Council 6856 Parish support during COVID-19

When our pastor asked for assistance at the end of May 2020, the Selma Knights of Columbus Council 6856 began supporting the reopening of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Selma, Texas. The Archdiocese had just allowed parishes to reopen with 25% of capacity for all the parishes in the San Antonio Archdiocese. Until then our parish had been live streaming two Masses each weekend, one in English and one in Spanish.

Our help involved screening of all parishioners at each weekend Mass. The Knights have been taking and recording temperatures as people arrive, matching names against the list of those who registered for attendance at each Mass and providing masks for those who need them. The Knights are instrumental in assisting the ushers to seat family members at least six feet from others within the church.They also help in sanitizing the worship space following each Mass.These methods, recommended by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, are essential in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and maintaining the health and wellbeing of our community.

As we move forward, more parishioners are coming back to church. The parish has responded by scheduling additional Masses. With the help of this Council we now have resumed a schedule of 6 weekend Masses.