FINANCE COMMITTEE CORNER

Last Sunday $5,988 was received in the offertory baskets at Mass and $5,034 was received through WeShare, for a total of $11,022.

Thank you for so generously giving to our regular collection.
 

CRS Rice Bowl: This Lent, our parish community joins nearly 14,000 Catholic communities

across the United States to participate in a life-changing Lenten journey with CRS Rice Bowl.

CRS Rice Bowl is a faith-in-action Lenten program for families, individuals and faith communities with family activities, meatless meals, prayers and reflections. Rice Bowl invites Catholics to live in solidarity with our most vulnerable brothers and sisters through the Lenten pillars of Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. Pick up a flyer at the church entrance. Also, join CRS

Rice Bowl’s on-line community at crsricebowl.org.

Place your cardboard Rice Bowl, or a family bowl, in a prominent place to collect the money you save from what you give up for Lent. We will collect Rice Bowls with your sacrificial donations on Palm Sunday.

Remember, what you give up for Lent changes lives.
 

MNYCCM Lenten Reflection

As Lent continues and we seek to live within the limits of our place in creation, be conscious of your use of plastic.  More than 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year. Try to give up single-use plastics, “fasting” from commonly discarded items such as water bottles, straws, plastic shopping bags and Styrofoam. For instance, rather than using disposable cups, bring your own coffee cup to work. Your merchants were the world’s important people. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray. (Revelations 18:23)

Dear Parishioners and Friends:

A Coronavirus Prayer (From America Magazine)

Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.

Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care.

Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another.

Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders.

Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.

Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with you in your eternal peace.

Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace.

Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace.

Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks. May they know your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth.

Whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few, Jesus Christ, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace.

Jesus Christ, heal us.  

•••

We are taking precautions to try and keep all of us healthy and safe. We have stopped offering the cup. In trying to avoid hand-to-hand contact, we ask that people receive the host in the palm of the hand, not on the tongue and for the sign of peace, a simple wave or a nod.  We have emptied holy water fonts.  We are regularly wiping down the pews and railings with disinfectant.  We are discouraging holding meetings and have temporarily cancelled all non-liturgical functions.  We have suspended our Sunday CCD (Religious Education) classes.  Please—if you are not feeling well, know that you are excused from attending Mass.  We need to do all that we can for our own well-being and for the safety of us and our brothers and sisters.  Most importantly, let us pray for one another and for all those affected by the coronavirus.

Father David Nolan