BOTH of the parishes within our Catholic Community, Our Lady Queen of Peace and St. Thomas More, fall within the Orange Zone degination for Monroe County at this time.  (We know that it looks like STM might fall outside of the Orange Zone on the map, but our address is included in the NYS provided Covid Hotspot Address Look Up Site.) It is our understanding that this Orange Zone designation will last for at least two weeks, at which point the Governor will re-evaluate the micro-cluster designation.  

During this period, we will be following the guidelines set forth by the state for houses of worship which state "33% capacity OR 25 people; WHICHEVER IS SMALLER."  Therefore, both worship sites will have a maximum capacity of 25 people, which must also include the priest, organist, sacristans, lectors, communion ministers, cantors, etc. as well as parishioners.  Due to the limit on attendance at this time we will be taking reservations for upcoming Masses on our website here.  Unfortunately, if you show up at the door and we have reached our capacity we will have to ask that you join us in worship online instead of in person.  At this point we are not taking reservations for weekday Masses, with the exception of Thanksgiving Day.  This is subject to change.

Our staff has been working very hard behind the scenes to update the website, send out emails, post updates on facebook, answer emails, make phone calls, organize online reservation systems, put up new signage, and so much more!  Our community is blessed to have such a fantastic group of staff members who have worked together to completely change how Mass happens at both of our churches in just 24 hours time in response to the Governor's new executive order.  

At the same time, we as a staff are very aware of the challenges that this creates, and it is our hope that we will be out of the Orange Zone designation very soon.  The Governor is making these designations based on data coming from the Monroe County Health Department regarding rates of positivity of COVID-19 in our area, and as a result, these designations are very fluid.  As a reminder, Bishop Matano has granted a dispensation for weekly Mass attendance at this time as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  No matter what happens, our staff will continue to record and broadcast Mass online through our website so that you can continue to join us in prayer, even if we cannot be together physically at this time.  

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support as we navigate these uncertain times together.