Welcome to St. Mary Parish

All Masses (Weekend & Weekday) are being held in the church now and we will still be live-streaming the 10:00 Sunday Mass & the 7:30 Monday Novena Mass.

We are LIVE-STREAMING  Masses on our Facebook page: 

Monday Novena Mass - 7:30 pm

Sunday Mass- 10 am

All these liturgies will "go live" a few minutes before the start time at this link: https://www.facebook.com/smicavon/  If you can't find the video, REFRESH the page and it should pop up!

At the end of the live stream, they will be posted to the parish website, so if you cannot access Facebook, you can look for them here: https://stmaryavon.org/our-parish.  Please spread the word to other parishioners and friends!

____________________________________

Weekday Services: (held in the church now) 

Monday & Thursday: 7:30 pm
Tues., Wed. & Friday:  8:30 am
Holy Day Vigils:  7:30 pm
Holy Days: 8:30 am and 7:30 pm
National Holidays:  9:00 am
Miraculous Medal Novena:
       Mondays:  7:30 pm Mass
Eucharistic Adoration:  (time change)
       Thursdays: 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Weekend Services
(Saturday, Vigil and Sunday):

Saturday Morning; 8:30 am
Saturday Evening
       (Sunday Vigil Mass):  4:00 pm
Sunday Morning:  
       8:00 am, 10:00 am & 12:00 noon
Rosary:  Sunday Mornings; 9:30 am

Special Mass Schedules:

Miraculous Medal Novena:
       Mondays: 7:30 pm

Youth Mass:  
       Check "Calendar of Events" 

ARS Mass for
Living & Deceased Members:
    First Monday Each Month; 7:30 pm

HNS Mass for
Living & Deceased Members:
     Second Sunday Each Month;
    8:00 am

Confession Schedule: (Now available)  

Saturday  2:30 - 3:30 pm

Monday    7:00 - 7:25 pm

Please contact the parish office at parish@stmaryavon.org with any questions about mass schedules.

O Come, All Ye Faithful!

All are welcome to attend our Christmas Masses!  As we observe state and diocesan standards for sanitizing and social distancing to keep our church safe for all, please note the following changes:

• Masks will be required for everyone over the age of 2.
• We will NOT require advance reservations or sign-ups for any Mass.
  • Church doors will open for seating 30 minutes before Mass. 
  • Seating will be first come, first served - no seats may be reserved.
  • Many pews are currently roped off to ensure a 6 ft distance between households.
• Singles and couples will be asked to sit in the side pews. 

Longer pews will be reserved for households with 3 or more members.  

• If all available seats in the church and choir loft are filled, you will be invited to an overflow seating area in the school.  Mass from the church will be projected on a screen, and a Eucharistic minister will bring Holy Communion to you.

The Twelve Days of Christmas [are a real thing!]

Bishop Malesic reminds us that there is NO OBLIGATION for Catholics in the Diocese of Cleveland to attend ANY Mass at this time because of the pandemic.  We are offering several options so all of our parishioners can still join in our Christmas liturgies in some way:

• LIVE STREAMED Masses will be available at ALL the Mass times on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Visit www.facebook.com/smicavon to attend virtually!

• Can’t access Facebook?  Recorded Masses will be posted on our website and YouTube channel later in the day. Visit www.stmaryavon.org/our-parish to watch on demand.

• Want to come to church, but concerned about crowds?  Consider staying home on Christmas Day, and celebrate the Christmas Octave this year instead. Christmas is technically celebrated in the Catholic Church for a full 8 days (called an “octave”), and the Christmas Season extends even longer than that. So attending Mass on any day between Dec 25 and Jan 1 still counts as “Christmastime”!  Choose a day and time that works best for you:

• Christmas Eve Mass - Thursday, December 24 - 4 pm
• Midnight Mass - Friday, December 25 - 12 am
• Christmas Day Masses - Friday, December 25 - 8 am, 10 am, and 12 noon
• Christmas Octave Masses:
  • Saturday, 12/26 - 8:30 am
  • Feast of the Holy Family - Saturday, December 26 -  4 pm,

Sunday, December 27 -  8 am, 10 am, and 12 noon

• Monday, 12/28 - Feast of the Holy Innocents - 7:30 pm Novena Mass
• Tuesday, 12/29 - 8:30 am
• Wednesday, 12/30 - 8:30 am
• Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God - Thursday, December 31 - 4 pm,

Friday, January 1 - 8 am, 10 am, 12 noon

Saturday, January 2 - 8:30 am

• Epiphany of the Lord - Saturday, January 2 - 4:00 pm

Sunday, January 3 - 8 am, 10 am, 12 noon

Silent Night…

• Mass will sound a little different this Christmas, because choirs, congregational singing, and brass instruments can all dramatically increase the spread of the virus through tiny aerosol particles (especially indoors), and have been strongly discouraged by the diocese and county health department.  
  • Many of your favorite carols will be played instrumentally (not sung).
  • There will NOT be a Children’s Choir on Christmas Eve, or brass quartet.
  • The Ordinary Prayers of the Mass will be recited so everyone can participate safely.
  • Our cantors will sing some beautiful, less-familiar Christmas songs and antiphons to help you listen, reflect, and pray. 
  • String players from the Cleveland-based ensemble “Opus 216” will add extra festivity.
  • Immediately after each Mass (weather permitting), anyone who wishes can meet at the outdoor nativity in front of the convent to join in singing a carol or two in the fresh air where it is safer!  Masks are mandatory and social distancing will be enforced. 

Away [from the] Manger

• For everyone’s safety, and to allow ample time for cleaning, we ask that parishioners exit the church promptly after Mass ends, and observe social distancing if staying to talk to friends outside.  

• The Christmas Crib in church will not be accessible for personal prayer or photos this year, to avoid many people touching shared surfaces and spending time in the same space.  Consider taking a photo outside in front of the church, at the Prayer Garden, or at the outdoor nativity by the convent!  

O Come Let Us Adore Him!

Just like the shepherds and wise men, we will be experiencing something new and different this year and no one knows exactly what to expect.  THANK YOU in advance for your patience and flexibility.  Every parish in the diocese is trying to make the right decisions for their community at this time, and we at St. Mary’s are doing our best to help you worship the newborn King safely, peacefully, and joyfully.  We are grateful for your prayers and generous support.  Please contact the parish office with any questions at 440-934-4212.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

All St. Mary Masses, Confessions & Adoration are now held in the Church: 

Weekend and weekday Masses are held in the church now.  Live-streaming of the weekend Masses will also continue for those that are high-risk or elderly.  The dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass remains in effect for the Catholic faithful who reside in the Diocese of Cleveland and all other Catholics in the diocese until further notice. 

• Parishioners should take their temperatures prior to coming to Mass.  Any parishioner with a temperature of 100.4 or higher should stay home.  Anyone not feeling well should stay home. 

• The faithful must wear a mask (or other face covering) upon entering the church and during the celebration of Mass, except for the brief moment of receiving Holy Communion.

• All pews and the restroom will be wiped down with disinfectant after each Mass.  This includes kneelers as well. 

• All Hymnals and missalettes are removed from the pews and stored for the duration of the pandemic.  You may bring your own missals or hymnals for use during the celebration of Mass. Any materials left in pews will be discarded.

• The distribution of the Precious Blood has been suspended.

• Holy water fonts are to remain empty until further notice.

• Social distancing of 6 feet must be followed.

• Ushers/volunteers may assist with directing parishioners to marked pews.  Attendance will be limited to less than 50% of the church capacity in order to assure compliance with social distancing requirements.  Families may sit together, but must maintain the social distancing between your family and other families or individuals throughout the celebration of Mass.  Two pews will be left vacant between congregants.  The church doors will be locked once we are reach our limited capacity seating.   

• The two middle sections of the church will be reserved for families, while the end sections on both sides are intended for 1-3 individuals in a family.

• Offertory processions are suspended, your offertory collection should be placed in the box at the entrance before Mass. 

• The sign of peace is omitted for the time being. 

• Instructions for the distribution of communion will be clearly stated prior to the start of distribution. 

• For the health and safety of all, reception of Holy Communion will be in the hand only.   

• All Ushers, volunteers, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors and Altar servers will require wearing masks and using sanitizer.

• There will be no “Coffee & Donut” receptions or social gatherings until further notice. 

• Enter the church through the main door (front) and all doors will have signage regarding where to enter and exit as well.  Handicapped individuals may use the handicapped entrance/ramp on morth side of the church.  

• Watch the bulletin, website and social media as more details will be forthcoming

MUSIC MINISTRY UPDATE:

Science continues to indicate that COVID-19 can spread through aerosol particles when we breathe and speak - and when we sing or shout, we become "aerosol super spreaders" to those around us.  So until further notice, we will continue to follow the guidance of the Diocese, and have only a single cantor (or two) singing from the isolation of our choir loft.  Your participation is still important though!  Since all are wearing masks and socially distanced, everyone can safely make spoken responses and join in the prayers of the Mass with a loud and clear voice, and listen prayerfully to the hymns and chants sung by the cantor(s).
 
CONFESSIONS:

Will be held in the church on Mondays at 7:00 - 7:25 pm and Saturdays at 2:30 - 3:30 pm.  Confessions will be held in the priests' sacristy.  Wear a mask or face covering.  Form a line in the center aisle of the church with 6' distance in front of you.  Enter through the sacristy doorway (closest to the altar).  When you exit, use the same doorway and go down the steps in front of the altar.  Then the next person in line may enter the sacristy.  Once, finished, you may say your penance in the church or at home.  If you use the pews, make sure you sanitize where you kneel/sit.  The cleaning supplies are located on a table near the main entrance.

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT:

Will be held in the church on Thursdays with exposition at 5:00 pm and Benediction at 7:00 pm.  Please note the time change.  Wear a mask or face covering.  If not staying for the 7:30 pm Mass, be sure to sanitize the pew/kneeler that you were using.  The cleaning supplies are located on a table near the main entrance.  

St. Mary's will continue to follow all guidelines given by the Diocese of Cleveland in lieu of the pandemic of Coronavirus.  Click here for guidelines: 

https://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/information-and-guidance

Please Like and Share our new Facebook Page to keep up with your parish community during this pandemic and view livestreamed Masses: https://www.facebook.com/smicavon

Join our parish community in celebrating Mass below! 

Follow our YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlGkZkflgor32tgNx2RF4w?view_as=subscriber

Welcome to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, a community-driven Catholic parish in Avon, Ohio. Under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we are striving to build God’s Kingdom in our world today through lives of prayer and service.

In these unprecedented times, when we can't give weekly envelopes to support the church, we offer online giving (see below) to continue to support St. Mary's as Father Tom and the dedicated staff work to spiritually support our parishioners.  St. Mary's is grateful for the wonderful and generous support from our parish family.  We ask for your continued prayers and financial support as we make it through this crisis together.
Parishioners who are not interested in using the direct deposit/ACH method below are encouraged to mail your envelopes to the Parish office.  Write your check and drop it in the mail to: St. Mary - Avon, 2640 Stoney Ridge Rd, Avon, OH 44011.  Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.  God Bless.