Covid-19 updates from the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
Online Mass
Fr. Dean will be streaming all Masses live. Use the following link to the St. Thomas Facebook page to view them: http://www.facebook.com/St-Thomas-Church-108131075895867 Spiritual Media Resources
Consider these links, websites, and ideas for the latest updates and opportunities to continue our faith formation and participation during this time of social distancing. http://www.facebook.com/St-Thomas-Church-108131075895867 https://www.dio.org https://www.dio.org/masslivestreams https://www.dio.org/communications/diocesan-videos.html http://www.dio.org/videos/hey-father.html www.facebook.com/Sacred-Sounds-Sacred-Spaces- 1958084004476459/ Connect with small groups or start your own by checking out a Zoom webinar at http://blog.zoom.us/ wordpress/2020/03/04/best -practices-for-hosting-a-digital- event/?zcid=1231 ENDOW – Join Small Women Group Communities at http://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GOTgNjejR7-DtjsvGQuZkw Books available for check out in the St. Thomas Parish meeting room. Check in on a neighbor or someone that could benefit from hearing a friendly voice |
Welcome to St. Thomas the Apostle Church
Newton, Illinois St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church is located in the city of Newton, Illinois. Our Christian family invites you into our beautiful place of worship to share our faith-filled services, to witness our dedicated community involvement, and to participate in our various church ministries.
Parish Office Hours
St. Thomas - Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. - Noon St. Mary's - Tuesday - Thursday, 8:00 a.m. until noon Online Stewardship Link
During these challenging times, the mission and ministry of our parish continues. Your generous stewardship brings life and supports this parish. To provide for the ongoing vitality of the parish, we are counting on your continued good stewardship. During this time, we hope you will continue to support the parish through your prayer, service, and generous contributions as possible. To support the work of the Church, your contributions are essential. Therefore, we have created an online offertory tool. This online giving platform enables parishioners to donate to the parish via the Parish donation page. The link above enables you to make your Sunday offertory contribution online. Your information remains private and secure. Fr. Dean 3/27/2020 The Rosary is live streamed daily at 3:00 pm or 7:00 pm, depending on Father Dean's other activities.
The Mass schedule is revised due to current limitations and health concerns. All daily and weekend Masses will be streamed live. The schedule can be found on the Home Page, and is in effect until further notice. Information regarding the Distribution of Holy Communion to Individuals Outside of Mass can be found in the bulletin. Reminder that the church doors are locked a half-hour prior to Mass and during Mass. Masses remain closed to the general public. Bishop Paprocki has written a letter to all priests regarding the celebration of Sacraments and has given the following directives regarding the future opening of Churches:
Do not resume the public celebration of Mass until instructed to do so. This letter is not an authorization to re-open public liturgies. Masses are still PRIVATE with allowing for fulfillment of ministries with the liturgy. We are providing for parishioners to be able to return to receiving Holy Communion at this time. I am [Bishop] hopeful that we will be able to do so in June, but much is still unknown about when and under what circumstances it will be deemed safe to return to public life. I give permission for the distribution of Holy Communion at designated times and with proper safety precautions, using the guidelines for the provision of the Sacraments during the coronavirus pandemic developed by the Thomistic Institute at the Pontifical Faculty of the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., which were distributed as a resource to all of the Bishops of the United Stated through the Committee on Divine Worship of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. • Please remind the faithful to stay at home if they are not well, believe they have come into contact with the virus, or believe they are at risk due to factors identified by the Centers for Disease Control and the Illinois Department of Public Health. • Please inform your parishioners about the protocols on how to receive Holy Communion and to respect social distancing. They are reminded that they are not obliged to receive Holy Communion. Distribution of Holy Communion to Individuals Outside of Mass (done while observing strict limits to the size of public gatherings). • Only a small number of the faithful are admitted to the church at any one time (less than 10). • Others stay outside of the church and/or remain in vehicles until their turn to stand in line. • Allow into the church at any time only the number permitted by local health authorities. • The shorter rite for Holy Communion Outside of Mass is used. • Participants are to remove face coverings before coming forward for Holy Communion. • No gloves may be worn by neither the priest nor the recipient of Holy Communion. Hand hygiene is effective against the virus. • The faithful receive Holy Communion is the normal way and then move towards the exit, to another area marked with tape to indicate proper spacing. • The priest then offers a concluding prayer, gives a blessing and dismissal. • The group exits the church by a separate door and the next group is ushered into the church. 5/15/2020 As people around the world struggle to cope with the unprecedented developments related to the highly contagious Novel Coronavirus, the Church's faith life is undergoing significant change. Due to concerns about both public health and spirituality, Bishop Paprocki issued the Proclamation and Directions regarding Eucharistic Fast and Celebration of the Sacraments on Wednesday, March 18. The changes outlined in the Proclamation remain in effect until further notice. If you have any questions, please contact the Parish Office at 618/783-8741. The Proclamation can be found below:
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