COVID Archive 2020
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December 2020 Updates
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Staying Connected #55
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Parish News
This is the only Flocknote
for this upcoming Holy Day and Weekend.
Another Weekend with Back-to-Back Celebrations
As much as the pandemic has created a different sense of time, celebrations on the Church’s liturgical calendar remain compact.
On Thursday, January 1, which is the Octave of Christmas, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary as the Mother of God. From ancient times, Mary has been honored as “God-bearer” (Theotokos), that is the “Mother of God.” It wasn’t until the Council of Ephesus, A.D. 431 that this belief of the faithful was officially defined by the Church. (There were other issues concerning our beliefs regarding the person of Jesus Christ, for which this proclamation served as a timely ally. But those explanations are left for another time.)
Initially, our parish adopted this solemnity as our Feast Day. However, two years ago, Pope Francis designated the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church to be celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost. Pope Paul VI was the first advocate for giving Mary this particular title as Mother of the Church. This took place at the end of the 3rd session of the Second Vatican Council, November 1964.
On Sunday, January 3, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. All of us are familiar with the story of the journey of the magi. Along with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which occurs on January 10, the feast of the Epiphany is often considered Christmas by our Orthodox brothers and sisters who use the Julian Calendar, rather than the Gregorian calendar that we in the Roman tradition use. These are the days (Epiphany & the Baptism of the Lord) when Jesus Christ was “announced” to the Gentiles, as represented by the magi.
Worth Repeating: A Christmas Gift from the Parish
These are the final days in which Matthew Kelly’s book I Heard God Laugh will be available at the entrances of Church. Feel free to take additional copies of the book for your family OR if you feel like being a missionary disciple, share the book with a neighbor, friend or co-worker.
Attachments
There are 4 attachments accompanying this Flocknote:- The Worship Aid for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Thursday & Friday)
- The Catholic Kids Bulletin for January 1
- The Worship Aid for the Feast of the Epiphany (Saturday & Sunday)
- The Catholic Kids Bulletin for January 3 - Epiphany
Grace Is Indeed Amazing!
This is a wonderful story about one of our young parishioners, Lucas Menz, who is a senior at St. John Vianney High School. This article appeared in the December 21st edition of the St. Louis Review.
https://www.archstl.org/vianney-student-leads-his-schools-effort-to-buy-toys-for-children-6018
Day Is Done, Part 1
On a lighter note x 2
#1 Hmmm…..
Many believe that if the Magi were women they would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, brought practical gifts and made a casserole.#2 More singing!!!!
Day Is Done, Part 2
Over these next few days enjoy what has now become a modern Christmas classic!
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night and
a joy-filled Feast of the Epiphany!Fr. Chuck
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Staying Connected #54
December 25, 2020
The Feast of the Holy Family
A prayer for this weekend
Loving God,
We thank you for the family of Mary, Joseph & Jesus.
It was at home with his parents
that Jesus grew in wisdom and age and your grace,
that he learned to know the Law and the Prophets,
that he learned to do right and love goodness.
Bless with strength and patience and good humor all
who would make such homes today.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
Parish News
Worth Repeating: A Christmas Gift from the Parish
Many of you may already be familiar with Matthew Kelly. If you are not, Matthew is from Australia and is the founder of The Dynamic Catholic Institute, a Cincinnati-based nonprofit organization, whose mission is to “re-energize the Catholic Church in America by developing world-class resources that inspire people to rediscover the genius of Catholicism.”
Since our interaction with one another has been limited due to the pandemic, I thought reading a book together as a parish might be a simple way to be connected with one another. The name of the book is I Heard God Laugh.
Copies of the book will be available both in the vestibule of Church and in the plastic bin outside the front door. They will be available this weekend, December 26 / 27. Initially, I ask that you take only 1 book per household. If there are books leftover after this weekend, feel free to take additional books.
Attachments
There are 2 attachments for this weekend, December 26 / 27, 2020: The Worship Aid for the Feast of the Holy Family and the Catholic Kids Bulletin.
Day Is Done, Part 1!
Great stories are worth telling / worth hearing over and over again. Enjoy!
Day Is Done, Part 2!
I have been doing a lot of “You-Tubing” over these past months. I’m not even sure if that is a word but what I mean by it is that I have viewing a lot of You Tube videos as I decide which videos to include in my Flocknotes. Are you familiar with a group called The Piano Guys? They are one of my new discoveries and I have been delighted to make their acquaintance. Here are 2 Christmas Carol videos for your viewing & listening pleasure: “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Carol of the Bells.”
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night and
a joy-filled Christmas season!
Fr. Chuck
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Staying Connected #53 - Christmas 2020
December 22, 20200
On behalf of the staff — Deacon Randy Howe, Mrs. Ann Garavaglia, Mrs. Linda Licata, Mr. Nate Jackson, Mrs. Cheryl Degenhart, Mrs. Clare Ernst, Mr. Greg Klobe, Mrs. Michele Venable, Mrs. Mary Brutcher, Deacon Dick Coffman & Deacon Bob Smerek — I pray that your Christmas days may be filled with an abundance of blessings and love, even if those blessings and expressions of love are different than how we’ve experienced them before. I would like to also offer a special word of thanks to all those who helped decorate the church for Advent and Christmas.
As we once again enter into the mystery of God’s Incarnate Love, I offer you this Christmas blessing that I received from a colleague: May Christ fill your heart with love and sensitivity to all you meet; with a willingness to share the abundance of your labor and possessions with those in need; with a desire to go out of your way to comfort the lonely and shut-ins; with a need to break the silences of anger and resentments; with an urge to forgive those who have hurt you; and with the determination to respect the earth that God has provided for us during our pilgrimage back home. Shalom!
Fr. Chuck Barthel
In a spirit of hospitality, and because we are wearing masks,
please wear your name tag to Mass on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!
Parish News
Worth Repeating: A Christmas Gift from the Parish
Many of you may already be familiar with Matthew Kelly. If you are not, Matthew is from Australia and is the founder of The Dynamic Catholic Institute, a Cincinnati-based nonprofit organization, whose mission is to “re-energize the Catholic Church in America by developing world-class resources that inspire people to rediscover the genius of Catholicism.”
Since our interaction with one another has been limited due to the pandemic, I thought reading a book together as a parish might be a simple way to be connected with one another. The name of the book is I Heard God Laugh.
Copies of the book will be available both in the vestibule of Church and in the plastic bin outside the front door. They will be available on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day and on the weekend, December 26 / 27. Initially, I ask that you take only 1 book per household. If there are books leftover after December 26 / 27, feel free to take additional books.
Christmas Masses & Sign-Ups
If you are no longer able to attend one of our Christmas liturgies, please call the Parish Office before Noon on Wednesday, December 23 so we will not be expecting you. I have also asked Ann Garavaglia to close the ability for parishioners and guests to sign up for one of the Christmas Masses at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, December 23. This is so that the lists of people attending the Christmas Masses can be printed for our Hospitality Ministers. This doesn’t mean we won’t be welcoming others whose names weren’t on the list. They’ll just need to be added as they arrive.
Seating arrangements for Christmas as of 2:00 pm, Tuesday, December 22
4:00 pm > The Church (filled) – the Parish Hall – the Reilly Center
7:00 pm > The Church (filled) – the Parish Hall, if needed
9:00 am > The Church (filled) – the Reilly Center
11:00 am > The Church (filled) – the Parish Hall
When you arrive ...
See one of the hospitality ministers so that your name may be checked off on their list. (This is a great reason to find those name tags!) This is especially necessary for someone who didn’t have a chance to let us know you were joining us via Sign Up Genius.
Carols will be sung beginning at 15 minutes before each scheduled Mass time. Please plan on arriving with this in mind.
Attachments
There are 3 attachments for Christmas. The Worship Aid for the 2 Masses on Christmas Eve, the Worship Aid for the 2 Masses on Christmas Day, and the Catholic Kids Bulletin.
By Saturday noon, you will receive the Worship Aid and the Kids Bulletin for the weekend Feast of the Holy Family.
Day Is Done!
As we make the transition from Advent into Christmas, today's video combines the carol “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” with images from the Christmas events.
As another day comes to an end,may each of us have a restful and peaceful night and
a joy-filled Christmas season!
Fr. Chuck
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Staying Connected #52
Friday, December 18, 2020
Parish News
A Christmas Gift from the Parish
Many of you may already be familiar with Matthew Kelly. If you are not, Matthew is from Australia and is the founder of The Dynamic Catholic Institute, a Cincinnati-based nonprofit organization, whose mission is to “re-energize the Catholic Church in America by developing world-class resources that inspire people to rediscover the genius of Catholicism.”Since our interaction with one another has been limited due to the pandemic, I thought reading a book together as a parish might be a simple way to be connected with one another. The name of the book is I Heard God Laugh. Even before I read it, I thought this book just might have the message we need to hear this Christmas, especially in light of all that we have experienced over these past ten months. My thoughts were true and it’s an easy, engaging read.
Beginning this weekend — December 19 / 20 — copies of the book will be available both in the vestibule of Church and in the plastic bin outside the front door. They will also be available on Christmas Eve & Day and next weekend, December 26 / 27. Initially, I ask that you take only 1 book per household. If there are books leftover after December 26 / 27, feel free to take additional books.
Merry Christmas!
Fr. Chuck Barthel
Christmas Mass Sign-Ups as of 12/18/20
4:00 pm > 2 seats still available in Church / 120 in the Reilly Center / 40 in the Hall
7:00 pm > 17 seats are available in Church, which is all we will need to use.
9:00 am > 2 seats still available in Church / plenty of room in the Reilly Center & Hall. I would encourage folks to sit in the Parish Hall before sitting in the Reilly Center.
11:00 am > Church is at capacity / only 1 person is in the Parish Hall and 1 person is in the Reilly Center (Hospitality Ministers). Again, I would encourage folks to sit in the Parish Hall before sitting in the Reilly Center.
If you are no longer able to attend one of our Christmas liturgies, please call the Parish Office before Noon on Wednesday, December 23 so we will not be expecting you. I have also asked Ann Garavaglia to close the ability for parishioners and guests to sign up for one of the Christmas Masses on Wednesday, December 23 at 2:00 pm so that the lists of people attending the Christmas Masses can be printed for our Hospitality Ministers. This doesn’t mean we won’t be welcoming others whose names weren’t on the list. They’ll just need to be added as they arrive. At the 4:00 pm, the 9:00 am and the 11:00 am Masses they will be invited to join others in the Parish Hall or Reilly Center.
Attachments for This Weekend & the Week Ahead
This weekend there are 2 attachments. One is this Sunday’s Worship Aid and the other one is the Catholic Kids Bulletin.
There will be 2 Flocknotes sent out later this week. By Wednesday noon, you will receive the Worship Aid and Kids Bulletin for Christmas Eve & Day.
By Saturday noon, you will receive the Worship Aid and the Kids Bulletin for next weekend’s Feast of the Holy Family.
Advent 4.pdf
Catholic Kids Bulletin 122020.pdf
Day Is Done!
Music has this ability to help us remember certain events or experiences in our lives because we connect the music with our feelings and memories. For example, the hymn that many people associate with the season of Advent is “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” We’ll be singing all 7 verses of that classic Advent carol at our liturgies this weekend. The video for this coming Tuesday evening – Enya’s version of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” – will bridge the last days of Advent with images from the Infancy Narratives.
Sometimes musicians take the words of a classic and write them in a different style. That’s this evening’s music video, entitled “Emmanuel” by Steve Angrisano. The connection for me is this is the song we sang forthe recessional for my dad’s funeral celebrated on December 21, 2015.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night and
a grace-filled Advent season!
Fr. Chuck
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Staying Connected #51
Friday, December 11, 2020
Gaudete Sunday
The 3rd Sunday of Advent is called “Gaudete” Sunday, which is the imperative form of the Latin word “gaudeo” meaning “Rejoice!” There are at least two reasons for that title. Reason #1: The word “rejoice” can be found in either the first readings and / or the second readings that are proclaimed on the 3rd Sunday of Advent in all three Cycles of our Sunday lectionary. Reason #2: When the focus of Advent was more penitential in nature, this Sunday was a reminder that we have passed the half-way point of Advent and the remaining days of Advent grow fewer.
This is also the weekend when rose vestments may be worn if the parish has them. Noticed I said “rose” and not “pink.” Some folks, especially the liturgical police, get very particular about how this color is named.
As an aside, and depending on your source, did you know that there are anywhere between 13 and 20 colors of roses, and that each of the colors or shades have a particular meaning? Pink roses symbolize gratitude, grace, and joy. Overall, pink roses suggest a gentleness compared to the typical bright red rose. If you think about it, those are some of the very reasons why we celebrate Gaudete Sunday and its rose color!
Parish News
Christmas Mass Sign-Ups as of 12/11/20:
4:00 pm > 5 seats still available in Church / 125 in the Reilly Center / 40 in the Hall
7:00 pm > 45 seats are available in Church, which is all we will need to use.
9:00 am > 3 seats still available in Church / plenty of room in the Reilly Center & Hall
11:00 am > Church is at capacity / only 1 person is in the Parish Hall and 1 person is in the Reilly Center (Hospitality Ministers). I would encourage folks to sit in the Parish Hall before sitting in the Reilly Center.
Parish Reconciliation Service – Tuesday, December 15 – 7:00 pm
Our parish penance service is scheduled for 7:00 pm this Tuesday. Fr. Pete Schavitz, CSSR, Fr. Rich Heman and I will be available for individual celebrations of the Sacrament of Reconciliation after an opening prayer service.
Only 1 Attachment
With Mrs. Degenhart finishing her quarantine at home this weekend, regrettably I don’t have access to a Catholic Kids Bulletin for this weekend.
Grace Is Indeed Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
In light of Gaudete Sunday’s second reading from 1st Thessalonians,
for what are you grateful? For what are you rejoicing?
Day Is Done!
This evening’s tune offers a nice summary of the first reading from the prophet Isaiah. It’s called I Have Been Anointed and it’s performed by the Notre Dame Folk Choir, under the direction of Steven C. Werner.
For your listening pleasure this evening, there are two versions of the song, both performed by the same choir. The first version is recorded in the studio. The second version is celebrated outdoors as part of a three-week pilgrimage the Choir took to six Holy Cross Mission sites throughout Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya in 2019.As another day comes to an end,may each of us have a restful and peaceful night and
a grace-filled Advent season!
Fr. Chuck
In the recording studio...
In East Africa...
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Staying Connected #50
Friday, December 4, 2020
A Milestone!
When I started writing an update back in March, I never would have imagined that we would be sending 50 of these Nightly News / Stay-at-Home / Staying Connected updates to the parish! But here it is > #50 on December 4, 2020!
Here’s what I wrote for the first one dated March 23, 2020.
"In order to keep you up to date on things happening here at Mary, Mother, while at the same time limiting the number of emails you receive from the parish, you will occasionally be receiving a Flocknote entitled “The Nightly Update.” This is issue #1!- During this “stay-at-home” period, the hours that the office will be opened will be shorter, and primarily in the morning. Please call the parish office at 314-894-1373 before you drive to the campus, just to be sure that someone is here.
- The Parish Lenten Penance Service scheduled for Tuesday, March 31 has been canceled. In the upcoming Sunday’s bulletin, there will be an article on other options you have.
- The public liturgies of Holy Week and Easter have been suspended. We will be livestreaming them in the same way that we are livestreaming Sunday and weekday Masses. A new sign-up sheet asking for parishioners to represent the community will be posted next week.
- In case you receive a phone call from Mary, your mother > It’s really a group of parishioners who are putting their dialing fingers to work and reaching out to our parishioners via a phone call.
- Here is another intention to add to your prayer list: young couples like Katy & Nick, who have had to postpone their wedding ceremony that was originally scheduled to be celebrated here at the parish on April 18th.
May each of us have a restful night!"
Over these past 8+ months, I have learned how to do a lot of things with Flocknote, which certainly wasn’t on my “to do list” for 2020! Thanks for reading the updates - thanks for your replies and suggestions.
Parish News
Christmas Mass Sign-Ups as of 12/04/20:
- 4:00 pm > 2 seats are still available in Church / 130 in the Reilly Center / 45 in the Parish Hall
- 7:00 pm > 60 seats are available in Church
- 9:00 am > Church is at capacity / plenty of room in the Reilly Center & Parish Hall
- 11:00 am > 15 seats are available in Church
Tuesday, December 8
This day is the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Masses will be celebrated and livestreamed at 8:30 am and 7:00 pm. A separate worship aid is included with this Flocknote for these Masses. The parish campus is closed this day for the Holy Day.Tuesday, December 15
Our parish penance service is scheduled for this evening at 7:00 pm.Please remember to wear your masks!
And not just here at the Parish! Even with taking these precautions, over the past week some of the staff members have had to quarantine while they awaited test results for a family member who was showing symptoms.
4 Attachments
There are 4 attachments included with this Flocknote.- The Worship Aid for the 2nd Sunday of Advent
- The Catholic Kids Bulletin for Sunday
- The Worship Aid for Tuesday, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- The Catholic Kids Bulletin for Tuesday.
Grace is Indeed Amazing!
Grace #1 named: "I spent the day with two of my Grandkids who are six and eight. We went to the Dollar Store and they had a blast picking out a couple of toys. I had so much fun just being with them. I wish I could capture these years a while longer."
Grace #2 named: As of this past Monday, November 30, $6,325 (253 x $25 gift cards) has been donated for our St. Alphonsus “Rock” Church Giving Tree!
Day Is Done!
This evening’s tune offers a nice summary of this weekend’s readings.
It’s called Ready the Way and the composer is Bob Hurd.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night and
a grace-filled Advent season!
Fr. Chuck
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NOvember 2020 Updates
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Staying Connected #49
Friday, November 27, 2020
A New Season of Grace
Even though our sense of time may have changed over these past 8 months – what day is today? – the Church’s liturgical calendar once again invites us to begin a new season of grace. That new year begins this weekend with the season of Advent!
What might be helpful during these unprecedented times is to continue to do things we have done before. Here are some suggestions from the past for how to celebrate Advent 2020:
Place the Advent Wreath in a place of prominence in your home and light the candles of the Advent wreath for a time of quiet prayer.
Focus on different traditional Advent words each week, such as watchful, waiting, joy, hope, prepare, desire, or radiant light.
Join others for our parish’s virtual Advent journey “Bound for Bethlehem.” By doing healthy spiritual and physical activities each week, those activities will be converted into miles. They can be things you are already doing. There are pamphlets in the vestibule with more details.
Use the Little Blue Book for your daily reflections during Advent & Christmas. The books are on tables in the vestibules. They are also outside in a plastic container under the canopy near the front doors.
Place a “Jesus is the reason…” sign in your yard.
A New Opportunity for Advent – and Beyond!!!
Even prior to the pandemic and virtual learning taking place everywhere, many companies were focusing on the digital world and the internet as the way to make resources available to parishioners. Earlier in September, our parish purchased a subscription for a program called, FORMED, which is a division of the St. Augustine Institute, a catechetical institute based in Denver, CO. FORMED will provide us with a vast selection of opportunities to learn and grow in our faith lives, especially while we are being “safer at home.” Their site is full of programs, movies, books, for everyone in the family!
This program is free to all registered parishioners of Mary, Mother of the Church. Signing up is a simple three-step process. Once you have signed up, all of FORMED’s content is available to you!
To Signup: access their website using the link below (click the button)- Enter our parish zip code: 63128
- Select "Mary, Mother of the Church" and click "Next"
- Enter your name and email address and click "Sign up"
That was the easy part! The not-so-easy part may be feeling overwhelmed by so many choices. During the months of December and January, Cheryl Degenhart, our Director of Faith Formation, and a small committee will be putting together a suggested list of programs you might consider trying first. If you are the adventurous type, feel free to view some of the topics available from FORMED. If you want to wait for some suggestions, they will be coming your way soon.
For those who are interested, here is your first suggestion. FORMED is offering a Daily Advent Reflection for both adults and children entitled " The Road to Bethlehem." This reflection will be delivered directly to your inbox (if you sign-up for it). Following is their information sheet and another link to sign up for this Advent program. What a great way to journey through this Advent season!
PS: Although the titles are nearly the same, the FORMED program is not the same as the parish’s "Bound for Bethlehem" program.
Day Is Done!
This evening’s tune comes from the Taize Community in France.
Its repetitive nature is a nice transition into the Advent season.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night and
a grace-filled Advent season!
Fr. Chuck
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Staying Connected - Thanksgiving Edition (#48)
Thanksgiving 2020
Two Thanksgiving Day Prayers
If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is “Thank You”
that will be enough.Meister EckhartA Prayer of Thanksgiving
Holy and Living God,
in this Thanksgiving year of 2020,
when we may be separated from family and friends,
when it’s hard to travel and gather together
and celebrate Thanksgiving as we’ve done in the past,
help us to embrace what is.
Help us to give thanks within the uncertainty.
Help us to give thanks within our sorrow, within our fears.
In all things, may we open our hearts and give You thanks.
Amen.
Sandra Lucas
A Few Notes for Thursday…
If you had signed up to attend Mass on Thanksgiving Day,
but are no longer able to do so,
please call the parish office on Wednesday
so that your name can be removed from the list.
As a trial run for Christmas and contact tracing,
please see a hospitality minister as you enter
Church or the Parish Hall on Thanksgiving Day
so they can check off your name as you enter.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
Day Is Done!
Today's tune is a little old school ...
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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Staying Connected #47
Friday, November 20, 2020
My Isolation Has Come to an End!
As of 2:00pm Friday afternoon, I have not experienced most of the key COVID-19 symptoms – fever, aches, cough – for the past 72 hours. Since these were the signs my doctor had me watching for, I am able to leave my isolation quarantine. My plans are to resume parish work / presiding this weekend. Everyone reminds me to pace myself – that the fatigue hangs around for some time – and so, I will try to be on my best behavior.
Once again, I want to thank everyone for their prayers, thoughts, cards & emails over the past two weeks. Please continue to remember in your prayers our hospital workers, our teachers, our restaurant workers and all those who are considered essential workers.
Other Parish News
Yard Signs
This year we are selling “Jesus is the reason for the season” yard signs. The cost will be $5.00 each.
They will be on sale after all Masses this weekend November 21 / 22. 80 were sold this past week. Why not buy 4 and give 3 of them to your neighbors???
If you can’t make it to church, and would like a sign, please contact Dave Baranowski at [email protected].
Thanksgiving Day Mass
As a trial run for Christmas, there will be an additional 50 chairs set up in our Parish Hall for the 9:00 am Mass on Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving Sign-Up can be found with our regular Mass sign-up for the Parish.Christmas Masses
Our Sign-Up for all 4 of our Christmas Masses is active. With additional seating in both the Reilly Activity Center and the Parish Hall, we will have seats for 290 people at each of the Christmas Masses.The Food Drives
The Food Drives for both St. Vincent de Paul Society & St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish (“Rock Church”) and the annual Giving Tree for the Rock Church will be conducted in a different way this year. Specific instructions can be found on the last two pages of our parish bulletin and on the parish website home page.
Please Note: There is also a large box outside the doors of the Reilly Activity Center for those who would like to drop off canned goods at times of the day when the doors may be locked.Attachments
There are two attachments with this Flocknote. One is the Worship Aid for our Weekend Masses and the other is an activities page for our children entitled Catholic Kids Bulletin.
Day Is Done!
Before there was John Foley, Tim Manion, Dan Schutte, Roc O’Connor, Bob Dufford & John Kavanaugh (aka The St. Louis Jesuits) – before there was Ray Repp – there was Msgr. Martin Hellriegel.
Born in Germany in 1891, Msgr. Hellriegel migrated to America with his family as a child. Ordained a priest in 1914, he served for several years as assistant pastor at Saint Peter Catholic Church, Saint Charles, Missouri. For the next twenty-two years, he was chaplain to the Precious Blood Sisters in their motherhouse at O’Fallon, Missouri. His regular, carefully prepared sermons and instructions soon won them over to enthusiastic collaboration with his introduction of liturgical ideas of worship and celebration, so that before long O’Fallon became a sort of mecca for visitors from throughout the United States who had become curious about how this new liturgical movement could be put into practice. Skeptics, even if impressed by what they saw at O’Fallon, wondered however whether it would be equally successful if introduced into the average parish.
Such doubts received their answer when Hellriegel became pastor of Holy Cross Church on the outskirts of Saint Louis in 1940. There he labored for forty years, even after his official “retirement” when, though almost totally blind, he continued to celebrate daily Mass with homily, and spent time daily in the confessional. He died on April 10, 1981. Msgr. Hellriegel presided at the first Mass predominantly celebrated in English on August 27,1964, at what was then Kiel Auditorium. 12,500 attended that Mass.
At a time of the unrest and WWII in his native Germany, Msgr. Hellriegel wanted to make a statement of faith in his belief in the supreme authority of Jesus Christ over all. In 1941, Msgr. Hellriegel created a text based on an ancient hymn entitled “Laudes Regiae” – “the Royal Praises” and joined it with a hymn tune known as ICH GLAUB AN GOTT.8 7 8 7. And so was born the hymn “To Jesus Christ Our Sovereign King.”
This hymn is often sung for ordination and Chrism Mass celebrations in our Cathedral Basilica. The congregations of our Archdiocese sing this song with great strength. It’s also meant to be sung “big.” The following recording is taken from Pope Francis’s pastoral visit to our country in 2015. It’s the closing song for the Mass in Philadelphia.
You will hear 3 phrases throughout the hymn: Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus imperat! They are translated as Christ conquers! Christ reigns! Christ commands!
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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Staying Connected #46
Friday, November 13, 2020
COVID-19
7 Down / 7 to Go!
Today (Friday) is the half-way point for my time in quarantine / isolation. The best news I received this past week is that no one with whom I interacted the week prior to my testing have themselves tested positive. From what I am reading, everyone shows different symptoms and degrees of seriousness. My biggest symptom seems to be fatigue. I am wearing my mask and gloves in the rectory so often that I wonder if I could audition for the Blue Man Group! Because my sister lives nearby, she was able to drop off some groceries for me, so my refrigerator and pantry are well-stocked.
I want to thank everyone for their prayers, thoughts, cards & emails. Please continue to remember in your prayers our hospital workers, our other front-line workers and all those who considered essential workers.
One question I was asked was if I knew where I might have “caught” the virus, especially since I seemed to be very diligent and pro-active in doing the right things. I really don’t know. The only thing I can say is please continue to be prudent and practice all the things we need to do to protect others and ourselves as best we can from the virus being spread.
New County Guidelines
New guidelines were issued earlier today (Friday) for St. Louis County, that will go into effect on Tuesday, November 17. To the best of my knowledge, the only change that will affect us is that 10 is the maximum number of people who can attend a meeting. Our numbers for attending Mass remain the same at 25% of our seating capacity.There will not be PSR this Sunday, 11/15, nor this Wednesday, 11/18.
Encore!
Maybe now is a good time to once again listen to “Shelter Me” by Michael Joncas.
Other Parish News
Yard Signs
This year we are selling “Jesus is the reason for the season” yard signs. The cost will be $5.00 each.
They will be on sale after all Masses this weekend, November 14/15 and next weekend November 21 / 22.
If you can’t make it to church, and would like a sign, please contact Dave Baranowski at [email protected]
Thanksgiving Day Mass
As a trial run for Christmas, there will be an additional 50 chairs set up in our Parish Hall for the 9:00 am Mass on Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving Sign-Up can be found with our regular Mass sign-up for the Parish.Christmas Masses
Our Sign-Up for all 4 of our Christmas Masses is active. With additional seating in both the Reilly Activity Center and the Parish Hall, we will have seats for 290 people at each of the Christmas Masses.The Food Drives
The Food Drives for both St. Vincent de Paul Society & St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish (“Rock Church”) and the annual Giving Tree for the Rock Church will be conducted in a different way this year. Specific instructions can be found on the last two pages of our parish bulletin and on the parish website home page.
Attachments
There are two attachments with this Flocknote. One is the Worship Aid for our Weekend Masses and the other is an activities page for our children entitled Catholic Kids Bulletin.
A Message from Archbishop Rozanski
RE The McCarrick Report
The Archdiocese of St. Louis is saddened by the immoral acts of manipulation and coercion by former cleric Theodore McCarrick, as detailed in the 450-page report released by the Vatican earlier this week. It is painful to see how someone in McCarrick’s position within God’s Holy Church could carry out such criminal acts against those entrusted to his care.
Here we stand again at the foot of the cross, asking the Lord Jesus for forgiveness and guidance. As Jesus Christ made the ultimate act of reparation for the sins of others, it falls to me, as archbishop of St. Louis, and the priests of this archdiocese to do the same for the faithful of this archdiocese.
Once again, I want to apologize to you my brothers and sisters of the archdiocese of St. Louis. Be assured that we continue to take steps to ensure this does not happen again. Now is the time to focus on the victims — all victims of abuse — and to ask for their forgiveness and ask them to join us in finding their answers in Jesus and the Eucharist.
We also must speak to the Church as an institution, an institution that failed many people in this matter because of the faults of specific individuals and the culture of clericalism. The answer in helping to address this is a deeper collaboration with the laity — not changing who we are fundamentally but leaning on those with expertise in this area to prevent abuse of any kind from happening again in our Church. This shift is already taking place in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and support for the victims and for the faithful can be found on ArchSTL.org/promise.
Day Is Done!
Earlier this week, we celebrated Veterans Day, a day in which we recognize and thank all who have served their country in any of the branches of our armed forces. Originally, this day was called Armistice Day, which is commemorated every year on 11 November to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France at 5:45 am, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I. This cessation took effect at eleven in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918.
One of the perks of my isolating is that I have spent a lot of time at my computer. On Tuesday, I discovered this wonderful hymn which is often sung as part of the Festival of Remembrance / Armistice Day / Poppy Day in the Commonwealth. The hymn is called “I Vow to Thee My Country,” a poem written by Sir Cecil Spring-Rice. You may recognize the melody of the hymn. It is by Gustav Holst, from his Planets Symphony, the Jupiter movement.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
This weekend, a special word of thanks goes out to all of our Veterans!
Fr. Chuck
I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no questions, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.
And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace
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Dear Parishioners,
I don’t know about you, but over these past 8 months, I find myself to be very attuned when something doesn’t “feel right” in my body. One reason for that is because some things like soreness from exercising or drainage caused by allergies can seem like COVID-19 symptoms. Such was my experience this past week. Since Tuesday, something just didn’t seem right in my body. The only COVID-19 like symptoms I showed were that my body ached and I had an occasional dry cough. I had no temperature, shortness of breath or chills. However, with the recent increase of positive COVID-19 cases, last evening (Thursday) my internist recommended that I get tested, which is what I did today (Friday).
This afternoon, I went to a CVS that does a rapid test and the result was positive for COVID-19. The only instructions that were given to me were that I was to self-quarantine for 14 days. I then informed my internist of the results.
I have contacted the Archdiocese, and I await further instructions from the County Health Department. This afternoon the staff and I began to formulate and implement a response plan. Here is that plan.
Response
- I will be staying in the rectory and will not be coming into the public space of the parish.
- Fr. Coerver who lives with me is also doing self-quarantining until he is able to be tested.
- Effective immediately, the parish offices, the parish hall and the classrooms will be closed for 2 weeks through Friday, 11/20/2020. This allows us time to do a thorough cleaning.
- PSR classes for Sunday, 11/8, and Wednesday, 11/11, are canceled. A decision will be made at the end of the week if the classes for 11/15 and 11/18 will also be canceled.
- The Reilly Center and the Annex will remain open since I did not go into those buildings this past week.
- If you need something from the parish, Ann Garavaglia will regularly be checking her emails and voicemails.
- This afternoon I communicated with everyone that I have interacted with over the past week, except for those who attended Mass. Consider this Flocknote to be my communicating with you.
- For anyone who has attended Mass here since last Friday, October 30, if you begin feeling symptoms of COVID-19, please contact your doctor. If your doctor recommends that you receive a COVID-19 test, please let Ann know if the result is positive.
What about the celebration of Mass?
- As you know, our hospitality ministers and Greg have worked tirelessly to ensure the safest possible environment in Church. This includes sanitizing the pews after every Mass and other activities in Church, wearing masks at all times in Church, and ensuring that sanitizer is easily accessible. For these reasons, I believe that the spread of the virus by myself and other parishioners has been minimalized. Nevertheless, we must all remain vigilant.
- Masses will continue to be offered as they have been, both in Church and livestreamed. You will need to decide if you feel comfortable attending mass here in person.
- Because I was presiding at the Mass of Remembrance and a wedding on Saturday, Fr. Heman was already scheduled to preside at the 430p Mass on Saturday. After I received my results, Ann was able to get Fr. Heman and Fr. Pete Schavitz to cover Sundays’ masses. Consider us one of the lucky parishes. Finding priests to help out on such short notice is not that easy.
- I was supposed to be taking an intown stay-cation this week, so Fr. Heman was already scheduled to help us out. He and Fr. Pete will also preside next weekend and Fr. Heman will preside at the weekday Masses for the week of November 16.
Final Thoughts:
- The toughest phone call I had to make was to the bride whose wedding is scheduled for Saturday. Their wedding was originally scheduled for this past April. To say she was stunned is an understatement. Please pray for Katy & Nick. The good news is that Deacon Randy has come to the rescue and the wedding will be celebrated!!!
- When communicating with the vicar for priests on Friday, he told me that I was the 6th priest in that past 2 days who has tested positive for the virus. As I said earlier, our parish is one of the lucky ones who could find some help with Masses. Fr. Coerver had to cancel his weekend Masses at St. John’s.
- You will need to decide if and when you feel comfortable attending mass here in person.
- Since it has taken me quite a while to write this Flocknote, I am including the worship aid for this weekend’s liturgies and Catholic Kids Bulletin
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October 2020 Updates
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Staying Connected - #45
Friday, October 30, 2020
Sign-Up Genius
I am sure that all of us are looking forward to that day when we no longer are required to “sign up” for Mass, a funeral or some other large parish gathering. But until that day arrives, our Sign-Up Genius scheduler has truly been a blessing. I would like to draw your attention to a few important upcoming sign-ups.
Mass of Remembrance
There are still 40 seats available for our Mass of Remembrance on Saturday, November 7 at 8:30am. The Sign-Up will remain open until Thursday, November 5 at Noon.
Thanksgiving Day Mass
As a trial run for Christmas, there will be an additional 50 chairs set up in our Parish Hall for the 9:00 am Mass on Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving Sign-Up can be found with our regular Mass sign-up for the Parish.
Christmas Masses
Our Sign-Up for all 4 of our Christmas Masses “goes live” at 12:05 am on Sunday, November 1. With additional seating in both the Reilly Activity Center and the Parish Hall, we will have seats for 290 people at each of the Christmas Masses
Other Parish Items
- On the eve of the election, you are invited to join other parishioners in praying what is called the Patriotic Rosary. It will begin at 7:00pm in Church on Monday, November 2. This praying of the rosary will also be live-streamed.
- Since some of you may not be able to see the remembrance display of our loved ones in Church, those same photos – over 60 of them – are displayed on our parish website. A shout of “thanks” goes out to Michele, our parish nurse, Linda and Ann!
- The Food Drives for both St. Vincent de Paul Society & St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish (“Rock Church”) and the annual Giving Tree for the Rock Church will be conducted in a different way this year. Specific instructions can be found on the last two pages of our parish bulletin and on the parish website home page.
- As the weather has now turned cooler, the doors to the vestibule will no longer be propped open for either our weekend liturgies or our weekday liturgies. On the weekends, our hospitality ministers will hold the doors open for you, which will eliminate so many people touching the handles. Please continue to sanitize your hands as you enter the vestibule. As you leave the vestibule after Mass, please use your hips or tush to open the doors, if you can.
- This Friday, November 6, is the deadline for submitting any of your ideas for a silhouette of Mary which will be used for a logo for our Jubilee, memorabilia, etc.
- There are two attachments with this Flocknote. One is the Worship Aid for our Weekend Masses and the other is a new activities page for our children entitled Catholic Kids Bulletin.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing
A Grace Named: Recently, a good friend of ours died. Within two hours of her death, her daughter shared this news with many of our friend’s family members and friends. In her note, she asked us if we wanted to do something for her mom, to please sing a spiritual song with our whole heart and soul. Our friend’s daughter said that would be the nicest gift that we could give her mom right now.
What struck me was her request to sing with our whole heart and soul was the same as the Gospel’s request to love God with all of who we are. As I sang my song, I was in awe at all the voices praising God twice, as St. Augustine would say, on behalf of my friend. -KM
Day Is Done!
It is called a litany, a spoken or sung form of prayer consisting of a series of invocations or supplications, each followed by a repeated response. The litanies with which we are most familiar are the Lord, Have Mercy and the Lamb of God. This weekend, as we prepare the gifts and the altar, we will be singing a Litany of the Saints by John Becker.
I was familiar with 4 occasions for which the Litany of the Saints is sung: The Great Easter Vigil, when the font is to be blessed, Baptisms, Ordinations and Commendations of the Dying. I did a little more research and found these additional moments when the litany is spoken, sung or chanted.Entering the Conclave for Choosing a Pope Processions for Rogation Days
The Dedication of Church and / or Altar The Renewal of a Desecrated Church
A Religious Profession An Exorcism
The Blessing of an Abbot During the entrance procession
The Consecration of Virgins on the First Sunday of Lent.
The Gathering Song for a Funeral Liturgy During the procession to the cemetery
on All Hallows Eve
2 notes of explanation:
1) Rogation Days are days of prayer and fasting in the springtime. The purpose of the asking prayers were to make atonement to God for our collective transgressions, to ask for protection from calamities and to obtain a good and bountiful harvest in the fall.
2) The procession to the cemetery on All Hallows Eve: The community would light their lanterns and process from the village or town to the cemetery on this evening where, in addition to family members and friends, the martyrs and other holy men & women were buried. The community then would then keep vigil through the night in the cemetery before gathering for the Eucharist on All Saints Day.
My Reflections:
1) Even though the occasions when the Litany is sung, chanted or spoken are not very “common,” one of the reasons for including the litany is that is serves as a reminder that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. We call that the Communion of Saints.
2) A powerful memory that I have of the Litany of the Saints is when it was sung as my classmates and I lay prostrate in the sanctuary of the Cathedral Basilica prior to the invocation of the Holy Spirit and the laying on of hands. It helped create a certain mystical feel to the experience.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
And remember:
Think Big!
Fr. Chuck
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The "Yet-To-Be-Renamed" Update #44
Friday, October 23, 2020
Parish News
- The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will once again be celebrated at each of this weekend’s liturgies. To help with our preparations, please write the word “anointed” in the “My Comment” box when you sign up on Sign-Up Genius.
- There are two attachments with this Flocknote. One is the Worship Aid for our Weekend Masses and the other is a new activities page for our children entitled Catholic Kids Bulletin.
- FYI: The Catholic Kids’ Bulletin. Due to COVID-19 and the safety requirements in place for social distancing, we haven’t been able to celebrate the Liturgy of the Word for Children at the 9:00 AM Mass on Sundays. To help our families with younger children participate more fully in the Mass while at home, we invite you to download and print this bulletin attachment at home, and then help them work through the various bulletin activities sometime on Sunday.
- If you would like to have a picture of a loved one who has died included in our Remembrance display, please bring the pictures unframed and 5” x 7” or smaller to the parish office by Friday, October 30. See the bulletin for more details.
*due to copyright permission limitations, the Children's bulletin may not be posted on our website. If you would like to recieve a copy of the weekly Children's bulletin via email, contact the parish office.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?”
What is something new you might have done?
Maybe it’s the colors of fall!
Day Is Done!
In this weekend’s Gospel, when asked which is the greatest commandment, Jesus offers a two-part answer. The first part of the answer is based on the Shema, a prayer said by our Jewish brothers and sisters both in the morning when they awaken and at the end of the day before they sleep. This is the first prayer that Jewish mothers teach their babies. It also prayed as one keeps vigil at the bedside of a loved one. This prayer is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-6. “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength. Take to heart these words which I command you today.”
The second part of the answer is taken from Leviticus 19:18. “Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your own people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck.
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Stay at Home Update #43
Friday, October 16, 2020 Father Chuck is taking a break from this week's Update, and has asked me to send it. He will be back with Stay at Home Update #44 next week! - Ann Garavaglia
Parish News
- The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated during all of the weekend liturgies this weekend and next. To help with our preparations, if you would like to be anointed, please write the word “anointing” in the “My Comment” box when you sign up on Sign-Up Genius.
- For those who join us for Mass, please remember to leave your kneelers in the down position as you leave. This helps our hospitality ministers sanitize the church after Mass. (Thanks to all those ministers and staff members who faithfully carry out this ministry every day of the week!)
- Below you will find the worship aid for this weekend's liturgies.
Children's Bulletins
Due to COVID-19 and the safety requirements in place for social distancing, our children are missing out on Liturgy of the Word for Children that is offered at the 9:00 AM Mass on Sundays.
To help our families with younger children understand the Sunday readings, attached* is the Catholic Kids Bulletin.
Families can download and print the bulletin, then work together to complete the activities to reinforce the Sunday readings and learn about St. Francis of Assisi.- Cheryl Degenhart
*due to copyright permission limitations, the Children's bulletin may not be posted on our website. If you would like to recieve a copy of the weekly Children's bulletin via email, contact the parish office.
As we prepare for the Anointing of the Sick these next two weekends, I wanted to share with you a bit of infomation about Anointing. - Ann
"In the Church's Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising.
"The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.
"When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God's will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age."~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
Grace Indeed Is Amazing
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you
smile or say “ah” or “a-ha?”
What is something new you might have done?
Day is Done
Let us end this day with two beautiful songs I found as I searched for information on Anointing of the Sick.
The descriptions here are from the Oregon Catholic Press (OCP) website.
“Healed in Christ” is a song to accompany those struggling with illness, and their family and friends. From Sarah Hart’s new
album Sacrament. The lyrics are extraordinary as you’ll hear in the video below, and Sarah’s natural style leads her listeners
toward hope and great comfort in times of trial and difficulty.
Josh Blakesley’s song “We Come to You” from his album Waiting is a beautiful and thoughtful song of hope that draws the
listener to place their brokenness and their needs at the feet of Jesus who has the power to heal us and make us whole again.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!Ann Garavaglia
- The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated during all of the weekend liturgies this weekend and next. To help with our preparations, if you would like to be anointed, please write the word “anointing” in the “My Comment” box when you sign up on Sign-Up Genius.
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Parish News
- The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated during all of the weekend liturgies for the next two weekends, October 17/18 and October 24/25. To help with our preparations, please write the word “anointing” in the “My Comment” box when you sign up on Sign-Up Genius.
- As Deacon Randy mentioned in his bulletin column from Sunday, September 27, we have an opportunity to financially support our Archdiocesan permanent diaconate formation program, from which our parish certainly has benefitted over the years, through the ministry of Deacons Gene Caton, Red Bub, Dick Coffman, Bob Smerek and Randy Howe. As with the previous collections, you can make a contribution via Faith Direct, your parish envelope or a separate envelope.
- For those who join us for Mass, please remember to leave your kneelers in the down position as you leave. This helps our hospitality ministers sanitize the church after Mass. (A special word of thanks goes out to those ministers and staff members who faithfully carry out this ministry every day of the week!)
- This weekend Fr. Rich Heman will be presiding and preaching at the 4:30p Mass, as I am witnessing a marriage on Saturday afternoon at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. On Sunday, Deacon Randy will be preaching at the 9:00a and 11:00a Masses and I will be presiding.
- There are two worship aids for this weekend’s liturgies: one is for the 430p & 900a Masses and one is for the 1100a Mass.
A Virtual Pilgrimage
If you are like me, I am sure by now that you are tired of looking at the same walls, masks and walking trails. How about taking a virtual pilgrimage to Assisi? The group that I made my pilgrimage with 3 years ago (Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs) is offering 3 mini-pilgrimages in November to 3 different significant places in the life of Francis. Those places are: the Porziuncola, the little church where he had one of his conversion experiences, the Rieti Valley, where he wrote the rule for the community and created the first Nativity scene, and La Verna, where Francis received the stigmata. On each of these days, there is a zoom session at 1100a CDT to offer some background and a video to watch. In the evening, there will be another session to reflect upon the video you viewed.
If this little announcement perked your interest, send me an email and I will forward to you via email the information you will need to register for a little traveling in November.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing
Even though I haven’t been including this section in recent Updates, it doesn’t’ mean the questions aren’t worth thinking about.- What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile or say “ah” or “a-ha?”
- What is something new you might have done?
Day Is Done!
We end today with three Irish prayer blessings / songs. The first song is called “Be Thou My Vision.” Three centuries after St. Patrick died, a monk named Dallan Forgaill wrote the Irish poem, “Rop tú mo Baile” ("Be Thou my Vision), to remember and honor the faith of St. Patrick. Forgaill was later martyred by pirates, but his poetry lived on as a part of the Irish monastic tradition for centuries.
The second song is entitled “Christ Before Me/You.” It is also known as “The Prayer of St Patrick” or "The Breastplate of St. Patrick," which recognizes the closeness of Christ in every part of our lives.
The final blessing is taken from Numbers 6:24-26. God asked Moses to tell Aaron and the priests to pray this blessing over the people.
I have also included as an attachment a copy of the lyrics for “Be Thou My Vision.”
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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Parish News
- A word of thanks goes out to all who have taken the recent Christmas Mass survey. We received 345 survey responses, which will help us a great deal as we make plans for our Christmas liturgies. A second word of thanks goes out to all have responded to the appeals that were made for the Daughters of Mary from Tabora, Tanzania, our Missionary Co-op partner, and for those whose lives have been so affected by the hurricanes along the Gulf Coast and the fires out west. I will publish the dollar amounts received for both appeals in next week’s bulletin.
- A Health Reminder: If you are awaiting the results of a Covid-19 test OR you are awaiting the results for another member of your household, please remain self-quarantined until you receive the results. Moreover, if you do test positive, please remember to call the parish office as soon as you receive the results in case we need to do contact tracing or follow-up.
- There are two worship aids for this weekend’s liturgies: one for the 430p and 900a Masses and one for the 1100a Mass.
St. Francis of Assisi
Although this weekend the Universal Church celebrates the 27 th Sunday in Ordinary time, Saturday evening and Sunday are very special days for the Franciscan community throughout the world. On Saturday evening, they celebrate the “Transitus” – Francis’ passing from this life through death into eternal life. On Sunday, they celebrate his feast day. This year there is some additional significance to these days because Pope Francis will be in Assisi on Saturday to sign his most recent encyclical “Fratelli Tutti,” on fraternity and social friendship. He will then celebrate the Eucharist with restricted attendance at the tomb of St. Francis.
I find it hard to believe that three years have already passed since I was in Assisi for the celebration of these glorious days. In honor of St. Francis, this week’s update will have a very Franciscan flavor.
The Canticle of the Creatures
The Canticle of the Creatures is a hymn of praise that captures Francis's journey to God in and through the beautiful things of creation. For Francis, all creation became a theophany, a manifestation of the goodness of God. But the Canticle also represents a lifetime of conversion, as Francis strove to be a brother to all things and to praise God in the cloister of the universe despite his sufferings, feelings of abandonment and darkness. First composed two years before he died while he was laying ill in a small dark hut near San Damiano, Francis sang of the human family (brother-sister-mother) as the model for all relationships. The Canticle reminds us that we humans are as dependent on the elements of creation as they are dependent upon us. On his deathbed, Francis added the verses reflecting upon the end of his life.The text above is taken from Ilia Delio, OSF, "A Franciscan View of Creation: Learning to Live in a Sacramental World." Volume 2 of The Franciscan Heritage Series. Published by The Franciscan Institute, St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, NY, 2003.
This Weekend’s Musical Selections
Francis sang his Canticle in his native Umbrian dialect instead of Latin, thus composing the first great Italian poem. The very sounds of his words articulate the intensity of his love and praise for God made manifest in all God’s creatures. I have included a copy of the words of the Canticle in English as an attachment with this Update.
I have also included two sung versions of the Canticle for your listening pleasure. The 7-minute version is entitled “The Canticle of the Creatures” and is sung in English. The 10-minute version is entitled “Altissimu Signore” and it is sung in the Umbrian dialect.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
On the morning of October 4, there is
a parade from the Assisi town square to the Basilica of
St. Francis.
Arrival at the Basilica.
As you look to the left of the picture, there is a Cardinal in the balcony blessing the oil that was presented by representatives of one of the towns of Italy. This presentation is a great honor for the community. The oil, which is the first fruits of the harvest, is used for the candles that burn at the crypt of St. Francis.
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September 2020 Updates
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St. Vincent de Paul
Sunday, September 27 is the feast of St. Vincent de Paul, the secondary patron of our Archdiocese. Monsieur Vincent, as he is known, was born April 24, 1581, and died September 27, 1680. On of my favorite stories about Vincent is a description of a conversion experience early on in his priesthood. “The deathbed confession of a servant opened Vincent’s eyes to the crying spiritual needs of the peasanty of France. This seems to have been a crucial moment in the life of the man from a small farm in Gascony, France, who had become a priest with little more ambition than to have a comfortable life.” [Leonard Foley OFM] How quickly things changed for this man who became known as “the Apostle of Charity.”
St. Vincent embraced humble and grateful service to others, especially to those who are poor. Vincent’s concern was for the whole person > body, mind and spirit. This holistic approach to caring translates to all of the Vincentian and Daughter of Charity ministries – education, social services, health care, missions and spiritual formation.
Parish News
- Currently, we are asking for your financial support for two different groups of brothers and sisters who are need. One group is the victims of the hurricanes along the Gulf Coast and the fires in California, Oregon and Washington. The other group is our Missionary Cooperative Partner, the Daughters of Mary from Tabora, Tanzania. If you are able to make a financial contribution as this time, you can make a check out to Mary, Mother of the Church for either group or both groups. Write Fire / Hurricane Relief OR Missionary Co-op in the Memo line. You can also make a donation via Faith Direct.
- We’ve begun looking ahead as to how we will celebrate Christmas here at the parish based on the existing St. Louis County guidelines / restrictions and we need your input. There is a brief survey in this weekend’s bulletin asking if you think you will be coming to Mass for Christmas. There is a link for that survey on our parish website. A special Flocknote with the link is also scheduled to arrive on Friday afternoon. Finally, here’s another link to the survey. At the risk of overstating the obvious, your input is important.
- A Health Reminder: If you are awaiting the results of a Covid-19 test OR you are awaiting the results for another member of your household, please remain self-quarantined until you receive the results. Moreover, if you do test positive, please remember to call the parish office as soon as you receive the results in case we need to do contact tracing or follow-up.
- Next Saturday, October 3, 2020, we will be holding our second annual Parish Ministry Leadership Meeting. The meeting will start with prayer at 8:30 am in church, followed by a workshop on Evangelization and Leadership in the Church. We will conclude by 11:30 am.
There is still time to sign up to participate in the event, either by being present in person with a mask OR by livestreaming.
We are asking EVERYONE who plans to ATTEND OR LIVESTREAM to
sign up. (There is a signup option for in person and one for live stream).
Sign-Up to attend:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0d4bafab2da3fe3-parish3
Access via livestream at:
https://www.marymother.org/live-stream-of-our-mass
Day Is Done!
Whenever I think of St. Vincent and his love and ministry with and for the poor,
I often think of the following song, a liturgical classic by John Foley S.J.
John composed this song in 1978.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
Psalm 34 The Cry of the Poor by John Foley SJ - video
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Parish News
- Special collections: As you will read in this weekend’s bulletin, once again we have an opportunity to support other members of the Body of Christ who need our financial assistance. The two special collections mentioned are for the medical ministry provided by the Daughters of Mary of Tabora, Tanzania – this year's Missionary Plan of Cooperation Appeal partner – and for the victims of both Hurricane Laura & Sally in the Gulf Coast states and the victims of the fires in California, Oregon and Washington. If you would like to make your financial gift via check, please make the check out to the parish with either “Missionary Co-op OR Fire / Hurricane Relief” in the memo line. You can also contribute via Faith Direct.
national language of Tanzania.- We’ve begun looking ahead as to how we will celebrate Christmas here at the parish based on the existing St. Louis County guidelines / restrictions and we need your input. There is a brief survey in this weekend’s bulletin asking if you think you will be coming to Mass for Christmas. There is a link for that survey on our parish website. A special Flocknote with the link is also scheduled to arrive on Friday afternoon. Finally, here’s another link to the survey. At the risk of overstating the obvious, your input is important.
- A Health Reminder: If you are awaiting the results of a Covid-19 test OR you are awaiting the results for another member of your household, please remain self-quarantined until you receive the results. Moreover, if you do test positive, please remember to call the parish office as soon as you receive the results, in case we need to do contact tracing or follow-up.
Your Full-Service Parish!
Some of our younger students in the public schools have started to return to the classroom for face-to-face instructions while the older students are still doing virtual learning from home. Most of our Catholic schools are doing in-classroom learning. Half of our PSR students are attending classes in person on Wednesday evening or Sunday morning, while the other half are doing virtual learning.
So that our non-school-family parishioners might have a taste of what our school families are experiencing, the focus of this weekend’s “Stories / Videos with Fr. Chuck” is catechetical.Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur
Friday evening after sunset marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year, a 10-day celebration that begins with Rosh Hashanah (September 18 – 20) and concludes with Yom Kippur (September 27/28), the holiest day of the Jewish year. Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance. A popular ritual for reflection is to walk to a river or stream and recite special prayers of penitence. The Days of Awe culminate in the holy day Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement. On this day, Jews ask God for forgiveness for their sins.
One of the most significant rituals during Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the Shofar, or ram's horn. The shofar is also is blown to signal the end of Yom Kippur. Then the Jews are able to feast as they break their fasting.It Sounds Like...
In the traditional Temple / synagogue service, one hundred sets of notes are sounded during the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. The sets of notes that are played have a meaning to them.
TEKIAH is a pure unbroken sound that calls the people to attention. It would be in general the summons to listen to God, to receive from God the orders for the day.
TERUAH is a broken, staccato, trembling sound. It must be at least 8 notes, most make 9 blasts so as not to accidentally do too few. It typifies the sorrow that comes when we realize our misconduct and we desire to change our ways.
SHEVARIM is a wave-like sound of alarm.
TEKIAH GEDOLAH is a prolonged, unbroken sound.
What the sounds mean:
The Tekiah is sounded first to call our hearts to give attention and hear the following 'sound' of the Shofar message. It is followed by the Teruah which would then give God’s order to break off and away from every attachment that estranges us from God, and from our own purposes and present mode of life which is displeasing to God, and leave behind every worthless activity. The broken sound reminds us that we have a job of "breaking" to do as well – the breaking of our evil inclination. The Shevarim 'speaks' for the human heart initiating the call to repentance and godly sorrow of heart. The Tekiah Gedolah, which then follows, calls one to a new standpoint, a new attitude, of faithfully following God's way of life.Day Is Done!
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
It seems like everyone is looking for ways to proclaim their message and their beliefs, especially among our young people. Enjoy this explanation of Rosh Hashanah!
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Moments of Generosity
Once again, I want to thank you for your ongoing and generous Sunday Stewardship offerings that you continue to give to the parish, especially over the past 6 months. In addition to those who use our Faith Direct vendor or who use some type of automated payment plan with their financial institution, I want to thank all who faithfully drop an envelope off at the parish or mail it to the office.
We are in a window of time in which there are some additional requests for financial assistance being made, of which I want you to be aware. I know that your resources may be fixed / limited / that the pie is only so big. Hopefully, knowing what the upcoming requests are will help you discern how much financial support you might be able to give.
The Annual Catholic Appeal: This is simply a “thank-you.” As of Friday, September 11, our parishioners have pledged $83,659 to this year’s appeal! Our goal was $80,795. A special word of thanks goes out to Paul Schulte, our parish chairperson, and all who have helped him with follow-up calls to parishioners.
St. Vincent de Paul Society: As you have read either in the bulletin or from a recent Flocknote, our St. Vincent de Paul Society’s reserves are running low because of the additional needs that are out there due to the Covid-19 pandemic, furloughs and unemployment. In the month of August alone, the Vincentians have provided $9149 in assistance to our neighbors in need. You can support the work they do in our parish’s name via Faith Direct or by mailing a check to the parish.
Missionary Plan of Cooperation: As you will also read in the September 13 th Bulletin, we’ve been asked to spiritually and financially assist the Sisters from the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary in Tabora, Tanzania. The bulletin article explains what their specific ministry is. As always, you can make a financial gift to their ministry via Faith Direct or by check made out to the parish.
The Bishops Emergency Disaster Fund: As you know, Hurricane Laura in the Gulf and the fires in Washington, Oregon and California have left great losses and destruction in their aftermath. The Bishops of our country have a fund that distributes money to the people of these areas via local offices of Catholic Charities and / or Catholic Relief Services. This collection will be taken up in a few weeks.
Permanent Diaconate Collection: Through the years, our parish has been blessed through the ministry of 5 permanent deacons: Gene Caton, Red Bub, Dick Coffman, Bob Smerek and Randy Howe. In the early part of October, there is a special collection taken up that helps defray some of the costs involved with the formation of candidates for ordination. (22 deacons were ordained 2 weeks ago.) If you are able to contribute to that appeal, thank you!
Worship Aids
There are two worship aids for this weekend, one is for the 430p and 900a Masses and the other is for the 1100a Mass.
Grandparents’ Day
Although this may not be your “standard” Grandparents’ Day greeting, the following poem by Shel Silverstein invites us to reflect upon those special grandparent / grandchild moments.
The Little Boy and the Old Man
by Shel Silverstein
Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."
Said the old man, "I do that too."
The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."
"I do that too," laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, "I often cry."
The old man nodded, "So do I."
"But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems
Grown-ups don't pay attention to me."
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
"I know what you mean," said the little old man.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!Fr. Chuck
Eating Twinkies with God
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Labor Day 2020
Of the three summer holidays (Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day,) Labor Day seems to have the greatest disconnect between having a three-day weekend and the historical reason for the holiday. For those who may not know its history, Labor Day evolved out of decades of tension between workers and unions on one side, and employers and state security forces on the other at the end of the nineteenth century. During the last two decades of the 1800s, workers carried out some 37,000 strikes in the United States. This tension between the two sides culminated in the Pullman Railroad Car strike in Chicago in the summer of 1894.
For many years, Labor Day marked the end of summer and the beginning of another school year. However, with the school year starting earlier and earlier every year, Labor Day has become a three-day weekend 2 or 3 weeks after school has started. And then there is this new time known as “pandemic time,” where one day seems to blend into the next day. Moreover, since the mid 1950’s, the Church has celebrated its own “labor day” on May 1, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker.
In spite of how the celebration of Labor Day has changed from its inception, it still is important to take a few moments this weekend to remember all workers, no matter what their job or vocation may be. Ultimately, whatever we do in the “work world,” is a participation in the ongoing creation and creativity of God.For whom shall we pray this weekend?
- Blue-collar and white-collar workers
- Small business owners and CEO’s
- Those who are self-employed
- Those who have been furloughed
- Those who are unemployed or underemployed
- The working poor
- Those who need work experience
- Those who are interviewing for a new job
- Those working on the frontlines during this pandemic
- Those who have been named “essential” workers
- Those who are retired
Some quiet music to end the day…
Text:
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exultemus, et in ipso iucundemur.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.
Translation:
Where charity and love are, God is there.
Christ’s love has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.
Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
And may we love each other with a sincere heart.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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August 2020 UPdates
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This past week a number of saints’ feast days were celebrated, including St. Augustine of Hippo on Friday, 8/28. His personal conversion journey is truly a testimony to grace and the intercession of others. His influence can be found in his homilies, his teachings, and his biography. Over a hundred religious communities have used his Rule of Life as the foundation for the rules of their community. This weekend I offer for your reflection three thoughts authored by St. Augustine that I enjoy pondering
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On the Eucharist: “Behold what you are, become what you receive.”
On the Spiritual Journey: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
On the Desires of the Heart: “Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you, they would not have been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.”
You can never be vigilant enough….
Earlier this week there was an article in the Call Newspapers stating that the Affton zip code of 63123, along with Hillsboro and Festus were the new hotspots where folks were testing positive for the virus. Two weeks ago, those hotspots were in 63128, 63129, Fenton & Arnold.
On the Catholic side of things, a week ago a 6 th grader tested positive at Incarnate Word School. All of the 6 th graders were asked to stay home for 10 days. Earlier this week, one of the staff members at the 2 parishes in Franklin County who share the same staff – Mother of Perpetual Help in Villa Ridge and St. James in Catawissa – tested positive for the virus. They will not be celebrating public Masses for 2 weekends. Finally, the pastor at Immaculate Conception in Arnold was in contact with someone who tested positive, and so he has entered into the quarantine protocol. Their public mass schedule has also been reduced. That’s the only parishes I am aware of who have currently been affected by positive testing results.
So far, we have been incredibly lucky here at the parish. One reason for that has been the work of Greg, staff members and our hospitality ministers in sanitizing our pew areas and other hard surfaces. Another reason is because you have been wearing your masks, washing your hands and using sanitizer. (By the way, please read the excellent article by Dr. Tony Scalzo in this week’s bulletin, which is hearing the message from another voice!)
Other reminders:- If you are not feeling well, please do not come to the campus for any activity.
- If you are or someone you know has tested positive, please stay at home under a self-quarantine protocol until everyone is feeling better. Please call us at the parish office just to keep us in the loop.
- Please continue to use our Sign-Up Genius scheduler when you choose to attend Mass. It helps in case we need to do contact tracing.
I know that we are getting tired of hearing the same message over and over again. Just pretend I’m your parent or your teacher.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
Over the past 6 months, there’s been a new responsibility taken on by our hospitality ministers: sanitizing hands as parishioner arrive and leave, and sanitizing the pews after every Mass. I just want to say how grateful I am for all of the efforts of those 25+ parishioners!
A video to end the day…
As a way of recruiting new ministers, here’s the training video that we’ve used with our hospitality ministers. ;)
Cheers and Biology Labs
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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This Tuesday, August 25, is the feast of St. Louis IX, King of France, patron of our Archdiocese and patron of our City & County. It is also the day when Archbishop-elect Mitchell Rozanski will be installed as the tenth Archbishop of St. Louis. There is so much for which we can pray: for our local Church, for our City and for our new Archbishop. Please take some time over the next few days to include all of these intentions in your prayer time.
If I told you once, I told you ….
I know that we are getting tired of hearing the same message over and over again of wear a mask, sanitize & wash your hands often, and practice 6’ of social distancing. At the same time, I hope you don’t get tired of hearing me say “thank you” for how cooperative all of you have been in doing those things when you are here on our campus. Because of what you are doing, some non-parishioners have joined us for the celebration of the Eucharist precisely because we are wearing masks all the time and we have contact tracing available through our Sign-Up Genius scheduler. Again, I want to say thank you for your cooperation.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
Even though it’s been awhile since I included these questions
in our “Stay-at-Home” Update, they are worth being repeated.
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
A song to end the day…
Less you get your hopes up too high, no, it’s not as upbeat and colorful as last week’s “Mozart y Mambo.”
Rather, because we will be singing this song at the Preparation of the Table,
my selection is simply a different version of Michael Joncas’ “Shelter Me.”
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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Parish News- On Saturday, August 15, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption. Long ago and far away, when things were normal, this solemnity was a holy day of obligation, except when it occurred on a Saturday or Sunday. Even though the obligation to celebrate the Eucharist has been suspended since March, we are still going to celebrate this solemnity at 8:30am on Saturday morning. As always, please sign up via our Sign-Up Genius. The Mass will also be live-streamed.
- Please remember in your prayers all school administrators who are continually revising what their "return to school" plan will look like. This includes Cheryl Degenhart, our Director of Faith Formation, who has developed several different plans for PSR this year, depending on the latest guidelines she receives from St. Louis County, the Office of Catholic Education & Formation and the Mehlville School District. Many families look to be taking advantage of a new homeschool option. What would be most helpful to Cheryl is if you can return your PSR registration forms ASAP.
- There are two worship aids for the liturgies this weekend. One is for the 8:30am Saturday morning liturgy for the Solemnity of the Assumption, and the other one is for the all of the other weekend liturgies.
With a Heavy Heart...
- You may have recently read or heard that over the past two years there have been multiple credible accusations of sexual abuse and spiritual manipulation made against the composer/songwriter David Haas, dating back to the 1980’s. Some of the accusations have been made by women who were age 14 when Mr. Haas first started to take an interest in them.
- Mr. Haas lives in the Minneapolis area and the Archdiocese of St. Paul / Minneapolis is no longer providing Mr. Haas a letter of suitability. It also has announced that it will not use Haas’ compositions at archdiocesan Masses. GIA, his publisher, has suspended its sponsorship and publishing relationship with Mr. Haas. OCP, whose hymnals we use, are in the process of deciding if they will continue to include his songs in their 2022 hymnbooks.
- Understanding the serious nature of these accusations, the Archdiocese of St. Louis, along with nine other dioceses, has asked all parishes to suspend the use of all David Haas music pending the results of the investigation. Nate has begun to do that here at our parish.
- As always, let us first and foremost continue to pray for and compassionately respond to any and all victims of sexual abuse, grooming and manipulation. Let us also pray for so many people who have found Mr. Haas’ music a source of inspiration, consolation and hope and who are devastated and / or angered by this information and decision. Finally, let us pray for all who have been and will continue to be confronted with these issues. May the truth be discovered; may justice be enacted.
- If anyone would like to talk more about this issue, please reach out to Nate Jackson, our Director of Liturgy and Music, or myself.
A Final Word or Two…
In the midst of some heavy reflections I shared in this update (what does the safe return to school look like, the news about David Haas) and the continued reality of many positive COVID testings, I offer something very light and upbeat for the end of the day.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
" target="_blank">Mozart Y Mambo
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Since Father Chuck is away for a well-deserved, much-needed vacation, he has asked me to send this week's Stay at Home Update.
Ann
In this Sunday's Gospel, Peter and the apostles were on the water in stormy seas, and see Jesus walking toward them on the water. Peter cries out "Lord if it is you, command me to come to you." Jesus does, and Peter begins to walk on water, only to realize what he is doing and become frighterend, and begins to sink.
How often do we lose sight of God, try to "go it alone" and begin to sink, when all we really needed to do was keep our eye on Him, and trust in God's loving care?
The comic below made me chuckle. While it is a light-hearted look into our human frailty, is so true for so many of us.
This week, how can we increase our trust in Him who loves us and is with us in all things?
We are grateful to all of you who faithfully support our parish through Faith Direct, or by mailing your offertory, or dropping it into the baskets on the weekend.
Know that, even with less activity at the parish, we still have all our usual bills and expenses - just as we know you do! Your continued generosity makes it possible for us to continue our mission - in spite of Covid-19!
Please remember in your prayers our dearly departed
whose Memorials/Funerals are in the coming days:
Virginia (Ginny) Bippen - Monday August 10 at 10:30 am, and will be livestreamed on our website and YouTube.
Pat Demuth - Saturday August 22 at 10:30 am, and will be livestreamed on our website and YouTube.
See below for more information and signup.
Jan Tafra - Saturday August 29 at 10:30 am, and will be livestreamed on our website and YouTube.
Many of you have asked how you can attend the Memorial Mass on August 22nd at 10:30 am for Pat Demuth, who died July 14th.
Pat's Memorial Mass will be livestreamed for all to view, on our website and on YouTube (just as our daily and weekend Masses are).
For those who would like to attend in person, we have set up a SignUp on our SignUp Genius account which will allow 40 of our parishioners to attend (see the button below) This signup is limited in quantity, to allow room for Pat's family and friends from outside the parish.
That signup is going live this evening (Friday Aug 7 at 7pm).
Please remember in your prayers, those who died or were injured as a result of the explosions in Beirut,
their families, all who are working to search for the missing, and all whose lives and livelihoods were impacted.
As another week comes to a close,
how God has been with you each day?Have a blessed week,
Ann Garavaglia
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July 2020 Stay at home updates
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Parish News
- Earlier this week, St. Louis County Executive Page posted revised guidelines and restrictions regarding the number of people who can be together for an event or worship experience. The changes do not have any impact on the way the guidelines are being implemented here at the parish, since we never increased seating capacity from 25% to 50%.
- Please keep in your prayers all school administrators who are continually revising what their "return to school" plan will look like. This includes Cheryl Degenhart, our Director of Faith Formation, who is developing several different plans for PSR this year, depending on the latest guidelines she receives from St. Louis County, the Office of Catholic Education & Formation and the Mehlville School District.
- There are two worship aids for the liturgies this weekend. One is for the 430p and 9:00a liturgies, and the other one is for the 1100a / Praise & Worship Ensemble.
St. Ignatius Loyola St. Alphonsus Liguori
1491 - 1556 1696 - 1787
On Friday and Saturday of this week, we celebrated the feast days of two saints who lived 200 years apart. Each had a significant impact in the life of the Church through their own ministry and the religious communities they founded. Friday,
July 31, was the feast of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits and Saturday, August 1, is the feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorists. As this day comes to an end, here are prayers associated with both of these saints.
Suscipe
– St. Ignatius
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All that I have and possess.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; dispose of it
wholly according to Your will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
That is enough for me.
The Good Thief Prayer
– St. Alphonsus
Lord Jesus,
Look upon me as the good thief,
who hung on the cross
next to You at Calvary.
A sinner, paying for his crimes
but who recognizes your divinity
and begs for mercy and forgiveness
and asks:
“Jesus, remember me
when you come into your kingdom.”
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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The weekend we welcome Michael James Mette and his family (MJM7) to our parish! MJM7 is a Catholic family band comprised of Michael James Mette and 4 of his daughters: Gabriella (15), Trinity (14), Charity (12), and Cecilia (11).
From the MJM7 website: Seeing a need in the church for relevant music and joy-filled faith, Michael began traveling the United States with his family sharing his music and speaking. That was eight years ago. Since then, the ministry has evolved into a Catholic family band that creates bridges and unites communities. The music reaches out of the Church and invites people into a deeper relationship with Jesus.
Michael and his family were with us for the weekend of March 3 / 4, 2018. As they did last time, MJM7 will be our music ministers for all three of our weekend Masses.
There will also be a concert at 7:00pm on Sunday evening in Church, with seating limited to 80 people. Just as we do for Mass, please sign up via Sign Up Genius, wear your masks and sit in the designated social distancing spots in Church.
The concert will be livestreamed. You can join us just as you do for Mass, via the parish website, YouTube & Facebook. https://marymother.org/
We have an opportunity to support Michael and his family’s music / evangelization ministry through a free will offering. There will be envelopes available in Church throughout the weekend for the offering. If you would like to donate by check, make the check payable to “Mette Family Ministries.”
You can also make a donation via their website: https://mjm7.band/
As the numbers continue to grow each day,
please keep in your thoughts and prayers:- all those who have tested positive for the virus,
- their family members,
- all health care workers,
- all who are involved in research,
- and all other essential personnel.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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Adapt – Adapt – Adapt!
VBS and the Steubenville Experience at Missouri State have always been two very important summer activities here at the Parish, which, of course, had to be “canceled” this summer because of the various precautions that need to be followed in this time of the pandemic. However, the reason I put the word canceled in quotes is because various leaders of the parish have put together an adapted VBS and Steubenville experience for our children and our teens.Virtual Steubenville
Our teens and leaders will be gathering this weekend in the Parish Activity Center for a virtual Steubenville experience. The PAC has been transformed so as to make it conducive for praying, singing and sharing. Even though they will be returning home to sleep, they will be back here on Saturday morning and Sunday morning. Here’s a taste of what some of their praise and worship time looks like.
https://youtu.be/mLWYpXoal1MVBS at Home
Through the initiative of Becky McDonnell and a group of volunteers, a packet of material has been put together for our families so that they could have a VBS experience at home this summer. Packets have been prepared which contain activity sheets along with a CD with some of the favorite VBS songs from the past. Over 100 packets have been made for our children and grandchildren, which shows an amazing interest and love for what the VBS experience is. Here’s a sample of one of those songs.
https://youtu.be/KaquDOvwLNQThanks to all who made these activities happen!
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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By the numbers…
This weekend marks the 8th week since we have returned to the public celebration of Mass throughout the Archdiocese. The attendance at our weekend liturgies continues to grow. The first weekend there was a total of 105 parishioners who attended the 3 weekend Masses. We have now begun to average 155 parishioners attending each weekend. There are also approximately 475 people who are participating in the liturgy via livestreaming.
There is room for 80 parishioners at each Mass, which does not include the 10 liturgical ministers. Our average attendance at the 4:30p is 55, at the 9:00a, it is 60, and at the 11:00a, it is 40. So, if you’re feeling more confident in going outside your home, please consider joining us in person for the weekend liturgies.
For our weekday liturgies, our attendance is between 25 and 40 on any given day. An additional 85 people participate via our livestream
Reminders for Attending Mass at Our Parish- Using our Sign-Up Genius scheduler allows us to have an attendance record in case we need to do contact tracing.
- You have been very conscientious about wearing your masks the entire time you are at Mass. Thank you for being so cooperative.
- We have additional masks available for anyone who may have forgotten theirs.
- You are encouraged to use hand sanitizer as you enter and leave church.
- For the weekend liturgies, please print a copy of the worship aid at home and bring it with you. We have a limited number available, in case you forgot or can’t print it at home.
- If you brought your Sunday stewardship offering, you can place it in the basket as you enter church.
- Sit in front of the numbers on the pew backs.
- For receiving Communion, the Body of Christ will be brought to you as you remain standing at your pew.
- Please leave your kneelers in the down position as you leave church. You can leave your worship aid in a basket at the doors of church.
- It would help eliminate some congestion in church if the folks who are sitting in the section of pews by the music ministry section and the section of pews left of center exit the door by the St. Joachim Room. Those who are sitting in the section of pews right of center and along the wall with the Stations of the Cross can then exit through the middle doors of church, one section at a time.
- Please wait to chat with others until you are outside.
For your listening and viewing pleasure...
On Saturday, July 11, we join with members of the Benedictine, Cistercian and Trappist communities throughout the world in celebrating the feast of their founder St. Benedict. Benedict’s vision was to bring together various men under his Rule and women under the leadership of his sister Scholastica to live a common life grounded in liturgical prayer, study, and manual labor. The communities who embraced his Rule have had and continue to have a significant impact on both society and the Church. The following video invites each of us to enjoy their prayer, their music and their architecture.https://youtu.be/CBwh1OXw6uI
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus
(Liberty Enlightening the World)
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land:
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost, to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Parish Activities
Eucharistic Adoration returns this Tuesday, July 7th. Our schedule will be Tuesday 9:00am to 8:00pm, Wednesday 9:00am to 7:00pm, and Thursday 4:00pm to 9:00pm. Those arriving after 4:45pm will need to know the door code to enter the building. Beginning July 7, Adoration will return to the Caton Chapel.
With the return of our scheduled Masses and Adoration times, the Church will no longer be open for the additional times for prayer as it has been during the early months of the pandemic. Of course, you can always pray in church during the office business hours, when a staff member can open the office doors for you
Pickleball is returning July 6th. There are specific safety requirements that we ask all pickleball players to follow. They are posted on the parish website. Just like attendance at Mass, ALL PLAYERS MUST SIGN UP to play via Sign-Up Genius. Play is still restricted to Parishioners and their guests
Sharing Your Treasure
ACA: As of July 2, we have received $60,166 in pledges, which is 68% of our goal. 226 of our pledge cards (20%) have been signed and returned. Thank you very much for your returning your signed pledge cards!
Sunday Stewardship Offering: During these past months of staying at home, one of the great blessings of Faith Direct, our online stewardship vendor, is that we continue to receive a consistent stream of revenue for the ongoing ministry and operation of our parish.
Even with that source of revenue, we are still dependent upon the envelopes that are mailed or dropped off at Mass or the Parish Office. Based on a very conservative revenue projection for ’20 ’21 because of the pandemic, our operating budget for the fiscal year that just began on Wednesday, July 1, is a $50,xxx deficit. The good news is that because we were able to receive one of those forgivable small business payroll loans, we will be able to roll over additional savings from the concluding fiscal year to the current fiscal year. Even with that blessing, we still need your ongoing financial support of the parish. Thank you!
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
For your weekend listening pleasure: My Country 'tis of Thee by Acappella
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEIpUi9o9Mw
May you have a safe and happy Fourth of July!!
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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JUne 2020 - Stay at Home UPdates
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"Sometimes"
by the Carpenters
(an adaptation)Sometimes, but not often enough,
we reflect upon the good things of life
and those thoughts always center
around those who mean so much to us,
who for so many years have made us very happy.
And then we remember the times we might have forgotten to say
" thank you."
Ken – Mary Ann – Ed:Thank you very much for your many years of ministry and service
in our Parish and for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.Enjoy your retirement!
This Weekend’s Liturgies
A word to the wise: As of 10:20am on Friday morning, there was 1 seat available for the 4:30pm Mass, 3 seats available for the 9:00am Mass and 56 seats available for the 11:00am Mass. If you would like to join us this weekend for our farewell blessing for Ed, Ken & Mary Ann, please consider signing up for the 11:00am Mass. The music and blessing will be the same at all three Masses.
Please remember to print your worship aid at home and bring it with you to Church
Communion to the Homebound
We have received permission to begin bringing the Eucharist to our homebound parishioners, with certain precautions. If anyone would like to receive Holy Communion, please call the Parish Office, Michele Venable, our Parish Nurse or Gary Leiendecker. Here are the guidelines / precautions:- The Communicant and the Extraordinary Minister might consider meeting outside on the porch or deck, if the Communicant feels comfortable doing this.
- The Extraordinary Eucharistic minister must wear a mask at all times.
- Communicants should wear masks, with the exception of the moment of receiving Holy Communion.
- Hand sanitizer is to be used by the Minister both prior to and after touching the consecrated Host.
- Social distancing should be adhered to in all cases outside the actual distribution of Holy Communion.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
As there seems to be a significant spike in the number of reported positive cases of the virus, perhaps it’s worthwhile to once again listen to the prayerful words of Michael Joncas’ Shelter Me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3KifN7Jfpc
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is
'What are you doing for others?'”Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Although these thoughts are from another time and place,
for me, they certainly are life lessons my dad taught me.
To all the men of our parish, Happy "Father’s" Day!
Phase 2 Guidelines for the Public Celebration of Mass
This past week I received from the Archdiocese the latest guidelines for the public celebration of Mass. As I read the guidelines, the change that will affect us the most is that we are now allowed to bring Holy Communion more frequently to our parishioners who are homebound.- Please continue to let us know you are planning to attend either a weekend or a weekday celebration of the Eucharist by using our Sign-Up Genius scheduler.
- Even though most counties have increased their attendance capacity to 50% of the seating capacity, we are being asked by the Archdiocese to maintain social distancing of six feet. Therefore, we remain limited to having a total of ninety people attending any given Mass. That number includes the 10 ministers for each weekend liturgy.
- You are still required to wear your mask while you are in Church. You may remove your mask to consume the Body of Christ.
Holy Communion for Those Who Are Homebound- The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion must wear a mask at all times.
- Communicants should wear masks, with the exception of the moment of receiving Holy Communion.
- Hand sanitizer is to be used by the Minister both prior to and after touching the consecrated Host.
- Social distancing should be adhered to in all cases outside the actual distribution of Holy Communion.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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Three Reflections That Offer Different Perspectives for This Solemnity
Not one prayer – not one reflection – not one song can fully express this amazing gift that we are invited to receive and become!
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds conceal me.
Do not permit me to be parted from you.
From the evil foe protect me.
At the hour of my death call me.
And bid me come to you,
to praise you with all your saints
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Banquet Can Begin NowWe cannot love God unless we love each other. And to love each other, we must come to know each other.
As the early disciples did, we know and recognize Him in the breaking of bread. We also know and recognize each other in the breaking of bread. For in the breaking of bread, we celebrate with others His presence in our lives, in each other.
The kingdom of heaven is said to be a banquet. That banquet can begin now, even with only a crust, wherever people yearn to love and know God, and each other. The kingdom of God is at hand!- Dorothy Day(The Prayer Card from Fr. Chuck’s Ordination
“To fight racism, Catholics must hunger for justice
like we do for the Eucharist.”America Magazine Editorial – June 22, 2020 issue
Being ConnectedThanks to all who sent cards to our candidates for Confirmation and Eucharist. Confirmation is being live-streamed at 1:00pm on Saturday, June 13. First Communion is being live-streamed at 2:00pm on Sunday, June 14.
Our candidates for Confirmation are:
Elizabeth Catherine Brown – Alyssa Veronica Grabian – Brendan Luke Griffith
Joey Mark Haberberger – Blake Francis Houston – Nick Thomas Jauer
Gavin John McDonnell – Mia Angela Nicoletti – Vitoria Catrina Ramos
Our candidates for Eucharist are:
Lizzie Ahlheim – Keely Barrett – Tony Castaldi – Vinny Gilbers – Zachary Huey
Grant Kirschner – Giovanni LiCavoli – Gavin Murray – Charlie Nava – Evelyn Selzer
Reid Van Maaren – Nolan Yoffie – Ethan Young
Updates from the Parish
On Friday, St. Louis County, Jefferson County and St. Louis City announced timelines for the lifting of restrictions due to COVID-19. Since our campus is in St. Louis County, I will be monitoring those changes to see what impact they will have on our parish. I expect to receive revised guidelines from the Archdiocese sometime within the next two weeks. My best guess is that we will not be implementing any new changes until at least the first weekend of July. In the meantime, I would like to highlight some of the reminders I wrote about in the current edition of the bulletin. Here is a link to the parish bulletin, in case you would like to read the complete article. https://marymother.org/ You can find the current bulletin under the News tab.
- Please continue to let us know you are planning to attend either a weekend or a weekday celebration of the Eucharist by using our Sign-Up Genius scheduler.
- There are 2 reasons why signing up is necessary. First of all, I / we take very seriously the limitation on the number of people we are allowed to have seated in our Church. Secondly, it’s a helpful resource to have in case we must do any contact tracing.
- Please remember to print your worship aid at home and bring it with you to Mass.
- Please remember to leave your kneelers in the down position as you leave Church. This helps the hospitality ministers and Greg when it comes to sanitizing the Church after Mass.
- I am also very grateful for your cooperation when it comes to wearing your mask at Church. Please remember to cover your mouth and your nose with your mask.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
2 Musical Reflections for This Weekend
A Classic, originally composed for this Feast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tufbM2TJoBs
A Variation on a Classic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vSM0z6Wsj8
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!Fr. Chuck
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O most holy Trinity,
Undivided unity,
Holy God, mighty God,
God immortal be adored.Refrain from O God, Almighty Father
Being Connected
Next weekend, some members of our parish community will be receiving two of the Sacraments of Initiation. Our 8th grade students will be confirmed on Saturday, June 13 at 1:00pm and our 2nd grade students will participate fully in the Eucharist for the first time on Sunday, June 14 at 2:00pm. Because of social distancing seating, both celebrations will be limited to immediate family members.
There are two ways that the parish community can be connected with our young people next weekend. One way is by praying for them and / or viewing the celebrations which will be livestreamed via our parish website link.
The second way to be connected is by sending a card or note to one or two of the candidates for Confirmation and Eucharist. Here are the names of the candidates. You might want to share with them a thought about what the Eucharist means to you or what you might remember about your Confirmation. Either mail the note or card to the parish office or drop it off sometime this week by Thursday. We’ll make sure that the candidates receive their cards and notes.Candidates for Confirmation
Elizabeth Catherine Brown
Alyssa Veronica Grabian
Brendan Luke Griffith
Joey Mark Haberberger
Blake Francis Houston
Nick Thomas Jauer
Gavin John McDonnell
Mia Angela Nicoletti
Vitoria Catrina RamosCandidates for First Eucharist
Lizzie Ahlheim
Keely Barrett
Tony Castaldi
Vinny Gilbers
Zachary Huey
Grant Kirschner
Giovanni LiCavoli
Gavin Murray
Charlie Nava
Evelyn Selzer
Reid Van Maaren
Nolan Yoffie
Ethan Young
At a Loss for Words
As our nation has had to confront a second pandemic over the past two weeks, you may find yourself at a loss for words when it comes to praying. These words from Eucharist Prayer for Reconciliation II might be a good place to start.
Though the human race
is divided by dissension and discord,
yet we know that by testing us
you change our hearts
to prepare them for reconciliation.
Even more, by your Spirit you move human hearts
so that enemies may speak to each other again,
adversaries may join hands,
and peoples seek to meet together.
By the working of your power
it comes about, O God,
that hatred is overcome by love,
revenge gives way to forgiveness,
and discord is changed to mutual respect.
Holy and healing God,
take away everything
that estranges us from one another.
Above all else,
may this change of heart
begin with me.
Amen!
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?From a parishioner: The attached photo is an amaryllis that just bloomed this past week. I had ignored it in the basement all winter and discovered it had sprouted a bloom, so I brought it upstairs into bright light, watered it, and voila! It has most gorgeous flowers. The beauty of God and the earth is a gift to lift our hearts, especially in these days.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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May 2020 - CoVID-19 Updates
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Monday is our Parish Feast Day. As of 2:30pm on Sunday afternoon, 30 people have signed up to join us for the celebration of the Eucharist on Monday. If you are not able to join us for Mass, either in person or via live stream, please consider setting aside some time during the day to pray the following prayer, to listen to the song “O Mary of the Promise” and / or to pray for our parishioners and our parish.
A Prayer in Honor of Mary, Mother of the Church
Adapted from Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary
All-powerful and ever-living God,You have given to the Church
a model of discipleship in our Blessed Mother.
She is the daughter who listens,
who embraces your words with joy
treasuring them in the silence of her heart.She is the woman of prayer
who sings of your mercy in her canticle of praise,
who shows concern for the bride and bridegroom of Cana
and intercedes for them with her Son,
who prays with the apostles in oneness of mind and heart.She is the Mother,
who gives birth to your Son
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
and at the foot of the cross
is proclaimed as mother
of the people of the New Covenant.She is the disciple who keeps vigil,
awaiting the resurrection of her Son
with unwavering hope
and looking forward to the coming of the Holy Spirit,
with steadfast faith.May we embrace this woman of faith in our lives
just as the beloved disciple welcomed her into his home.O Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!
-------------------------------"O Mary of the Promise"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emCUFANQeJI
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
From a friend: I usually laugh to myself when we are invited to verbally offer the sign of peace to those around us as I sit in front of my computer all alone. This morning I somewhat chuckled and turned to each side of my chair as if to share peace. It was then that I was struck with the thought that I am sitting in this room (my office) filled with pictures and binders of my many ancestors (as I work on my family’s genealogy.) I am reminded that we are part of the communion of the saints and that I share peace with them as much as I share peace at other times with people gathered around me. All of these ancestors have “come alive” to me through the stories and information of their lives.
As another day will soon come to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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Come, Holy Spirit,
from heaven shine forth with your glorious light.
Veni Sancte Spiritus.
Come from the four winds, O Spirit,
come breath of God;
disperse the shadows over us,
renew and strengthen your people.
Veni Sancte Spiritus.
Kindle in our hearts the flame of your love
that in the darkness of the world
it may grow and reach to all forever.
Veni Sancte Spiritus.Veni Sancte Spiritus – the Taize Community
Reminders for this weekend:
One of the reasons signing up for a specific Mass time is important is not only because there are a limited number of seats available, but, if heaven forbid, someone tests positive for the virus, we would have a list which could assist in contact tracing.
Each household needs to schedule themselves for a particular Mass via Sign Up Genius. You can access this sign up by means of our parish website or by calling the parish office during weekday business hours.
Everyone must wear a mask while they are at Church.
Please bring a printed worship aid with you from your home if you are able. They can be found as an attachment with this stay-at-home update.
The hospitality ministers are ready to offer assistance and to answer your questions.
Finally, if you have concerns about the number of people attending the weekend Masses, please consider joining us for a weekday Mass at 8:30 am. We’ve been averaging around 25 people for those Masses.
Planning Ahead
- Monday, June 1, is our parish feast day. There will be a special worship aid sent out on Sunday afternoon.
- Confirmation will be celebrated on Saturday, June 13 at 1:00 pm. First Communion will be celebrated on Sunday, June 14 at 2:00 pm. Seating for both celebrations is limited to the family members of those receiving these sacraments.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
From a parishioner: I have seen so many people walking their dogs, kids riding bikes and people just walking in the neighborhood, that I have never seen before, and waving! It’s almost like it was when we moved into the subdivision over 40 years ago. People are a lot more friendly, which is a good thing!
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
This weekend, as we celebrate the beginnings of the missionary activity of the Church, let us pray once again for a generous outpouring of the Holy Spirit
into our hearts, into our parish and into our community.
Enjoy this end of the day chant!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eaet60_DuFY
Fr. Chuck
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This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation
and the United States Army as a token of appreciation
for your loved one's honorable and faithful service.(Each service branch uses a slightly different wording
for the presentation of the Flag to family members of the deceased.)
Our Memorial Day Mass is at 9:00am on Monday.
Two songs will be sung during the liturgy
and they are included as an attachment with this email.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
Fr. Chuck
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All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout your joy to God.
For our Most High God is awesome,
a great king over all the earth.God ascends the mountain
to cheers and trumpet blasts.Psalm 47: vs 2-3, vs 6
Psalm for the Feast of the AscensionOne of the reasons signing up for a specific Mass time is important is not only because there are a limited number of seats available, but, if heaven forbid, someone tests positive for the virus, we would have a list which could assist in contact tracing.
Reminders for this weekend:This weekend (May 23/24) is the first weekend when a limited number of parishioners can return to the parish for the celebration of the Eucharist. Here are a few reminders:
Each household needs to schedule themselves for a particular Mass via Sign Up Genius. You can access this sign up by means of our parish website or by calling the parish office during weekday business hours.Everyone must wear a mask while they are at Church.
Please bring a printed worship aid with you from your home if you are able. They can be found as an attachment with this stay-at-home update.
Finally, the hospitality ministers are ready to offer you assistance and to answer your questions.
Other Reminders:
Bread for the World – 2020 Letter Writing Campaign – Peggy Dolter
Will you take part in this year’s offering of letters? Many of our neighbors are struggling more than ever, due to rising unemployment during the pandemic. Please click the links on our parish website to contact our legislators on behalf of those who need food assistance. This link will be removed from our website on Tuesday, Mary 26, 2020.
Mass on Memorial Day
Our Mass is scheduled for 9:00am on Memorial Day. The same rules apply: Please sign up via Sign Up Genius and wear your mask while at Mass.For your convenience, here is a link to our parish website:
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
From a parishioner: My daughter Susan came for a short visit and brought her two granddaughters – skinny, delicate 8 year-old Daphne with her thin blonde shoulder length hair self-dyed a light orange color and lovely little 2½ year-old Penelope talking non-stop but with few sounds that I could recognize as words. I hadn't seen the great grandchildren since Christmas, and it was thrilling. They lifted my spirits like nothing else could and I'm so grateful.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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Gather the Folks
Tell the Stories
Break the BreadThe Stories of God – John Shea
Some of you may find John Shea’s summary description of the Eucharist to be too folksy, but it is at the essence of what we have been doing for over 2000 years. If only it were that simple!
Earlier this week I shared with you via these Stay-at-Home updates the Archdiocesan guidelines for resuming the celebration of Mass in our parishes. What follows are some specific reminders, explanations and instructions as to what implementing those guidelines will look like here at our parish.
You are about to enter into that place called “Information Overload.” Just take your time as you read what follows. Maybe stop after each section and imagine what you are to do or what it will look like here at Mary, Mother of the Church.
My first reminder is that you still remain dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass until further notice. Because the number of people who can attend a Mass at our parish on the weekends will be 80, you might consider attending a weekday celebration of the Eucharist if you are able to do that.
The guidelines have stated: Anyone over 60 years-old is encouraged to participate in Masses via live-stream only. Does that mean if I am over 60, I can’t go to Mass? No, it does not. The reason that age group was chosen is because they are an at-risk group. The Archdiocesan guidelines are: Anyone who is ill, symptomatic, or has been exposed to someone else with coronavirus within 14 days should self-isolate and not come to Mass! Everyone is also asked to check their temperature at home before deciding if you are coming to Mass.
Everyone attending Mass is obligated to wear a mask or other facial covering throughout the entire Mass. (Our adaptation) When receiving the Body of Christ, you are to pull your mask or other facial covering below your chin and receive the Eucharist in your hand. After consuming the Eucharist, you then cover your mouth and nose with your mask
N.B. #1 Because of their ministry, our song leaders / cantors, our readers, the deacon and the presider will no t be wearing a mask as they speak or sing while in the sanctuary or the music ministry area.
N.B. #2: The hospitality ministers will have some additional masks with them in case you forgot yours. Our supply of masks is limited. What if someone doesn’t want to wear a mask? One of the staff members will graciously ask them to leave.
(In case anyone isn’t familiar with the initials N.B., it is the abbreviation for the Latin phrase “nota bene,” which means “note well.” Are we a full-service parish or what?)
Based on the seating capacity of our church while maintaining the proper social distance of 6 ft., 80 people will be allowed to gather for the celebration of the Eucharist at each of our Masses on the weekends. 85 will be allowed to attend our 8:30 am weekday Masses. An additional 10 ministers will serve at the weekend liturgies; an additional 5 ministers at the weekday liturgies.
How do I get to be one of the people who will be attending the Mass? Once again, we will be using Sign-Up Genius, which you can access via a link in this Flocknote or via the parish website.
For those who do not have access to a computer at home, please call the parish office during the daytime business hours up until 3:00 pm on Friday afternoon. One of the staff will enter your name into the Sign-Up Genius Schedule. Please remember that y ou must sign up to attend a Mass!
A Note to all song leaders, hospitality ministers and readers. Please do NOT sign up for a time slot. Your name will already be entered by the office staff.
Before the pandemic, our total weekend attendance at Mass averaged around 225 people per Mass. In order to give everyone an opportunity to gather for the celebration of the Eucharist, I am asking that you only sign up once for every 3 weekends, beginning with the May 23 / 24 weekend. (This would be a reason why you might consider the weekday celebration of the Eucharist.)
After 7:00 pm on the evening before a scheduled Mass, IF there are openings on the schedule, you may sign up a second time within that 3-week time span.
Unlike how we have done our sign-ups earlier this spring, when you sign up for a date and time on the calendar, just list the family name and the total number of people attending, for example, Louis IX – 3 people. Ann believes it will be easier this way to monitor the number of people who have signed up and know when to close the sign-up for a particular day.
It's taken me 90 minutes to write these instructions so far, so I am taking a stretch break. You also might want to. Maybe we could hum the words to “Let’s go out to the lobby….”
Back again!
All of what you have read so far takes place before you even have arrived for Mass! Oh my…. Let’s blaze on!
To conserve on paper, we ask that you print your worship aid at home and bring it with you. Of course, there will be extra ones for those who may have forgotten their worship aid. It will just be like all those forgotten nametags.
When entering church, we ask that you enter by way of one of the two sets of doors under the awnings, Doors #2 and #5. (I bet you didn’t even know they had numbers, did you?) Doors #5 are the doors with the handicapped door opener. Hospitality ministers will be there to greet you.
We ask that the Ste. Anne room be reserved for the 6 hospitality ministers.
If you sit in the chairs in the back of the church, there are only 11 of them. This is so we can keep the proper social distancing.
There will be hospitality ministers in the nave (body) of the Church to assist you in finding where designated spaces are. (Warning! You might not be able to sit in your usual spot. Please wear your nametag so I can recognize you in another pew!)
There will be 2 baskets placed on tables in the back of church: one at the back of the center aisle and the other near the St. Joachim room for anyone who brought a church envelope. The hospitality ministers will not be taking up the collection during Mass nor will there be a presentation of the gifts.
Receiving Holy Communion- For at least the first few weekends, Deacon Randy and I will bring the Eucharist to you as you remain in your pew, rather than have you process to us. This is an experiment and another adaptation we are implementing.
- This is the time when you lower the mask from your nose and mouth area. Please receive the Body of Christ in your hand only
As you leave Church- Bulletins will be on the tables along the back aisle of church. We are increasing our order to 300.
- Deposit your worship aid in the recycling bins in the vestibule after Mass. The worship aids should not be reused.
- Please leave by the same doors that you entered. This will limit the number of times the door handles are used.
The following will be the most difficult change for our parishioners to embrace. Please do not gather in the vestibule, in the nave or the back aisle of church, either before Mass or after Mass. Go outside, where you might be able to practice social distancing!
Allow me to repeat that: Please do not gather in the vestibule, the nave or the back aisle of church, either before Mass or after Mass. Go outside, where you might be able to practice social distancing!
I know that it’s wired into your DNA to be community not only during the Eucharist, but before and after the sacramental celebration. This is truly a “die to yourself” moment. We must act with the greater common good in mind.
FYI: The specific guidelines the clergy received regarding this guideline is that we are not to greet parishioners before or after Mass. The rationale being that this would slow down exiting and make it difficult to practice social distancing.
After 3.5 hours of writing and editing, here are my final 3 points!
Please prayerfully reflect upon your decision to attend Mass. If you are considered part of the at-risk population, weigh the risks, both to yourself and to others.
The Sign-Up Genius Schedule will go live on Friday, May 15 at 7:00 pm.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0d4bafab2da3fe3-public
The worship aid for this weekend is an attachment with this email!
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
From a parishioner:
“You want to know something that a brought a smile to my face?
Fr. Chuck finally finished writing this update. I didn't think it would ever end!”
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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Through him the children of light rise to eternal life
and the halls of the heavenly Kingdom
are thrown open to the faithful;
for his Death is our ransom from death,
and in his rising the life of all has risen.
Preface II of Easter
Update from the Archdiocese:
We knew the when – May 18. That is when the public celebration of the Mass will resume in our Archdiocese. Now we know the what – what the specific guidelines are for the resumption of those Masses. Our next task is the how – how to implement those guidelines in our parish.
I received the guidelines for the restarting of public Masses earlier this (Tuesday) morning – 3 sets of them. Since some of the information is repeated, I am including only 2 sets of the guidelines as attachments with this Flocknote. On Thursday morning, I will be meeting with a few staff members and parishioners to review and begin strategizing how we will implement these guidelines.
The following are what I would consider to be the top 4 guidelines that might create that “sticker shock” feeling, especially after hearing that we were resuming the public celebration of the Mass.
Anyone over 60 years-old and those with underlying health complications are encouraged to participate in Masses via live-stream only.
By adhering to the social distancing at 6 ft., we have space for no more than 80 parishioners and 10 ministers for each weekend liturgy. We will have space for 85 parishioners for the weekday 830am Mass.
Everyone attending Mass is obligated to wear a mask or other facial covering. The only exception during Mass is when we are seated in the pew and when receiving Holy Communion.
Volunteers will be needed to help sanitize the Church after each Mass that is celebrated.
There will be other guidelines that will be specific for our parish. For example, what will the Communion procession look like? Over the next week , I will share that information with you in small increments, with the hope of not overwhelming you all at once. I will also highlight some of changes in my homily for this upcoming weekend.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
From a parishioner: “I appreciate that only white flowers are placed to enhance the baptismal font. I find myself drawn to that area before Mass. I don’t ever remember spending as much time meditating on my baptismal vows, and what they mean, as I have, simply because of the thoughtful placement of the white flowers.”
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
FAQs Restart of Masses.pdf
Summary of Guidelines for Parishioners.pdf
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God to enfold me, God to surround me,
God in my speaking, God in my thinking.
God in my sleeping, God in my waking,
God in my watching, God in my hoping.
God in my life, God in my lips,
God in my soul, God in my heart.
from an Ancient Celtic Prayer
A Reminder: Once again I will be available for the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation from 11:30am until 1:00pm in the Reconciliation Room in Church this Sunday, May 10. There is a distance of 6’ between the penitent and me for face-to-face celebrations. For those who prefer the anonymity of the screen, I would ask that you use a Clorox wipe that will be provided for you on the screen as you leave.
The music for this weekend, the Fifth Sunday of Easter, is included as a [link - see below]
Gathering for the Eucharist: As many of you have heard by now, Thursday evening Archbishop Carlson announced that the public celebration of the Eucharist would resume on Monday, May 18. I really am looking forward to gathering with you at the Table of the Word and the Eucharist. However, the “when” (May 18) was the easy part of the announcement. The “what” has yet to be promulgated. Early next week, we will be receiving guidelines as to what initially the return to celebrating the Eucharist will look like. As I mentioned in this weekend’s bulletin article, when we next gather for the Eucharist, it will not initially be celebrated as it was the last time we gathered on March 7/8.
In that bulletin article I named some of the ways that I was anticipating how the return might look like. If you want to get a preview of again how the return might look like, please go to the parish website at marymother.org... and click the News tab for access to the latest bulletin.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Happy Mother's Day to All of Our Moms!
Fr. Chuck
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Update from the Archdiocese
The suspension of public Masses will continue through Friday, May 15.
Archbishop Carlson’s decision about when to resume public Masses is directly tied to the decisions made by Mayor Krewson and County Executive Page. The following information was released today, Wednesday, May 6, by the mayor and county executive.
“Both St. Louis and St. Louis County will begin to lift stay-at-home restrictions by May 18, but County Executive Sam Page and Mayor Lyda Krewson said Wednesday that residents shouldn't expect things to return to normal.
They said in separate briefings that some nonessential businesses probably will be allowed to reopen May 18, but rules for masks will be in place. Businesses will be asked to have employees who interact with the public wear face masks, and the city and county are considering allowing businesses to refuse service to customers who aren't covering their faces, according to both leaders.
Krewson and Page said a more detailed plan with specific social distancing rules and instructions for businesses will be released later this week. Krewson said Wednesday the tentative plan will recommend strongly that all people wear masks in public places but won't require it. A ban on social gatherings of more than 10 people also likely would continue 'for a while.' "
Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Sunday
I will once again be available for the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Sunday, May 10, from 11:30am until 1:00pm in the Reconciliation Room in Church. There is a distance of 6’ between the penitent and me for face-to-face celebrations. For those who prefer the anonymity of the screen, I would ask that you use a Clorox wipe that will be provided for you on the screen as you leave.
Opportunities for Prayer – A Prayer Suggestion from a Parishioner
As a retired nurse, I am frustrated that I can’t help with the medical crisis. The mind and the heart are willing, but not the body. In the past I have volunteered at the hospital for the “No One Dies Alone” program, whereby we sit at the bedside of a terminally ill patient who has no family or friends available. During the recent Divine Mercy Novena, I prayed the chaplet daily. It has now become a daily habit – it’s nice to acquire a positive one for a change! Since I might not be able to help care for their body, I can help care for their soul. Each day I dedicate the chaplet to a corona patient who is dying alone. Perhaps others might want to join me in performing this spiritual work of mercy. If not the Divine Mercy Chaplet, perhaps an adapted version of the prayer to St. Joseph for a Happy Death.
O Blessed Joseph, you gave your last breath in the loving embrace of Jesus and Mary. When the seal of death shall close the life of another victim of the coronavirus, come with Jesus and Mary to aid them. Obtain for them this solace for that hour – to die with Jesus and Mary’s holy arms around this person who is alone. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I commend the soul of this child of God, living and dying, into your sacred arms. Amen.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
From a parishioner: “I am being shown less is more. My true self, come as I am.
Just Be. Leave the high maintenance and the need to focus to my merciful God.”
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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The king of love my shepherd is,
Whose goodness fails me never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
And he is mine for ever.
– Henry W. Baker
Nineteenth Century
A Reminder: Once again I will be available for the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation from 11:30am until 1:00pm in the Reconciliation Room in Church this Sunday, May 3. There is a distance of 6’ between the penitent and me for face-to-face celebrations. For those who prefer the anonymity of the screen, I would ask that you use a Clorox wipe that will be provided for you on the screen as you leave.
Please continue to pray for the priests and staff of Regina Cleri. Early Friday evening I received an update that 28 of the 31 priests at Regina Cleri have tested positive for COVID-19. Currently, eight of those twenty-eight individuals are in the hospital. In addition to the twenty-eight, ten of the staff have also tested positive, and four of them are currently in the hospital. We entrust the care of all who have tested positive for the virus to Jesus, the Divine Physician.
On more of an upbeat note, this coming Thursday, May 7, is Fr. T’s birthday. A parishioner suggested sending him a note or a card wishing him a Happy Birthday! Keep your message simple and identify yourself as being from Mary, Mother. His address is:
Msgr. Jim Telthorst
Faith Community, Apt. #7
7609 Watson Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63119
The music for this weekend, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, is included as an attachment.
In our readings this weekend, we listen to stories about the Good Shepherd. Rather than share with you a bedtime story or lullaby, I would invite you to simply enjoy the following video.
youtube.com/watch?v=e4...
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!Fr. Chuck
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April 2020 - Covid-19 Updates
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We turn to you for protection,
holy Mother of God.
Listen to our prayers
and help us in our needs.
Save us from every danger,
glorious and blessed Virgin.
– A Third Century Prayer
Updates from the Archdiocese- The suspension of public Masses will continue through Friday, May 8.
- Did you know that the Archdiocese of St. Louis is comprised of ten counties and the city of St. Louis? As you may know, each of these counties and the city of St. Louis can act independently of each other when it comes to determining the stay-at-home mandates, resumption of businesses, etc. For this reason, Archbishop Carlson has decided that no public Mass will be offered at any parish within the Archdiocese until a general permission is given to all parishes.
- Although the following does not apply to our parish at this time, I did want you to know that all public parish gatherings such as festivals, picnics, etc. are banned on parish properties until further notice.
Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Sunday- I will once again be available for the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Sunday, May 3, from 11:30am until 1:00pm in the Reconciliation Room in Church. There is a distance of 6’ between the penitent and me for face-to-face celebrations. For those who prefer the anonymity of the screen, I would ask that you use a Clorox wipe that will be provided for you on the screen as you leave.
Two Opportunities for Prayer
Opportunity #1
Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has invited us to join our Canadian brothers and sisters on Friday, May 1 in consecrating the two nations to the care of the Blessed Mother under the title “Mary, Mother of the Church.”
“This will give the church the occasion to pray for Our Lady’s continued protection of the vulnerable, healing of the unwell and wisdom for those who work to cure this terrible virus,” said Gomez in a letter to the U.S. bishops. Each year, the church seeks the special intercession of the Mother of God during the month of May. This year, we seek the assistance of Our Lady all the more earnestly as we face together the effects of the global pandemic,” he said.
This consecration reaffirms the bishops’ previous consecrations of the United States to Mary. In 1792, the first bishop of the United States, Bishop John Carroll, consecrated the nation to Mary under the title Immaculate Conception, and in 1846, the bishops unanimously chose Mary under that title as the patroness of the nation.
You can view the consecration via livestream at 2:00pm CDT at usccb.org/consecration....
A copy of the worship aid for joining in the livestreaming of the consecration OR for praying it on your own / with your family is included as an attachment.
Opportunity #2
Pope Francis has recently composed two prayers asking for the intercession of the Blessed Mother in ending the COVID-19 pandemic. He would like for those who pray the rosary during the month of May to add these 2 prayers at the conclusion. These prayers are also included as an attachment.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile
or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
Consecration of USA to Mary, Mother of the Church.pdf
two prayers for the conclusion of the Rosary.pdf
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We turn to you for protection,
holy Mother of God.
Listen to our prayers
and help us in our needs.
Save us from every danger,
glorious and blessed Virgin.– A Third Century Prayer
A Reminder: Beginning on Sunday, April 26, I will be available for the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconcilation from 11:15am until 1:00pm in the Reconciliation Room in Church. There is a distance of 6’ between the penitent and me for face-to-face celebrations. For those who prefer the anonymity of the screen, I would ask that you use a Clorox wipe that will be provided for you on the screen as you leave.
Rather than a bedtime story from Fr. Chuck, tonight it’s a song. (I am hesitant to call it a lullaby, although some may find it quite comforting.) The title of the hymn is “Shelter Me.”
The composer is J. Michael Joncas, a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and a prolific liturgical composer. Most of us know him as the composer of “On Eagle's Wings.” When asked about this new creation, Fr. Joncas said he woke up in the middle of the night on March 25 with a “nagging idea.” He had been praying about the coronavirus and wondered if music could play a special role in these uncertain times. “What popped up was, maybe there is a way to pray about this that also involves song and that would touch people at a different level,” he said.
There are a number of different churches that have performed this hymn. The one I selected is the Church of the Risen Savior in Burnsville, MN. This is the link to the performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgNGsrwGHz0
I also have included a copy of the lyrics as an attachment. Enjoy!
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
Lyrices for "Shelter Me" by J Michael Joncas
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Because we have been gifted with God’s peace in the risen Christ,
we are called to our own peace and to the making of peace in our world.
As disciples and as children of God, it is our task to seek for ways
in which to make the forgiveness, justice, mercy and love of God visible.
– The Challenge of Peace
I have heard that my stay-at-home updates are now being referred to as “Bedtime Stories with Fr. Chuck.”
Talk about adding on another layer of stress on a guy!!
So, I guess I should begin with “In a galaxy, far, far away….”
New Updates from the Archdiocese
- As you many of you know, St. Louis County has extended its stay-at-home order through the middle of May. Although I’ve yet to hear a definitive word from the Archbishop, I expect the suspension of public Masses to continue through the middle of May also. Please remember to volunteer as a minister for our livestreamed Masses with our Sign-Up Genius scheduler.
- Please continue to pray for our retired priests living at Regina Cleri. At least 13 of the 30 residents have tested positive for Covid-19, with some being hospitalized. In case you were wondering, Fr. T no longer lives at Regina Cleri; he now lives at Mother of Perpetual Help. As far as I know, he has avoided the virus. But like anyone living with many other people, whether that be in an apartment, independent living, assisted living or skilled care, they are all in that high-risk category.
News from the Parish- As I have written several times in the bulletin, I want to once again thank all of our parishioners for your ongoing financially support of the parish and its various ministries during these most difficult times. Being able to contribute online via our Faith Direct vendor has been a tremendous help.
- Beginning this weekend (April 25/26), I want to try something different regarding times I am available for celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation. On Sunday, I will be available to celebrate the sacrament from 11:15am until 1:00pm. I will be in the Reconciliation Room, where there is a distance of 6’ between the penitent and myself for face-to-face celebrations. For those who prefer the anonymity of the screen, I would ask that you use a Clorox wipe on the screen as you leave. Let’s see how this experiment works.
- To help with your participation at home, the songs that will be sung for our Masses on Saturday afternoon (430pm) April 25 and Sunday morning/ 26 and Sunday morning (900am) are included with this Flocknote as an attachment.
My Own Musings…- When I lived in the city, one of the activities we did for entertainment was called the Alley Over/Under game. How the game was played was that you placed something in the alley, say like a piece of furniture or a lawnmower you no longer wanted, and then you tried to guess the day and the time by when that item would have been picked up by someone. In light of both the projected stay-at-home mandate continuing through the middle of May, and a need to always look for some additional sources of revenue, I wonder if we should start an over / under game as to when the stay-at-home mandate for St. Louis County will be lifted. Pick a day and a time and submit that information to the parish office. If you would like to give a free will $$ offering along with your info, all the better. And then we will wait and see.
We’re in the National Church News – sort of ….
Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has announced the U.S. bishops will join the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops May 1 in consecrating the two nations to the care of the Blessed Mother under the title “Mary, Mother of the Church.”
“This will give the church the occasion to pray for Our Lady’s continued protection of the vulnerable, healing of the unwell and wisdom for those who work to cure this terrible virus,” said Gomez in a letter to the U.S. bishops. Each year, the church seeks the special intercession of the Mother of God during the month of May.
“This year, we seek the assistance of Our Lady all the more earnestly as we face together the effects of the global pandemic,” he said.
This consecration reaffirms the bishops’ previous consecrations of the United States to Mary. In 1792, the first bishop of the United States, Bishop John Carroll, consecrated the nation to Mary under the title Immaculate Conception, and in 1846, the bishops unanimously chose Mary under that title as the patroness of the nation.
More information in next week’s update.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!
What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?- One parishioner said they learned how to use a drill.
- Another shared how delighted they were to receive homemade birthday cards in the mail from their 11 and 13-year-old grandsons.
- In case you don’t know when I am being serious and when I am not, the idea for the over/under game for the stay-at-home mandate is a joke.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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May the light of Christ, rising in Glory,
dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.from the Lighting of the Easter Candle at the Great Vigil
- To help with your participation at home, the songs that will be sung for our Masses this Saturday afternoon (430pm) and Sunday morning (900am) are included with this Flocknote as an attachment.
Christ our light! Thanks be to God!An Acclamation Sung During the Procession into a Darkened Church at the Vigil
We are able to track how many viewers, which means how many computers / phones / etc., are accessing our live streaming of the Liturgies and the Triduum. Our numbers for the Triduum are amazing: 616 viewers for Holy Thursday, 571 for Good Friday, 542 for the Easter Vigil and 564 for the combined Masses on Easter Sunday. Obviously, not all these viewers are our parishioners. Hopefully, they got a glimpse of why we take great pride in our parish’s liturgical life.
Part of my Easter Vigil homily centered on the imaginative prayer poetry of the Exsultet. That evening I invited those who were hearing my homily to consider keeping a light burning in their windows during the Easter season as a reminder to ourselves and our neighbors that even though we are staying-at-home and not able to share the joy of the Resurrection with others in their physical presence, a light might be the next best thing. What follows is part of that homily.
“I don’t know about you, but it feels like I’m still in the tomb, waiting, even though the stone has been moved away. The reason I am feeling this is because central to the resurrection stories is the mandate to share the news with someone else – verbally, but also by how we live. Yet with the current limitations, it feels like I am forced to just sit with this amazing mystery.
And then I had an a-ha moment. Maybe this is the year that the Easter Candle takes on new meaning while I feel like I am waiting in the tomb. In the past I have enjoyed referring to the prayer words that accompany the markings of the Candle. Tonight, I would like to have some phrases of the Exsultet speak to our hearts.- On this your night of grace, accept this candle a solemn offering, the work of bees and of your servants’ hands, an evening sacrifice of praise.
- But now we know the praises of this pillar, which glowing fire ignites for God’s honor, a fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light, for it is fed by melting wax, drawn out by mother bees to build a torch so precious.
- May this candle persevere undimmed to overcome the darkness of this night.
- May this flame be found still burning by the Morning Star – Christ, your Son, who coming back from death’s domain, has shed his peaceful light upon humanity.
As a reminder of what we’re doing, repeat this phrase often:
As one who believes in the power of God’s love,
we’ll leave the light on for you!”The reason I shared part of my homily was to invite all of our parishioners to consider putting a light in the window during this Easter season.Grace Indeed Is Amazing!- What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
I’ve enjoyed the pride and delight with which parishioners and friends have sent me photos of their light from the Easter Candle burning in the window of their homes.
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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Stay-at-Home Update #9
It is an unusual word that is not native to the English or even the Latin liturgical vocabulary: the word “Alleluia.” As a matter of fact, it sounds less like a meaningful word than the babbling of a child, and when it is sung with many notes for the final vowel, this impression becomes even stronger.
“Alleluia” does, of course, have a meaning. It is a Hebrew word, and down the centuries the church has brought it with her, untranslated (like “Amen”), as a product of the Jewish soil from which she herself sprang and as a reminder of her earliest days.
The word is a cry of jubilation meaning “Praise the Lord,” and occurs frequently in the Psalms.
As we gaze at the Sun that has risen high over the darkness and cold of our Good Friday, all well-chosen words are useless. We can only stammer out our Alleluia of wonder and jubilation.
Balthasar Fischer
Live Streaming Our Masses
It’s been a delight to read so many notes from our parishioners expressing their gratitude for being able to view the Mass being live-streamed from their own parish.Upgrading the video camera has taken that gratitude to a whole new level.In the midst of the upheaval that has accompanied this stay-at-home time, I am very glad that we have been able to provide a way in which our parishioners can experience some sense of continuity and familiarity.
As we now begin our 2nd month of livestreaming, I’ve been asked to reduce the number of people that make up the worshipping community for our Masses. Beginning Friday, April 17, everyone who signs up for a specific Mass will need to serve as a liturgical minister, other than the ministry of being a member of the assembly.
For the 830am weekday Masses, there will be only two people attending the weekday Masses.One person will be the reader and the other will be the server. For the Saturday evening 430pm Mass and the Sunday morning 900am Mass, there will only be four people attending those Masses.The ministries are:2 readers, 1 server and 1 person to present the gifts.For the person who serves, there is no need to wear an alb.Even if you have never served before, all you need to do is hold the Missal for me for the Opening Prayer and the Prayer after Communion.
Our Sign-Up Genius schedule reflects these new changes.Only one change needed to be made for the existing weekday Masses through the end of April and that’s already been taken care of.I have asked Deacon Randy to reach out to the folks who had already signed up for the weekend Masses in order to make adjustments in the schedule.
In addition to the ministries named, there is one more ministry that is open for your participation, and that is to be a song leader!For this ministry at the weekday Masses, you need to be able to lead the opening and closing hymn of Mass, the Alleluia and the Amen.For the weekend Masses, you will be singing a duet with Ken Barnes, at a distance of 6 ft. apart.If you are willing to be a song leader, you need to contact Ken for the weekend Masses and me for the weekday Masses.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!- What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
Fr. Chuck
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Stay-at-Home Update #8
Good Friday, April 10, 2020“Something strange is happening –
there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness.
The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep.
The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh…”
from an ancient homily, the Office of Readings, Holy Saturday
Worth Repeating: Updates from the Archdiocese- Archbishop Carlson has extended the suspension of all public Masses through April 30. This extension includes the dispensation of the Sunday obligation.
- The special collection for retired priests, originally scheduled for Easter Sunday, is still taking place. Donations can be made online at archstl.org/retiredpriests, or via Faith Direct, by dropping off an envelope or mailing it to the parish office.
Parish News – Worth Repeating:- Extending the suspension of all public masses through April 30 impacts our scheduled celebration of First Communion, originally scheduled for Sunday, April 26. Ed Lewandowski and I have already been discussing some new options in case this would happen. He will be communicating with all the families directly.
- Archbishop Carlson also announced that all Cathedral Basilica and parish Rites of Confirmation originally scheduled before June 1 are suspended. However, the Archbishop will be giving me the faculty to confer the sacrament at a date yet to be determined.
- With the extension of the suspension of public Masses until April 30, please consider signing up to represent the parish community at one of our Livestream Masses during the month of April via Sign Up Genius. If you have already signed up during the first round of sign ups, please allow other parishioners the opportunity to do the same. If there are open slots as of 600pm on the evening before the next celebration, you can then sign-up again.
- To help with your participation at home, some of the songs that will be sung for the Easter Vigil (700pm) and Easter Sunday (900am) are included with this Flocknote as attachments.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!- What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
This evening, during the adoration of the Cross, there was some silence after the singing of the song “Behold the Wood.” During that silence, I was struck by the solitary Cross placed at the entrance of the sanctuary and hearing the water of our font cascading. The Cross and the waters of Baptism are what it’s all about!
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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“We should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
for he is our salvation, our live and our resurrection;
through him we are saved and made free.”
from the Introductory Rite for Holy Thursday
New Updates from the Archdiocese
- If you haven’t heard already, Archbishop Carlson has extended the suspension of all public Masses through April 30. This extension includes the dispensation of the Sunday obligation.
- The special collection for retired priests, originally scheduled for Easter Sunday, is still taking place. Donations can be made online at archstl.org/retiredpriests, or via Faith Direct, by dropping off an envelope or mailing it to the parish office.
Parish News – New Items:
- With Archbishop Carlson extending the suspension of all public masses through April 30 impacts our scheduled celebration of First Communion, originally scheduled for Sunday, April 26. Ed Lewandowski and I had already been discussing some new options in case this would happen. He will be communicating with all the families directly.
- Archbishop Carlson also announced that all Cathedral Basilica and parish Rites of Confirmation originally scheduled before June 1 are suspended. However, the Archbishop will be giving me the faculty to confer the sacrament at a date yet to be determined. (I know some of you may be disappointed in not having the Archbishop here for confirmation, but at least you will be confirmed by a Very Reverend! )
Parish News – Worth Repeating:- If you experience some technical glitches while viewing our live streaming, please let us know when they occur. Mark Stevison or Ann will do a follow-up to see if the problem is on our end or not. At the same time, remember that with so much distant learning and other things all needing to be done via the internet, the internet providers and your home receivers are being stretched to the max.
- There are containers outside the front doors of the church, under the awnings, that contain the Little White Books. There are also places to pick up a book or two inside the Church, perhaps when you are seeking the quiet of our Church.
- A .pdf copy of the bulletin has always been included with a weekly Flocknote sent out from the parish. I hope you are able to read some of the articles that have been included in the bulletin.
- With the extension of the suspension of public Masses until April 30, please consider signing up to represent the parish community at one of our Livestream Masses during the month of April via Sign Up Genius. If you have already signed up during the first round of sign ups, please allow other parishioners the opportunity to do the same. If there are open slots as of 600pm on the evening before the next celebration, you can then sign-up again.
Opportunities to Pray During the Sacred Triduum- Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has invited the faithful to join him in praying the Litany of the Sacred Heart on Good Friday (April 10). Praying together as a nation, the Archbishop asks that we seek healing for all who are unwell, wisdom for those whose work is halting the spread of coronavirus, and strength for all God’s children
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Friday, April 10, 2020 (Good Friday)
11:00am - CDT
Livestream: USCCB
Text of Litany of the Sacred Heart: English. . . / Spanish. . .
Obviously, Good Friday is a day when Christians around the world solemnly commemorate the day when Jesus suffered and died on the cross. Catholics traditionally mark the day with fasting, penance, and reflection on Jesus’ loving sacrifice. This opportunity to pray together during the coronavirus pandemic offers a special moment of unity for the faithful during a time when communities throughout the United States and worldwide are physically unable to congregate for Holy Week and Easter because of COVID-19.- To help with your participation at home, some of the songs that will be sung for Holy Thursday and Good Friday are included with this Flocknote as attachments.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!- What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done?
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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As we enter into Holy Week, Pope Francis wanted to share with us
a few thoughts.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMJDCnmdhRg
One thing that I really enjoy about watching Pope Francis give a talk / hold a press conference is when he lifts his eyes from his text. Watch for it. It's as though he is awed by the meaning of what he is about to say. It also probably drives all of his assistants crazy as they are thinking: "Here we go again. Is he going off script? What's he going to say next?"
We lift up in prayer everyone we know by name who has tested positive
for the virus.
May all of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
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Random thoughts on a Friday evening….
New Updates from the Archdiocese- The 2020 Annual Catholic Appeal has been postponed and will be scheduled at a future date.
- The annual Missionary Cooperative Plan has been canceled. This was an annual event that often took place in the summertime. A representative of a community introduced us to the work of their community and the people with whom they ministered. They also asked for our financial assistance in helping with their mission. Even though they won’t be with us to make a formal appeal, each parish may be asked to take up a special collection for these missionary communities. Stay tuned!
- Today, Pope Francis appointed Rev. Michael McGovern, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, to succeed Bishop Edward Braxton as the bishop of the Diocese of Belleville.
Parish News- The new video camera was installed in Church earlier this week, along with a new mixer for the sound system and a new microphone in the back of church. This project was almost completely funded by an Ensuring Parish Viability grant we received from the Archdiocese.
- Some parishioners did find that they still have experienced some technical glitches with even the new camera. Please let us know when they occur. At the same time, remember that with so much distant learning and other things all needing to be done via the internet, the internet providers and your home receivers are being stretched to the max.
- There are containers outside the front door of the church, under the awnings, that contain both palm and the Little White Books. There are also places to pick both the palm and the books inside the Church, perhaps when you are seeking the quiet of our Church. The palms will be blessed as part of the Palm Sunday Liturgies.
- A .pdf copy of the bulletin has always been included with a weekly Flocknote sent out from the parish. I hope you are able to read some of the articles that have been included in the bulletin. In case you missed it, here’s an article I wrote about people asking why bad things happen if God is such a loving God.
- Consider signing up to represent the parish community at one of our Livestream Masses during the month of April via Sign Up Genius. If you have already signed up during the first round of sign ups, please allow other parishioners the opportunity to do the same.
Celebrating Holy Week & Easter
As you might guess, there will be some changes within our celebrations of the Liturgies of Holy Week. I would like to highlight a few:- To help with your participation at home, some of the songs that will be sung for our celebrations will be sent as an attachment with our Stay-at-Home Updates this week.
- For Palm Sunday, I made a pastoral decision for the entrance into Jerusalem Gospel to be proclaimed, rather than both that Gospel and the Passion. Obviously, the Passion will be proclaimed on Good Friday.
- On Holy Thursday, there will not be any washing of feet.
- On Good Friday, the veneration of the Cross will only be a time of adoration. There will also not be the Communion Rite for this service.
- For the Easter Vigil, there will not be a blessing of the new fire, but there will be a singing of the Exsultet. Just 3 readings from the Hebrew Scriptures will be proclaimed, along with the Epistle and the Gospel. The water will be blessed, and we will renew our baptismal promises.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing!- What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done? One thing that made me smile was a video someone sent me in which scenes from the TV show M.A.S.H were connected with various coronavirus activities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WuaDK0mTc4&feature=youtu.be
As another day comes to an end,
may each of us have a restful and peaceful night!
Fr. Chuck
Bulletin for 032920 - Addendum - Why do bad things.pdf
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March 2020 - covid-19 updates
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STAY AT HOME UPDATE #4 - MARCH 30, 2020
As we all stay in our homes, and strive to remain safe from COVID-19, we wanted to remind you that your ongoing financial support of our parish and its various ministry partners is essential.
The work of the these four ministries, for which the parish has provided ongoing support, continues during this pandemic. We are hearing from them of their great need right now. Please consider a donation to these organizations (information on how to donate to each cause is below).
And we thank you for your continued donations to the parish!Room at the Inn - housing homeless women and families
As many of you know, there has been a group of about 25 people here at Mary Mother who have been helping support the mission of Room at the Inn for the past 2 years.
However, due to the Covid 19 Virus, the guests of Room at the Inn can no longer be sent out each night which has required Room at the Inn to hire extra staff to spend the night with the guests & also to pay for the food for the evening meal that the church communities normally provided and for extra cleaning to protect the guests and staff. All of these changes have increased the daily expenses of the Inn about $200. We have invited our regular volunteers to consider a monthly or a one-time donation to the Inn. We would like to invite all of our parish to join us by making a one-time donation or a monthly donation of $1, $5 or $10. Even a small donation made by many folks can make a huge impact to the guests of the Inn that we serve.
How to help:- If you make your donations normally through Faith Direct, you can make a one-time or monthly donation directed to Room at the Inn OR
- you can send a check (payable to Mary Mother) to the parish office identifying it on the memo line for Room at the Inn. OR
- If you would rather send a check directly to the Inn, please make the check payable to Room at the Inn & mail it to:
3415 Bridgeland Dr
Bridgeton, MO 63044Rice Bowls - ministries served by Catholic Relief Services
Please mail your Rice Bowl offering to the parish office, and we will get these much-needed funds to the Catholic Relief Services.
(make your check payable to Mary, Mother of the Church and include a memo of "Rice Bowl")St Vincent de Paul - helping the needy of our community
Our St Vincent de Paul coffers are low. The need in our community is even greater now with so many out of work. Our St Vincent de Paul workers are grateful for your continued support. You can give through Faith Direct, or can write a check payable to St Vincent de Paul and mail to the parish office.Bridge Bread Bakery - employing the homeless to break the cycle of homelessness:
You can donate to Bridge Bread through Faith Direct (Text-to-give: (314) 207-3836) or mail a check directly to Bridge Bread as follows:
Bridge Bread Bakery
2639 Cherokee Street
St. Louis, MO 63118
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Mar 27 - Stay at Home Update #3
I don't know how many of you had a chance to participate / watch Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi ("to the City and to the World") benediction he offered earlier today, but I found his homily to be quite powerful.
Here is a link to America magazine where you can read his reflection.
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/03/27/read-pope-francis-urbi-et-orbi-address-coronavirus-and-jesus-calming-storm?utm_source=Newsletters&utm_campaign=03866fc25b-DAILY_CAMPAIGN_2020_03_27&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0fe8ed70be-03866fc25b-58439589
If you are not able to click on this link to get to the article, you can just copy the link and paste it in your browser.
May you have a peaceful night!
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The Stay-at-Home Update - Issue #2
March 26, 2020- Even though words may be my life, evidently there are times when I don’t communicate very well. Some parishioners thought (hoped?) that I might be sending out an Update every evening during this stay-at-home period. I don’t think there is a need for that, plus I think I would be running out of ideas rather quickly. So, with Issue #2, this update is now called “The Stay-at-Home Update.”
Worth Repeating- During this “stay-at-home” period, the hours that the office will be opened will be shorter, and primarily in the morning. Please call the parish office at 314-894-1373 before you drive to the campus, just to be sure that someone is here.
- In case you receive a phone call from Mary, your mother > It’s really a group of parishioners who are putting their dialing fingers to work and reaching out to our parishioners via a phone call.
New Items- Two new Sign Up Genius requests will go live this weekend. One is for attending the daily and weekend liturgies beginning April 6 and the other one is for attending the Triduum and Easter Sunday.
- If you have had the chance to be one of the people who have already represented the parish community at the weekday or Sunday liturgies between March 18 and April 5, please do not sign up for a time and date on these two Sign Up Genius’s. We have over 1150 households and we need to allow as many people as possible the opportunity to represent the parish for a particular liturgy.
- Some parishioners have asked why / have expressed their dismay that there even are any parishioners at the liturgies we are live streaming. Doesn’t “stay-at-home” mean stay-at-home? When Archbishop Carlson first suspended Masses, the instruction he gave the priests was that, if possible, there should be one person present for the Mass, with a maximum of 4. Their ministry was to represent the parish community and respond to the prayers, since by its nature the liturgy is a dialogue. This past week, the number of people who could be present was amended to 10, which is the same guidelines that are in effect throughout the state and country.
Other Items:- The Parish Council election ends at 2:00pm on Sunday. In case you still need to vote, please go to https://www.marymother.org/parish-council/parish-council-election.
- The Parish Lenten Penance Service scheduled for Tuesday; March 31 has been canceled.
- The Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA), which is usually conducted at the end of April and beginning of May, is being postponed.
- Along with the parish, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Bridge Bread and Our Lady’s Inn relying upon your generosity via an electronic donation or a check mailed to the parish, so are the people helped by the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl program. You can make a check out to Mary, Mother with the words “Rice Bowl” written in the memo line, and we will see that CRS receives your donation.
Grace Indeed Is Amazing !- What is something you saw or heard this week that made you smile or say “ah” or “a-ha?” What is something new you might have done? For me, I saw six deer on the hill behind the garages this afternoon, although I don’t think the 6-foot social distance rule applies to them. I also learned how to use Zoom, which is a very popular videoconferencing tool. On Wednesday, we interviewed 2 candidates for the Faith Formation position and will interview 2 more candidates on Monday.
May each of us have a restful night!
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The Nightly Update - Issue #1
March 23, 2020The Nightly Update - Issue #1
March 23, 2020
In order to keep you up to date on things happening here at Mary,Mother, while at the same time limiting the number of emails you receive from the parish, you will occasionally be receiving a Flocknote entitled “ The Nightly Update.” This is the first issue!- During this “stay-at-home” period, the hours that the office will be opened will be shorter, and primarily in the morning. Please call the parish office at 314-894-1373 before you drive to the campus, just to be sure that someone is here.
- The Parish Lenten Penance Service scheduled for Tuesday, March 31 has been canceled. In the March 29th bulletin, there will be an article on other options you have.
- The public liturgies of Holy Week and Easter have been suspended. We will be livestreaming them in the same way that we are livestreaming Sunday and weekday Masses. A new sign-up sheet asking for parishioners to represent the community will be posted next week.
- In case you receive a phone call from Mary, your mother > It’s really a group of parishioners who are putting their dialing fingers to work and reaching out to our parishioners via a phone call.
- Here is another intention to add to your prayer list: young couples like Katy & Nick, who have had to postpone their wedding ceremony that was originally scheduled to be celebrated here at the parish on April 18th.
May each of us have a restful night!
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Dear Parishioners:
From Archbishop Carlson:
In order to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community, I am mandating the suspension of all public celebrations of the Eucharist, as well as Liturgy of the Hours, Stations of the Cross, and all other group services, Bible studies and activities beginning immediately. The dispensation I have offered for all Catholics in our archdiocese from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is now extended through Palm Sunday, April 5.
At this time, all churches are to remain open to individuals for personal prayer, devotions and confessions.
As with my directive on March 15 to close schools, this decision has not been made lightly. However, caring for both our physical and spiritual health go hand-in-hand, and the health, safety and overall well-being of the people of the archdiocese is my first priority.
Pending updates and guidance from local and state government and health officials, we have preliminary plans to resume Masses beginning April 6; however, we will re-evaluate at a later date.
From Fr. Chuck Barthel:
Since we now have the capability to live stream the Eucharist, both the weekend and the weekday Mass schedule will fundamentally remain the same, with two exceptions. There will now be a Mass at 830am on Friday morning, rather than a communion service. There will not be a Mass at 830am on Saturday morning.
This will be the first time that I have presided at a Eucharist without people, which is also being live streamed. I am not sure how awkward this will look or feel.
A decision as to whether Holy Communion will be brought to those who are homebound must be mutually agreed upon by both the communicant and the minister, whether ordinary or extraordinary. Other decisions are still being finalized, such as if we are having the Reconciliation service or not. I will keep you updated via Flocknote as these decisions are madeFor additional items from Archbishop Carlson’s latest guidelines, click here.
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MARCH 14, 2020
WE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO LIVE STREAM MASSES!
see link at top of page.(Audio and Video quality are limited at this time until a new camera and sound equipment arrive,
but given the impact of COVID-19, we wanted to begin streaming as soon as possible)
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MARCH 13, 2020
Coronavirus Update #3 from Archbishop CarlsonAt 630 pm, Friday evening, March 13, 2020,
Archbishop Carlson issued his 3rd update on the coronavirus. Here are the items that warrant your immediate attention.-
All Catholics within the Archdiocese of St. Louis are dispensed from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass for the next three weekends (March 14-15, March 21-22 and March 28-29). As with the Lenten practice of abstinence, you are reminded to exercise good judgement and not “excuse yourself lightly” from your obligation. As of this evening, our Mass schedule will remain unchanged.
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Everyone who is sick, elderly or vulnerable because of a medical condition are urged to remain at home. Please understand that Mass schedules and availability, as well as parish and diocesan events, may change, especially if our clergy are affected by illness.
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It is strongly recommended that parishioners receive Holy Communion in the hand. Holy Communion distributed by extraordinary ministers will be administered in the hand only. However, if parishioners wish to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, you are to receive it only from the Mass celebrant. Furthermore, as a safety precaution for other communicants and the celebrant, I would ask that you be the last recipients in the Communion procession.
Rev. Chuck Barthel
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March 2 - Precautionary Measures due to Influenza
Taking Precautionary Steps
As you know, seasonal flu is currently making a significant impact in our neighborhoods and throughout the global community. As of 2:00p on Monday, March 2, the Center for Disease Control has estimated that during the current flu season, 8,200 people have died from various strains of influenza and an additional 140,000 people have been hospitalized. There have also been six deaths from the coronavirus so far, and all six deaths occurred in the State of Washington.
On March 2, in order to mitigate the spread of colds, flu, and other contagious illnesses, Archbishop Carlson asked that all parishes of the Archdiocese begin taking the same precautionary measures throughout the Archdiocese. We have been doing many of these precautions since the beginning of February. The following three lists contain what our mass monitors and staff members will continue doing, some changes that will affect our past practices, and a few reminders.
Rev. Chuck Barthel
What our Mass Monitors and Staff Members are being asked to do:- Sanitize all sacred vessels before and after all Masses (with soap and hot water), because germs may survive on surfaces up to 24 or more hours.
- Holy Water fonts have been emptied and will remain so for the time being.
- Encourage good hygiene, including alcohol-based hand sanitizer lotion in restrooms and public areas, and proper cough-and-sneeze etiquette. It is especially important for extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to implement these measures.
- A hand sanitizer will be placed by the Holy Water font in the vestibule.
Changes that will affect our parish practices:- The exchange of the sign of peace is to be exchanged as a verbal greeting.
- Holy Communion is encouraged to be received in the hand.
- The reception of the Precious Blood by the faithful via the chalice is suspended.
- When possible, parishioners should try to keep a distance of three feet from the nearest neighbor.
- Specifically for our parish, we will not be holding hands for the praying of the Our Father.
Reminders:- Please check in on those who would be considered high risk / most vulnerable such as: our older parishioners who may be living by themselves, persons with disabilities, teenagers and children.
- For those who are considered high risk, remember that you have the option to participate in the Mass on TV via channels such as EWTN.
- People with a respiratory infection, the flu, a fever or a serious cold are not bound to attend the Sunday Eucharist and are encouraged to stay home.
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