Christmas Mass Attendance Guidelines
The Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas) will be celebrated at St. Jude Church with Masses on Thursday, December 24 at 5:00 pm, 8:00 pm, 10:00 pm, and on Friday, December 25 at 10:00am.
This year the church of St. Jude cannot accommodate the number of people who normally attend Christmas Mass while staying within the most recent COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Diocese. Therefore, reservations for seating will be necessary for all Christmas Masses at St. Jude Church. Because of the occupancy limits, and to assure seating for parishioners, we will only accept reservations from St. Jude Parishioners at this time.
St. Jude Parishioners may make a reservation to attend Christmas Mass in person at St. Jude Church by emailing info@stjudechurch.us or by calling the office at 540-891-7350.
A maximum of one pew per family may be reserved. The longest pews can accommodate 7-8 healthy sized bodies. Shorter pews can accommodate 5-6. If you are attending alone or in a smaller group, you may be assigned seating at one end of a pew while another small group is at the opposite end. Parish families may include family and guests who are included in their household or “pod” for the pew reservation.
Please make your request for seating reservations no later than close of business on Monday, December 21. The office staff will confirm all reservations. Requests cannot guarantee a spot, but we will do the very best we can to accommodate everyone who wishes to attend Mass in person this Christmas.
Seats will be assigned as requests are received. When all pews are assigned in the church additional seating will be assigned in the activity center. If you do not wish to reserve a seat in the activity center, please indicate that when you make your request for a reservation. The Mass in the activity center will be streamed onto the large monitor from the Mass in the church and Communion will be brought down at the appropriate time.
When making your request for a reservation please indicate
- Your first choice for Christmas Mass time
- December 24 at 5:00 pm
- December 24 at 8:00 pm
- December 24 at 10:00pm
- December 25 at 10:00am
- Are you willing to attend Mass at different time or at any of the Mass times?
- How many people will be attending Mass with your family/group?
- Does anyone in the family use a wheelchair or walker and need accommodation?
- Will you attend Mass in the activity center if the church is at the occupancy limit?
- If placed on a waiting list and seats become available after December 21, would you like us to contact you via email?
Masks are expected for all those over the age of 5 at all Masses. No exceptions will be made for those who attend the 8:00 pm Mass.
You are expected to disinfect your hands when entering the church and are encouraged to do so again immediately before receiving Communion. If possible, please bring your own hand sanitizer, which should contain at least 60% alcohol.
Ushers, sacristans, lectors, and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist will need to contact the office staff to be sure space is reserved for family members who may attend with them.
The church doors will open for seating to begin 30 minutes before the scheduled Mass time. Please be sure all members of your family/group arrive no later than 15 minutes before Mass is scheduled to begin. Mass attendees will check in at the front door and be directed to their assigned pew. Any pew that remains empty 10 minutes before Mass starts will be released and the reservation might not be honored. All seating should be done so that Mass can start as scheduled. Please be patient with the volunteer ushers and staff when you arrive for Mass.
All four Masses for Christmas will be live-streamed on the parish YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVg8IrJc3CzXExt8I5cO5eQ/ .
The program for the Masses will be available as a .pdf online at so that you may follow it with a personal handheld device in church or at home http://www.stjudechurch.us/readings-gospel-and-music-programs-for-holy-days-and-sunday-masses/
