Dear Parishioners,

As cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) appear to be spreading nationally, I want you to know we are taking steps to better prepare St. Francis Xavier Church and School in the event it surfaces locally.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of Sunday, March 8, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ohio. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the CDC both report that at this time that the CDC considers risk from the virus to the general public to be low. While it is important to take the public health situation seriously, it also is important to avoid inciting undue alarm.

ODH lists these precautionary measures — the same common-sense hygiene recommendations to prevent the flu and other viruses — including:

• Avoid close contact with sick persons.
• Cover mouth/nose with tissue/sleeve when coughing/sneezing.
• Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing/sneezing.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth after touching objects.
• Practice good health habits (clean home, adequate sleep, healthy stress management).

On the recommendation of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Office for Worship, USCCB and CDC, we are taking these measures in the celebration of the liturgy:

• Priests, deacons and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are especially reminded of the need to practice good hygiene. Ministers of Holy Communion must wash their hands before Mass and use an alcohol-based antibacterial solution before and after distributing Holy Communion.
• Liturgical ministers should not serve if they are sick. This includes clergy and lay ministers.
• Parishioners who are sick should stay home. Missing Mass is not a sin if you are sick.
• Parishioners are encouraged to wash their hands frequently with soap and water, and to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after shaking hands with others.
• If you have sick family members, please protect others by abstaining from receiving Communion on the tongue, and by abstaining from receiving the Precious Blood.

Please be assured that we are taking measures to prevent the spread of any illness. When St. Francis Xavier School was out Friday, March 6, for a teacher in-service day, our maintenance crew sanitized the school and church. In addition, our maintenance staff is wiping all touchable surfaces (pews, doorknobs, handrails, etc.) between each Mass, and frequently checking soap and hand towel supplies. Hand sanitizer is available at the sacristy entrances and in each restroom.

It is important to note that we do not wish to fan the flames of fear. Many of us have likely taken our health for granted, though, and perhaps have become a little too casual about some of these practices. If we all take a bit more care to protect ourselves and others from the spread of viruses, we will have nothing to worry about.

Should the threat from COVID-19 become dire, further measures to safeguard the faithful will be announced. While this is a serious public health situation, the CDC continues to believe the immediate risk to the general public remains low at this time. Yet, in today’s connected world, outbreaks of diseases are always of concern and we must remain vigilant.

Peace,
Fr. Tony