciamiento social de 6 pies en todo momento entre las personas que asistan. (Los miembros del mismo hogar pueden sentarse más de cerca de 6 pies).
• Se recomienda que los niños pequeños y los adultos NO usen el baño, si es posible; Sin embargo, después de cada uso, el baño será desinfectado.
• Se han quitado los himnarios y las tarjetas de ayudantes de bancos y se suspende el canto congregacional ya que el canto pone en el aire un número infinitamente mayor de gotas de contagio.
• Los ujieres y ministros de comunión usarán máscaras faciales mientras ministran.
• Los ministros deben desinfectar sus manos antes y después de la misa.
• Los ministros de comunión desinfectarán sus manos antes de dar la comunión y después.
• La comunión se distribuirá al final de la misa con marcas claras en el piso del estándar de distancia de 6 pies. La comunión debe recibirse en la mano y consumirse en presencia del ministro. Después de consumir la comunión, saldrás de la iglesia en silencio y reverencia.
• En lugar de "pasar la canasta" de persona a persona y evitar el contacto, se colocarán canastas de recolección en las salidas noreste y noroeste para que coloque su ofertorio.
• Por favor, no se quede ni se reúna con otras personas fuera de la iglesia, mantenga su distancia y permita que otros hagan lo mismo.

 
Congregantes
Si bien nuestra intención es mantener a todos razonablemente seguros, comprenda que existen ciertos riesgos que no se pueden controlar al asistir a cualquier evento público, incluidos los servicios religiosos. El juicio prudente de su parte es muy importante. En consecuencia, la presencia de un feligrés constituye su comprensión y aceptación de este nivel esencial de riesgo. Seamos flexibles con nuestra respuesta a esta situación de pandemia.

• Se invita a todos los feligreses que asisten a misa a usar máscaras faciales.
• Solicitamos encarecidamente que aquellos de ustedes mayores de 65 años o con problemas de salud secundarios NO asistan a misa. Esto también se aplicaría a aquellos que cuidan o viven con una persona vulnerable.
• Si se siente enfermo de alguna manera, por favor quédese en casa.
• La obligación de la misa dominical se suspende indefinidamente para todos los que viven o visitan la Diócesis de Tucson hasta nuevo aviso.
• No se ofrecerá Misa pública diaria durante esta fase en la iglesia de lunes a jueves.
• La Misa diaria se ofrece virtualmente en el sitio web diocesano.  
• Horario de misas para el domingo de Pentecostés, el 31 de mayo es:

                      8:00 AM español
                      10:00 AM Inglés
                      6:30 PM Bilingüe (en su carro en el estacionamiento norte)

• A partir del viernes 5 de junio y el sábado 6 de junio, nuestro horario de misas dominicales será el siguiente: (estas misas completarán la misa dominical)

 
                      Viernes:              6:00 PM español
                      Sábado:               5:00 PM inglés
                      Domingo:          8:00 AM español
                                                     10:00 AM inglés
                                                     6:30 PM bilingüe (en su carro en el estacionamiento norte)
 
Comunión para aquellos que no puedan asistir a misa
La distribución de la comunión para aquellos que no puedan asistir a misa, y una vez que hayan visto cualquier misa en las redes sociales, pueden llegar a las 11:30 a.m. para recibir comunión. Para permitir que aquellos que asisten públicamente a nuestras misas salgan del estacionamiento, le pedimos que llegue no antes de 5 minutos de las 11:30 a.m.
Al llegar para la comunión, debe ingresar al estacionamiento a través de la entrada de la puerta de la Avenida 14 y conducir en línea detrás de la Iglesia. Sacerdotes y / o ministros de Eucaristía estarán en el camino entre Casa San Juan y la Sacristía de la Iglesia. Aquellos y solo aquellos que están recibiendo la comunión, deben salir del automóvil, recibir a Jesús y partir. Por favor, sin bendiciones ni visitas en este momento.
Consulte nuestro sitio web, Flocknote y la página de Facebook de la escuela para obtener información continua. Si desea recibir mensajes de texto a través de Flocknote, haz click aquí.

Muchas bendiciones,

Mons. Raúl P. Trevizo

Monsignor Trevizo provided us a reflection for today, Holy Thursday 2020, the day of the Mass of the Lord's Supper. Watch the video on our YouTube channel:

We are going through a global and local crisis with the pandemic of the coronavirus that is causing anxiety and concern in our families and uncertainty about the future. Who will be next to catch it and will I be responsible for taking care of myself and others?

Governments listening to the scientific and medical community have given us the necessary measures to practice keeping ourselves physically healthy.

But in the midst of this, where is God and his Church? Has God left us alone to deal with this crisis? Churches have been closed and masses canceled. So without spiritual food, what role do we as Catholic Christians have in this crisis, which has no historical precedence?

Our ancestors, grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents historically suffered similarly during long periods of persecution during which churches were closed and there was a shortage of priests. What did they do? They kept faith alive through catechesis, family prayer and the kind act of charity with others. They did not give up, they were brave, relying on faith, prayer and charity.

Are we little less than our ancestors whose blood we have inherited and left us the legacy of their faith; a proven faith in worse circumstances than ours?

God is with us, with churches open or closed. Christ offered himself for us on the Holy Cross, the only sacrifice of Salvation. Our Lady of Guadalupe came on our lands, and as a sign of the power of the True God, healed San Juan Diego’s uncle, Juan Bernardino, from the horrible plague that devastated millions of people.

Let's not back down. Let fear not lead us to selfishness and greed. The world lacks our faith and its testimony. Let us all be in prayer and spiritual communion even without the Eucharist and distanced from each other. It is the same Eucharist, that Sunday after Sunday without any sacrifice, was at our disposal and reminds us that the graces poured out on prior Sundays is not reduced to that single moment. We can neither limit nor prevent that grace from continuing much later to spread to us and to others.

The Catholic Church continues in fullness through the Holy Spirit. Father Roberto and I continue to celebrate Holy Mass for you, each and every day.

Last week, we baptized 30 children, visited the sick, and our school and catechism programs continue to serve children at home. Our parish office is still open and the church is open for your visits. The church is alive in you and me. So I beg you, the church needs you more than ever. In favor of our faith, continue to keep your offerings to this church for when God takes us to overcome this crisis, united all around the Eucharist as his sons and daughters, we praise him and give thanks in his holy temple.

To send us your offering, you can deposit it in the candle box in the church, by mail, electronic fund transfer, or in the parish office mail box or in person at the parish office.

Msgr. Raul Trevizo
Pastor, St. John the Evangelist Parish

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As we all continue to work through the Covid-19 pandemic, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, invites us to join him in special prayer. He will be leading the prayer in St. Peter’s Square on Friday, March 27.  

To watch the Holy Father and to join in this prayer, visit www.vaticannews.va at 10 a.m. Arizona time this Friday.  Also, the Holy Father will grant to all participants a Plenary Indulgence before imparting the Urbi et Orbi Blessing, a papal address, and his  Apostolic Blessing given to the City of Rome and to the entire world on this specific occasion.

May God bless you abundantly,

+Edward J. Weisenburger
Bishop of Tucson

St. John the Evangelist Church will be open for adoration from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday for the next three weeks.

There will be Holy Hour at 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., also Monday through Friday.

On Sundays there will be Holy Hour at 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

​Confessions will be on Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (for appointments for confessions at other times, please call the parish office 520-624-7409.)

Message from Msgr. Raul Trevizo

On Monday, March 16th, Fr. Gonzalez and I, accompanied by members of the parish prayer groups as well as several young altar servers, gathered together to pray the Holy Rosary before the Blessed Sacrament.  Scripture was proclaimed that inspired those present to trust in God’s Providence during this difficult time.  Songs were sung to lift up our hearts and minds.  Then, at the conclusion of the recitation of the rosary, the Blessed Sacrament was solemnly carried in procession within the church, as well as outside around the perimeter of the church; asking for the mercy of our Lord for conversion of heart and spiritual purification. We asked for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe that the spread of the COVID-19 virus be stopped and for a cure.  It was a powerful experience of prayer for those present.

Both Fr. Gonzalez and I, your priests, strongly believe that as a parish community, we are called to pray intensely during this time so that the spread of the virus stops and that a cure be found.  For God, all things are possible as we pray in the Creed.

Although the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will not be celebrated during this time, there is merit in offering our spiritual communions for protection and personal sanctification.  The suspension of the Sunday Mass obligation does not remove Sunday from being a day of prayer.  Therefore, all of us under the pain of sin must make some time for God on those days. One should also abstain from unnecessary work.  For prayer on Sunday, one can recite the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, for example; or perhaps read a passage of the Bible and meditate over it.  Aside from Sunday, 15 minutes of daily prayer would be of great benefit to us as we ask God to intervene with his mercy to stop the spread of this virus and also that he grants a cure.

​Our primary concern is to continue to serve – and minister to – our parishioners while also supporting the broader community’s efforts to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In keeping with the directives released by Bishop Weisenburger on Monday, March 16, and consistent with the recommendations of the federal government, St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Parish will be taking the following actions:

• Masses - All regularly scheduled Parish Masses have been suspended until Monday, April 6
• Parish Office - Our parish office will remain open for regular business hours to serve our parishioners by phone and electronic communications, or in person if necessary
• Adoration – One parishioner at a time may come to the parish office to request access to the adoration chapel. Adoration time will be limited to 15 minutes to ensure others also have an opportunity to spend time with the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration time is limited to parish office hours, which are 9am – 4pm, Monday through Thursday and 9am - 12:30pm on Friday.
• Anointing of the Sick – Priests will continue to administer this sacrament by appointment. Please call the parish office with as much advance notice as possible. Any sick or injured person may receive this sacrament at any stage of their injury or illness.
• Reconciliation – Saturday reconciliation times will still take place at 4pm and 7:30pm. Priests will offer open-air confessions and will be visible from your vehicle. We ask that you remain in your vehicle until you see that a priest is available to hear confession. Confessions may also be scheduled by appointment by calling the parish office.
• Scheduled Baptisms, Quinceañeras, etc. – Someone from our parish office will be contacting each of these families to provide details of how we plan to meet your families’ sacramental and spiritual needs with regard to these masses that were scheduled during the next three weeks.
• All other sacraments – Please contact the parish office if you have specific questions about baptisms, weddings, and/or any other topic not covered above. 
• All other gatherings – All Parish gatherings and ministry groups are suspended until April 6.
• Casa San Juan

1. Food boxes will be distributed on Tuesdays and Thursdays only during Casa San Juan’s regular hours from 9:30am – noon. 
2. Sack lunches for the hungry will be distributed through the rectory from 9:30 am until noon, Tuesday through Friday. 
3. School families - Casa San Juan and St. John’s school have identified and arranged to provide a food box to our neediest school families this week.

We are striving to be here for you, the people of the church, as best we can within the limitations with which we are being asked to comply to fight this pandemic. Please feel free to call us at 520-624-7409 or email stjohnsoffice@netzero.com if you have any questions.

In Christ,
Msgr. Raul P. Trevizo