- All public celebrations of the Mass will be suspended. A bilingual Sunday Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Michael and I and will be available on the Storm Lake St. Mary’s Parish Facebook page on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. You will be able to view Mass at your convenience. We will also post a reflection on the daily Mass readings and provide you with prayer material to help you make a spiritual communion. 

-  Baptisms – The current Baptisms that are scheduled during this time period will only be celebrated with immediate family members and godparents, following the CDC guidelines of groups no larger than 10. There will be no large group baptisms. 

-  Weddings – Only immediate family members and witnesses are to attend weddings. Clergy are not to attend related social functions. The parishes are not to host receptions.

-  Funerals – Funerals may be celebrated only with immediate family members. We are working closely with Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home and together we will help families navigate the planning process. 

-  Holy Week – Holy Week liturgies are suspended. 

-  Confessions - The sacrament of reconciliation (confession) will be conducted by appointment only. 

-  The celebrations of First Communion are suspended. We will reschedule First Communion Masses when we are able and communicate that to families as we are able.

-  Quinceañeras are suspended during this time.

- The formal exposition of the Eucharist or adoration will be suspended. 

-  Saint Mary’s church building will be closed for the foreseeable future to allow for a deep cleaning and some maintenance projects to take place. We will keep you updated when we allow an opportunity for individual visits. Saint Joseph church and Sacred Heart church will be open during the day for individual prayer, but you are asked to maintain a distance of 6 feet from other people and not congregate in groups. If this becomes a problem, we will be forced to close these sites as well. 

- All conferences, retreats, festivals or similar events in the diocese and the parishes are suspended. Parish groups and meetings are suspended as well. 
All religious education, faith formation classes, RCIA and related activities are suspended. We will reschedule the Sacraments of Initiation for those preparing to enter the Church at a later date.

- Parish governing boards will be conducting essential parish meetings as necessary, and when possible, electronically. 

-  The parish office is closed to visitors. Only necessary face to face business by appointment only. Parish staff members will maintain parish operations from the office or remotely. Calls will be answered during normal business hours for now. Emergencies will be handled in the normal fashion. We will be placing a locked box outside the parish office entrance to place anything that needs dropped off to the parish office, including donations.