IMPORTANT NOTE FROM RE-OPENING TASK FORCEDear parishioners,As announced in my May 19thmessage on Flocknote to all of you,please find below, just completed by our Task Force, the detailed comprehensive note to ensure a smooth re-opening of our church:"With great excitement and anticipation, we wish to inform you of the detailed plans to re-open our Church. The building has been disinfected to the fullestextent possible and we will do everything possible to maintain safe conditions.We are doing everything to comply with Charles County, State of Maryland, and the Archdiocese of Washington requirements for the Phase 1 re-opening.First, to maintain social distance, we will limit attendance to 25% capacity. If you desire to physically attend Mass, youwill need to place a reservation either online or by calling the office. Directions for on-line reservations are forthcoming. If there is room beyond the reservation limits and within our stated capacity permits, walk-ins will be welcome but you must sign in at the door. We have a requirement called “contact tracing” to know names of people in attendance.The first Mass will be Sunday, May 31stat 10am.We will then evaluate Mass times for subsequent weeks.Until further notice, we will continue live-streaming the Sunday, 10am Mass on the OLHOC YouTube Channel.Daily Mass will resume June 1st at 9am in the Nave. Our Chapel and the new Adoration Chapel will remain closed.Everyone must wear a face mask and bring your own hand sanitizer. Please do not use Clorox bleach wipes on the wooden pews to supplement our disinfecting!A greeter will allow people with reservations to enter the building 20 minutes before Mass or once the disinfecting is completed. The greeter will open the front door and the glass doors into the Nave, which will then stay open.An usher will guide you to a pew, as we will leave alternate rows empty. You may sit with your household family members; otherwise, a 6-foot separation is required.There will be no hymnals or missals.There will be no choir and no singing at this time.The cry room and the restrooms will be closed.We are required to disinfect the pews after every Mass, so there will be no adoration before or after Mass.We plan to distribute Holy Communion under one species. The exact flow of traffic will be a single row down the center aisle maintaining the 6-foot social distancing.You are encouraged to receive communion in your hand. If you still desire to receive on the tongue, please come forward when the celebrant makes an announcement after the completion of distribution on the hand.During the sign of peace, please greet one another with a peace sign or a friendlynod, not the normal handshake or hug, but still continuing the same OLHOC hospitality.After the recessional, we plan for the ushers to dismiss by rows beginning with the pews in the rear. Please then proceed directly outside and greet the Pastor outdoors, if weather permits.There will be no offertory baskets circulated, but your donation can be left by the column at the glass door entrance either before or after Mass.You can also continue with on-line giving at www.olhoc.org/donations-and-paymentsThere will be no bulletin, so please visit our website or the parish Flocknotes to read the on-line version.Again, this is an exciting time to get back together in our newly renovated Narthex.As you see, our main attempt is to comply with social distancing and maintain safe conditions for everyone. Look for more communication at either the OLHOC website, Flocknotes, or OLHOC YouTube Channel.We still need & encourage more volunteers to help with the new protocol. Please contact Richard Potter atpotterra28@yahoo.comor Jeannie Jacobs in the office atoffice@olhoc.org.Your feedback is welcome anytime as we evolve to the “new normal.” Thank you in advance and blessings to all!Dick Potter & Your Re-opening Task Force"I am most grateful to the Task Force and the volunteers who have already agreed to assist at Masses. While we still need more volunteers, I am confident the Lord will provide. Let us continue to pray the Holy Spirit will help each one of us to make the right decisions as we embark on this safe, gradual re-opening. On behalf of Fr. Ben, Deacon Rich, Deacon Bill and all of our staff, we wish all of you a most Blessed Parish Feast Day this weekend! From your cars in the parking lot or on the OLHOC YouTubeChannelfrom home, we hope you can join us this Sunday, May 24th at 11 am for the crowning of Mary,followed by Mass for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. We look forward to the re-opening at Pentecost, Sunday, May 31st.May our hearts continue to be filled with the Joy of the Risen Lord! HE IS TRULY RISEN! ALLELUIA!One in Christ,Fr. Alain