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“Let your life reflect the faith you have in God. Fear nothing and pray about everything. Be strong, trust God's word, and trust that God holds you close.”
April 1, 2020
My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We have begun a new month. Each one brings with us a time of promise and hope for today and tomorrow. In a few days, we will enter the most sacred and meaningful weeks in all of history. However, we will observe this week very differently as we continue to follow the procedures in place to limit the impact of this pandemic on our area.
The Bishop issued the following directive this morning:
In order to both provide for the safety of the faithful and to attend to your well-being,
I am directing that all of our church buildings and chapels be closed until further notice. Government health officials have indicated that the next two weeks will usher in a virulent spread of the COVID-19 virus. Therefore, Church buildings are not to be open for any period of time during the day or night. Access to all parish buildings is to be strictly limited to staff that are essential for onsite requirements relating to maintenance of the buildings that cannot be delayed.
Mass will continue to be live-streamed daily at 8:30 AM and will be live-streamed, God willing at 10:30 on Sunday. As I have been asked, the palm this year will be neither blessed nor distributed this year. Sorry! Under the new directive, all devotions and Masses will be live-streamed but not accessible to anyone except staff members and liturgical ministers. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be from 2 - 3 PM with the Divine Mercy Chaplet prayed at 3 PM daily, Stations of the Cross will be prayed at 7 PM on Friday. We will continue to provide for those who need items from the food pantry. No person or family should be in need of non-perishable groceries simply contact me and arrangements will be made.
I have been contacted by individuals from the parish who are willing and able to pick up groceries and other essentials for members of our community who either cannot or should not be out at this time. If you are that person, please let me know. There is no reason why any person immunocompromised or advanced in years should be out when there are others willing to do that for them.
There is so much information available about this virus. If you would like to view a video which I found to be practical, helpful, informative and from an excellent source please view on YouTube a video: Protecting Your Family from COVID-19 by Dr. David Price, a critical care pulmonologist who spends his days now caring for COVID-19 patients at Weill Cornell Hospital in New York. Dr. Price also answers questions that were posed to him in the last segment of the video. The video is close to an hour. Well worth it.
Looking for something to do as a family or by yourself for Palm Sunday in addition to praying Mass from your home? What if everyone on Sunday morning, put something green – a ribbon, branch, something that looks like palm - on the door of their house or on the window, to celebrate Palm Sunday? It could be any green branch you can get. This would help, despite the social distancing, to be connected as we enter into the Holiest of Weeks. We may be physically isolated, but not separated. We are united as the body of Christ. We are the Church.
Finally, (for today), I have an awesome aunt who along with most of my family live in Ireland. Some of you have met her through her various trips here. She sends me an assortment of inspiring, and funny texts daily. Here is one that you may benefit from, I did.
L.O.C.K.D.O.W.N. is a time to:
L-is ten to God’s voice and reflect on your blessings.
O-pen your heart and obey His word and His teachings.
C-all on Jesus’ name and be calm.
K-now that God is in our midst through all of this.
D-well in His presence. Do not panic.
O-ffer a prayer for everyone’s safety especially healthcare and essential workers.
W-ait and be patient. This too shall pass.
N-urture our personal relationship with Him.
Be assured of my ongoing prayers for each of you. If I can assist you in any way again I am only a text, email or phone call away. Please continue to pray for me.
Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us, St. Vincent de Paul, pray for us.
Peace,
Fr. Richard -
From Bishop Serratelli:
My dear friends in Christ,
We are living through an historic time. It can either shake our spirit or strengthen our resolve. I encourage you to find solace in our Catholic faith that we hold so dear.
While the public celebration of Mass is currently unavailable at our parishes, it is more important than ever to keep our faith in the forefront of our lives. Please visit our diocesan website at www.patersondiocese.org/coronavirus for some good and helpful information. It includes a video message from me, a spiritual communion prayer and various options for viewing Mass on-line.
During these coming weeks, as we continue to stay close to home, I have asked diocesan staff to reach out to you by email on my behalf to keep you informed about our diocesan response to the coronavirus outbreak and to update you as needed.
In the meantime, please be assured of my prayers for you and your loved ones. I ask you to pray for me, your pastor and your parish community during this difficult time for our nation, our world and our Church. May Mary the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the United States, bestow her blessings on our country and unite us so that we may emerge from this challenge strengthened in our faith and enriched as a community of believers.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Arthur J. Serratelli, S.T.D., S.S.L., D.D.
Bishop of Paterson
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FRIDAY- 7PM
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Today's Readings
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Reading 1 Jer 20:10-13Responsorial Psalm 18:2-3a, 3bc-4, 5-6, 7Gospel Jn 10:31-42
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