Unified Mass Time Updates

Dear Friends,
 
During the course of the last two weeks, you were invited to vote for one of two Mass schedules that were presented as a permanent change to the current weekend Mass schedule at SS. Matthew & Hubert Parish. Both options presented reduced the number of Masses from nine Masses to five each weekend.
 
The result of the vote is as follows and represents the new permanent weekend Mass schedule at SS. Matthew & Hubert Parish:
 
Option A received 984 total votes and Option B received 858 total votes. This means the Option A Mass schedule will be adopted with 53.4% of the vote to Option B which received 46.6% of the vote. The vote count includes both online and paper votes and was tabulated by the Unification Committee on Tuesday evening.
 
The new Mass schedule will begin on the First Sunday of Advent, December 2-3, 2023, and will be as follows:
   
This means that the Sunday night Mass at St. Hubert will be discontinued.
 
What are some of the factors that went into the choices listed below:

• We began with the presumption that this Mass schedule will be permanent, as Mass schedule changes are very stressful for people, and it would be good to have a new schedule in place for a while when the new pastor arrives, presumably this Summer.
• We decided on five Masses because that is the most one or two priests can be expected to celebrate each weekend.
• We did not want to offer Masses at both churches at the same time, because:
• one priest can’t be at two places at one time (if a second priest is gone, sick, etc.) and,
• Separating people in that way does not build community.
• While we are very grateful for the visiting priests who have assisted in the celebration of Masses, we cannot build a Mass schedule that is dependent on their help in the future.
• We wanted to ensure that there are reasonable options for Mass attendance at both churches.
• Consideration of Mass attendance numbers and parking at each church were factored in.
• We wanted to have enough time between Masses to allow priests to travel from one church to the other and afford the opportunity for socialization of parishioners in between as well.

 
Bringing together Mass times has been part of unification processes across the Archdiocese. You are encouraged to look at the whole, recognizing that these five Masses are being offered for the entire unified parish of SS. Matthew & Hubert Parish. Gathering together at the Eucharist is the greatest act of unity that we can participate in as Catholics.
 
We know that these changes will affect the ministries of the parish—liturgical, catechetical, choral, etc. The goal will be for ministry leads, deacons, and staff to work together with the parish community to bring these ministries together, broaden the invitation, and continue to meet the current and future needs of SS. Matthew & Hubert Parish. We invite everyone to use this opportunity to look outward and see who else can be welcomed into the good works of the parish.
 
We are happy to let you know that for this year, the Christmas Mass schedule at both sites will be unchanged from last year, as we were able to get enough priests to celebrate the Masses at both churches, based on last year’s schedule.
 
Thanks, and God bless you all.
 
    Fr. Tim Fairman, Administrator