03/06/2020
Today, late in the afternoon, Harris County Public Health made us aware that an individual who tested positive for the Coronavirus, attended the5:30 pm Ash Wednesday Mass on February 26th here at St. Cecilia. Harris County Public Health also told us this individual received ashes and had communion in the hand; the person did not receive communion from the cup. We were informed that the individual sat in the last pew on the left side of the Church at this service. If you sat in the last 3 rows on the left side of the Church at the 5:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday Mass, you are asked to contact Harris County Public Health at 713-439-6000. We also urge anyone experiencing symptoms of the Coronavirus to seek medical attention immediately.
As a school, St. Cecilia students attended the 8:15 AM Ash Wednesday Mass, and our students as a school did not return to the church until this past Thursday (yesterday, March 5th) when our 7th graders attended the Anointing Mass. The entire school did not return to the church until this morning (Friday, March 6th) for Mass.
St. Cecilia Parish has taken the following to help protect its parishioners:
- We drained and sanitized the baptismal fonts; it will not be filled for the remainder of the Lenten season;
- We sanitized pews, door handles, and bathrooms;
- We are providing hand sanitizers at all the church entrances
If you are unwell or uncomfortable coming to Mass or in crowded places, please stay home and join us in prayer. Again, we would urge anyone who is feeling sick and who may have come into contact with this individual to seek medical attention immediately.
St. Cecilia School will remain open. If you are uncomfortable having your student attending school due to the Coronavirus or if they are unwell, please contact Jeff Mathews or John Aylor to notify the school. The school office will assist in making arrangements for absent students to receive assignments and ways to continue participating in curriculum.
In addition, please keep those who have been affected by the Coronavirus in your prayers.