Easter Sunday is April 12, 2020
Good Friday is April 10, 2020
Palm Sunday is April 5, 2020
Good Friday is April 10, 2020
Palm Sunday is April 5, 2020
Lenten Journey: Katie Price reminded us that as disciples we give of ourselves to follow the Lord. May our Lenten Sacrifice help us to grow in holiness that lasts throughout our lives rather than simply 40 days.
Note: St Thomas Church will be open from 5:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday for Private Reflective prayer.
St. Mary's Church will be open 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, noon - 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday.
- The Stations of the Cross devotion is available for private individual prayer.
- The Rosary can be offered individually or as a family at home or during the hours listed above at church.
Note: St Thomas Church will be open from 5:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday for Private Reflective prayer.
St. Mary's Church will be open 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, noon - 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday.
- The Stations of the Cross devotion is available for private individual prayer.
- The Rosary can be offered individually or as a family at home or during the hours listed above at church.
Please check the bulletin and/or emails or St. Thomas' and St. Mary's facebook pages and websites for information as it becomes available for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. While April 7 was the target date for resuming activity, the quarantine could be extended. Accordingly, the times of service and church opening for private reflection will be determined for each day.
If not able to celebrate public Mass/liturgy on those days, I plan to provide Holy Communion to our parishioners who request it.
Fr. Dean
3/27/2020
Palm Sunday: Next Sunday begins the Holiest Week for us as Christians. Christ enters into Jerusalem to acclamations of making Him "king." It turns into the Passion of our Lord.
I hope to be able to stream live the Mass and then provide drive thru only pickup of palms beginning at 5:00 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary's, with families A-M coming 5-5:30 p.m. and N-Z 6-7 p.m. On Sunday at St. Thomas with families A-G 9-9:30 a.m., H-P 9:30-10 a.m., and Q-Z 10-10:30 a.m. I am trying to provide for the protection of people while enabling the celebration of our faith.
Fr. Dean
3/27/2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we begin the Lenten Season on Ash Wednesday, we are reminded that we are a sacrificial people united with Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross. Jesus called us to take up the cross and follow him. To that end, we mark ourselves with the Ashes from the Palms of the previous Palm Sunday in which we hail Jesus as our King. The words “Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel” remind us that if we claim Christ as our King and Savior, we are to listen to his words and put them into action.
During Lent we are called to deepen our prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is to unite ourselves more fully with the love of God and His mercy through Jesus. On the day of judgment Jesus tells us that we will be separated as sheep from goats. Whatever we have done for the least of our brothers and sisters, we have done for Him. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta would call us to remember Jesus’ words on the fingers of the hand, “You did it to me.”
Recently Katie Price, Director of our Diocesan Office for Discipleship and Stewardship, told a group of parishioners at a mini-mission focused on “Preparing for Best Lent Ever”, Discipleship and Stewardship is a way of life, not a focus on doing something for “40 Days”. Our Lenten sacrifices are to help us grow in holiness throughout our lives. The question likely for each of us to consider is “What do I need to do this Lent that reflects the Ashes in which I am marked? “Turn away from sin....and believe in the Gospel.”
This weekend we hear again the word of God. “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy” and “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The commands of Jesus: “You have heard it said, what I say to you: “Give to the one who asks of you” ... “love your enemies”. What increase in prayer, fasting and almsgiving will lead me to turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel, sharing in the Victory of Christ’s Cross at Easter?
I pray that your Lenten Season will unite you and myself more closely to Jesus. God Bless You.
- Fr. Dean
2/23/2020
As we begin the Lenten Season on Ash Wednesday, we are reminded that we are a sacrificial people united with Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross. Jesus called us to take up the cross and follow him. To that end, we mark ourselves with the Ashes from the Palms of the previous Palm Sunday in which we hail Jesus as our King. The words “Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel” remind us that if we claim Christ as our King and Savior, we are to listen to his words and put them into action.
During Lent we are called to deepen our prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is to unite ourselves more fully with the love of God and His mercy through Jesus. On the day of judgment Jesus tells us that we will be separated as sheep from goats. Whatever we have done for the least of our brothers and sisters, we have done for Him. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta would call us to remember Jesus’ words on the fingers of the hand, “You did it to me.”
Recently Katie Price, Director of our Diocesan Office for Discipleship and Stewardship, told a group of parishioners at a mini-mission focused on “Preparing for Best Lent Ever”, Discipleship and Stewardship is a way of life, not a focus on doing something for “40 Days”. Our Lenten sacrifices are to help us grow in holiness throughout our lives. The question likely for each of us to consider is “What do I need to do this Lent that reflects the Ashes in which I am marked? “Turn away from sin....and believe in the Gospel.”
This weekend we hear again the word of God. “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy” and “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The commands of Jesus: “You have heard it said, what I say to you: “Give to the one who asks of you” ... “love your enemies”. What increase in prayer, fasting and almsgiving will lead me to turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel, sharing in the Victory of Christ’s Cross at Easter?
I pray that your Lenten Season will unite you and myself more closely to Jesus. God Bless You.
- Fr. Dean
2/23/2020
Lenten Regulations
1. Abstinence - Everyone 14 years of age and over is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.
2. Fast - Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 is required to fast on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday. On these two days of fast and abstinence, only one full meatless meal is permitted. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each person's needs, but together these two should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids (including milk and fruit juices) are allowed.
3. To Disregard completely the law of fast and abstinence is seriously sinful.
1. Abstinence - Everyone 14 years of age and over is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.
2. Fast - Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 is required to fast on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday. On these two days of fast and abstinence, only one full meatless meal is permitted. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each person's needs, but together these two should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids (including milk and fruit juices) are allowed.
3. To Disregard completely the law of fast and abstinence is seriously sinful.