This is it: the moment is here when we finally – after more than a year – be able to welcome all Catholics back to Mass.* We know that moment will look different for every parish community, and the timing will vary. For that reason, we’ve compiled flexible (and largely customizable) resources below – from strategy and templates to graphics and event planning.
The theme: Created for Communion, which highlights 1) the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, and 2) the indispensable role of the Church as a community.
Use all, use some, adjust to fit your community – and be sure to let us know if we’re missing something you’d find helpful: ocrequest@archspm.org.
NOTE: To ensure access to the most current content, some of the resources below are live documents on Microsoft OneDrive. If you are having trouble accessing content, please try clearing your browser cache, or email webmaster@archspm.org for assistance.
Back to Mass Game Plan
The approach: a welcome back process that incorporates five steps: Preparation, Education, Invitation, Commemoration, and Dispensation*.
- Welcome Back Chart: Phases, Sample Tasks, Resources (Updated 6-3-21)
Since Gov. Walz’s Executive Order 21-21, parishes have been able to be open for full attendance at Mass and other gatherings. However, it may take time for all parish families to return. Some will need time to change Sunday habits (such as moving from livestream Mass back to in-person attendance), and we will all need to be attentive to the physical and psychological effects of the pandemic on our communities.
For this reason, we suggest a “Welcome Back” event in summer/early fall, in the Commemoration phase, to help mark the significance of the pandemic on your community, offer closure, instill hope and promote community. Event planning resources may be found below.
Planning Calendars
You may also see further calendar examples as you prepare for the Parish Consultation with Small Groups, on the Synod Promotional Materials page.
Templates / Print Collateral
- Welcome Back Video from Archbishop Hebda (Downloadable)
- Letter from the Pastor (Updated 6-3-21)
- Bulletin Announcements (Updated 6-3-21)
- FAQ (Updated 6-3-21)
- May be printed and shared, or used in excerpts as bulletin announcements
- Sample Two-Question Survey (made in Google Forms)
- Invitation Postcard
- Phone Script (for parishioner phone calls)
Spanish Materials
- Letter from the Pastor
- Web / Bulletin Announcements
- Sample 2-Question Survey
- FAQs
- Phone Script (for parishioner phone calls)
- Customizable Postcard
- Social Media Graphics on Created for Communion Theme
- Social Media Graphic (#BacktoMassMN)
Graphics / Social Media
Be sure to use the hashtag: #BacktoMassMN
- FAQs with Bishop Cozzens – Audio Clips and Social Graphics
- Created for Communion, Part 2
- Sunday Obligation Returns
- Lift of Dispensation July 1 – Series
- Back to Mass FAQs – Series
- Created for Communion – Introduction Graphics
- #BacktoMassMN – Text Only
- #BacktoMassMN – MN State
Education Phase Resources: Created for Communion
Consider encouraging parishioners to join a summer book club. Possible options include:
- Why Be Catholic? Ten Answers to a Very Important Question – Patrick Madrid
- The Mass – “Why Stay Away?” Booklets – Word on Fire
- The Basic Book of the Eucharist – Fr. Lawrence G. Lovasik
- Transforming Your Life Through the Eucharist – Fr. John A. Kane
It’s a long drive to the cabin! Suggest that parishioners listen to the following podcasts on their preferred platform:
- “Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper”: On Preparing to Receive Christ Worthily in the Eucharist – USCCB statement
- The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist: Basic Questions and Answers – USCCB
- The Eucharist – USCCB
- Come Back to Mass – Bishop Robert Barron
Articles from Catholic Faith section of this website:
-
Pray The Mass Like Never Before – Fr. Mike Schmitz
-
The Hour That Will Change Your Life – Fr. Mike Schmitz
- Find more videos in this playlist.
- If God is Everywhere, Do We Really Need the Eucharist? – Pints with Aquinas with Fr. Gregory Pine
- The Mass collection – Word on Fire: DVD, booklets, study guide, leader guide, Spanish version
- Eucharist collection – Word on Fire: DVD, booklets, study guide, leader guide, Spanish version
- A Biblical Walk Through the Mass collection – Ascension Presents: Study set, online access, leader set, starter pack, Spanish version
- FAQs – USCCB
- Rediscovering the Mass – USCCB: Pray, learn, act, resources/documents, Spanish version
View the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) online.
- CCC 671
- The Holy Spirit and the Church – CCC 737
- Names and images of the Church / community – CCC 751-752
- The Church – instituted by Jesus Christ – CCC 763-766
- The Church: Body of Christ – CCC 787-796
- The Church is communion with Jesus
- “One Body”
- “Christ is the Head of this Body”
- The Church is the Bride of Christ
- The Profession of Faith (in brief) – CCC 802-810
- Who belongs to the Catholic Church? – 836-838
- The participation of lay people in Christ’s priestly office – CCC 901-903
- Communion in Spiritual Goods – CCC 949-953
- Communion in faith
- Communion of the sacraments
- Communion of charisms
- “They had everything in common”
- Communion in charity
- CCC 1000
- Eucharist and the community of the Christian faithful – CCC 1166, 1400
- The Celebration of the Christian Mystery – Part Two of the CCC
- Why the liturgy? – CCC 1066-1068
- What does the word liturgy mean? – CCC 1069-1070
- Liturgy as source of life – CCC 1071-1072
- Prayer and liturgy – CCC 1073
- Catechesis and liturgy – CCC 1074-1075
- CCC 1118
- The Sacrament of the Eucharist – CCC 1322-1419
- The Eucharistic Sacrifice in the context of funerals/death– CCC 1689
- Source and summit – CCC 2031
- Truth, Beauty, and Sacred Art – CCC 2500-2513
- The Sunday Eucharist / parish as communion – CCC 2177-2179
- The Sunday obligation – CCC 2180-2183
- CCC 2643
- “Give us this day our daily bread” – CCC 2828-2837
- Search “Communion” in the index
- Catholic Sprouts (Families)
- Lighthouse Catholic Media
- Catherine of Siena Institute
Welcome Back Event Planning
Event Example:
- Together Again Growing in Faith – St. Michael, Prior Lake
USCCB’s Eucharist Document
- Archbishop Hebda: The Eucharist and sinners (from The Catholic Spirit)
- USCCB: The Meaning of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church
Outside Resources
- Revive Parishes
- National Back to Church Sunday (Sept. 19, 2021)
- Church Marketing University: Relaunch Playbook
- A Service of Lament, Healing, & Resilience – Template for commemoration prayer event, by First Baptist Church in Columbia, MO and Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, AR
Prenger Solutions Group: Welcome Back Resources