Over the last few days, Cardinal Tobin, the Archbishop of Newark announced the next “phases” of resumption of Public Masses with “Phase 2″ beginning Mon June 15th and “Phase 3″ the weekend of June 20/21. To simplify, parishes are being allowed to resume Daily Mass on Monday June 15th and Sunday Masses the following weekend (following protocols for safety and sanitization purposes)
The St. John Henry Newman Catholic Center Chapel offers Daily and Sunday Masses normally whenever the students of Montclair State University are on campus. We’ve continued daily and Sunday Masses live-streamed continuously since the viral pandemic first hit in March primarily out of pastoral care and concern for our students and their families, our alumni and the many friends and supporters who have made up our extended community over the last few years.
As this shift or transitioning back to some sense of normalcy begins, I wanted to extend an invitation. For those who wish to attend a daily Mass in person – (Mondays-Thursdays at 5:30 PM; Fridays at 12 Noon) we will be allowing one guest/family to join us here beginning on Monday the 15th. Simply reach out to Fr Jim (Facebook, Twitter or email at [email protected]) Tentatively I’m planning that on SATURDAY JUNE 20th to have a 5:30 PM MASS OUTDOORS here at the Newman Center open to the public without reservations/registrations/etc.
This is only a temporary situation. Normally at this time of year, we’ve discontinued all public Masses here on campus as we prep for the new Academic Year, and those responsibilities are continuing even without a lot of clarity about what that will look like – but my hope is that for people who have been eager to return to Mass, to receive the Eucharist to help facilitate that process.
I want to thank the tremendous number of people who have been praying with us throughout these last 3 months (or is it 4 by now, I’ve lost all sense of time…) Sincerely in Christ, Fr. Jim
