Holy Communion

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Every Sunday 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
St. Elizabeth Seton Church

For many Catholics one of the greatest losses they are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic is the lack of access to the Sacraments of our faith.   Even though our Bishop, and Bishops across the United States, have dispensed the faithful from the obligation to attend Mass and receive Holy Communion, the inability to receive the precious Body and Blood of Christ has been heartbreaking to many.   Your hunger and desire to receive Christ in the Sacrament is encouraging.  And of course, Christ longs for you even more.

The full re-opening of our churches is months away and celebrating public Mass with a limited number of participants may not happen for another month or more.Times like these call us to be creative in how we minister to each other, and how we continue to celebrate the mysteries of our faith.   We are grateful to all of you who have taken advantage of, and expressed your support for, weekend and daily webcast Masses, as well as drive-through Confession.

As I am sure you have heard, many parishes in our Diocese and beyond have begun the practice of Drive-through communion. I must admit, I cringe a bit at the phrase as it calls forth images of what happens at “In-n-Out Burger.”    I have no desire to keep the Sacraments away from those who need them and earnestly desire them, however reverence for these great gifts God has given to us is very important to maintain.

To that end, we have come up with a plan to allow the faithful who wish to receive Holy Communion to do so, while at the same time keeping the experience as reverent as possible. After due consideration of public health guidelines, and following best practices of other communities, on Sunday, May 17, May 24 and May 31 from 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m., Holy Communion will be available for you in the St. Elizabeth Seton vestibule.    If the distribution of Holy Communion on these days goes well, we may extend this practice.

Before coming to St. Elizabeth Seton for Communion, please note the following:

1. If you are elderly, ill, at risk of illness, or concerned about becoming ill, please stay home.  The obligation to attend mass and receive Holy Communion is still dispensed for all Catholics in the Diocese of Oakland.  Receiving Holy Communion at this time is strictly voluntary.
2. Your preparation (as individuals and a family) to receive the Eucharist is very important. If possible, please celebrate the Sacrament of Confession before coming to receive Holy Communion.  Weather permitting, we will continue to offer drive-through Confession at St. Augustine on Saturday afternoons beginning at 3:00 p.m.  You may wish to check with our neighbor parishes to see when they are offering Confessions.
3. Please join us for our webcast Mass at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning as part of your preparation to receive Holy Communion.  You can pray with us during Mass through our web page www.catholicsofpleasanton.org.
4. Please make sure that all those coming to St. Elizabeth Seton to receive Eucharist are wearing face masks.

​When you arrive at St. Elizabeth Seton to receive Holy Communion:

1. Please follow the instructions of those present in the parking lot to guide you. We will be using only the parking area that circles the church.  We ask that you park in every other space to leave distance between cars.
2. Please approach the St. Elizabeth Seton vestibule from the north walkway (this is the walkway nearest Stoneridge Drive and the large parking area.)  If there are people ahead of you waiting to receive, please note the markings on the ground and remain a safe social distance from each other while waiting your turn.
3. While waiting, it will be good to see each other, but please maintain a sense of prayer and reverence.
4. Once you have been directed to enter the St. Elizabeth Seton vestibule, please do so and proceed to the priest or deacon directly ahead of you.   He will share Holy Communion with you.  Family groups who are in quarantine together and who arrive in the same car are welcome to receive together.  However, at no time are there to be more than 10 people (including the ministers) in the vestibule.
5. After receiving Holy Communion and a blessing, please exit the vestibule through the south doors, proceed back to your car and return home.

While this means of receiving the Eucharist is not ideal, we are hopeful it will be a reverent and encouraging encounter with the Risen Christ in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood. We are hopeful this will be a help to you in these difficult and unusual days. Let us continue to keep each other in prayer.

- Fr. Mark