Update from Father Michael – Holy Tuesday – April 7, 2020

A reminder that our Holy Week schedule, including Easter, is posted on our parish web site - stcolumbaonline.org.

We are delighted that so many are watching our livestream liturgies. Most of our livestreams are from our tiny rectory chapel. It was designed by Bishop Colacicco almost 20 years ago for private prayer and as a place where a priest could offer private Mass by himself on a day off, etc. That is why the altar is against the wall. It was not designed for public Mass. There is simply no room to add another altar. No liturgical statement is being made. Let us be grateful that we have a sacred and holy place to offer Mass for our parish during this difficult time. We are all very thankful to Father Connolly for all the technological work he has done.

You have noticed that only priests are involved in the livestreams. This is for everyone's safety - priests, deacons, musicians, lectors, etc. We are asked to continue to shelter in place. We pray that this will end soon! 

Our clergy – deacons and priests - have been making some phone calls to parishioners and we have discovered that some phone numbers in our database are incorrect or disconnected. Perhaps you changed your number or stopped using a landline? If your phone number (or anything else) changed in recent years, please help us keep our database up to date – manager@stcolumbaonline.org.

We have changed our bulletin company. We are no longer using JS Paluch. We have switched to John Patrick Publishing. Do not respond to JS Paluch regarding bulletin ads. We hope to begin publishing a physical bulletin on May 3. In the meantime, a download version is on our website: www.stcolumbaonline.org.

Bishop Colacicco will be leading “The Seven Last Words” on Good Friday from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. You can livestream it here:  saintpatrickscathedral.org/live.

My favorite classical singer by far is Andrea Bocelli. By invitation of the Duomo in Milan, he will be offering a special solo performance on Easter Sunday at 1:00 pm NY time. Tune in: www. youtube.com/andreabocelli.

Our yearly Easter Collection is our second largest annual collection (Christmas is first). You can well imagine that your parish will take a huge financial hit by not having public Easter Sunday Mass. We thank you for your generous annual Easter Gift to your parish. You can mail your gift (St. Columba – PO Box 428 – Hopewell Jct NY 12533), drop it in the St. Vincent DePaul box in church or make a one-time gift or weekly gift on – stcolumbahj.weshareonline.org. God bless you!

The annual Good Friday Collection for the Holy Land has been postponed. We will hold this collection at another time. 

Thanks for your patience and understanding during these difficult days. Let us continue to pray for one another!