May Letter from Father Mike
Friends,
When we began this safer-at-home period, as a pastor, my first priority was providing for the spiritual needs of our members and making sure that all of you knew what was available. Now that we are in our second wave of safer-at-home, I want to share with you a little bit more about what is happening here on campus.
The Diocese of Green Bay has instructed parishes to do their utmost to discourage any kind of gathering over 10 people until the state and local area see a significant 14-day decrease in measured infection numbers. We are asked to maintain some basic essential services and remain open at least two hours per day, which we have scheduled during what is usually our busiest time - the mornings. We are limiting our hours to encourage our members to stay home as well as set the example for what our community needs to be prioritizing during this time. Furthermore, to aid in social distancing and limit the exposure created by shared workspaces and equipment, the diocese has instructed that as many parish staff members as possible work remotely, realigning tasks and taking up new administrative tasks that will support the parish going forward (ie: updating our membership lists, learning new technology and tools, planning future efforts, etc). In thanks part to the improved technology infrastructure our Nativity community has built in the past year, many of our staff are able to work from home. We meet virtually as an entire staff weekly and as smaller working groups more frequently. We are all working closely to continue providing the print and digital communications, family support, and vulnerable parishioner outreach, as well as the weekly live stream Masses.
Those who have been working in the office for limited hours are focused primarily on accounting needs, securing financial support through the CARES Act Payroll Protection Program (PPP, see below), $CRIP processing, the weekly bulletin mailing, and keeping the facilities, especially the adoration and confession spaces, clean and sanitary. Again, I am committed to setting the example of socially-distanced, essential work ONLY in these shared spaces. Seeing that we are not able to utilize our parish volunteers at this point, many of our regular tasks have been taken on by staff. We have also been working on building and maintenance projects that are best done with limited people in the building.
At the beginning of this crisis, I formed a task force that includes members of our pastoral council, finance council and staff to respond and plan for the financial, practical and pastoral needs of the parish. This week I received notification that Nativity was approved to receive support from the CARES Act stimulus Payroll Protection Program (PPP). Our staff worked hard to secure this 8-week benefit offered to businesses and non-profits that will provide Nativity assistance in keeping our staff working. The PPP is meant to support small businesses and non-profits that are instrumental in working and supporting our communities during this time. While we cannot anticipate the length or breadth of this situation, this approval will help us to plan how to sustain our ministry.
This does not replace your generous hearts and ongoing support of the parish, but supplements your gifts and bridges the gap where those in our community are not able to give during this time. Our ministry and others needs don’t stop in crisis, but often increase. The Nativity staff (as well as many of our members) are more committed than ever to doing the Gospel work we are called to as disciples. Our nation, state and city all know that churches and disciples of Jesus are essential for the physical, emotional and spiritual health of our communities, even when we are limited in our in-person encounters. Let’s show them just how far the love of Jesus can reach when a community works together!
Peace,
Father Mike