Updates from Father Michael – May 6, 2020
“Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever
been able to satisfy the heart?” St. Gerard Majella
Father Connolly continues to live away from St. Columba.
He and Father Masi from St. Mary’s, Fishkill are attempting to enter hospitals
and nursing homes to provide the sacraments and last rites of the church. Most
of you know how difficult this has become. Some of you have not even been
allowed at the bedside of a dying relative. In my mind, this has been the very
worst aspect of the pandemic, and there are plenty of terrible things
happening. Because of this attempt, they need to be isolated and cannot enter
their rectories without a COVID-19 test. Please pray that they may be
successful and stay healthy and safe.
Because Father Connolly is isolating himself, he will not
be available for Confessions here on Saturdays. Only I will be
available – outdoors normally and in the corner of the church if it rains.
Please be reminded that St. Denis has two priests available for confessions on
Saturdays from 8:00-8:45 am & 3:30–4:30 pm (rectory porch) and St. Mary,
Fishkill has two priests on Saturdays from 4:00 – 5:00 pm. If you are elderly,
at risk, or ill, please remember that you can examine your conscience, make a
perfect Act of Contrition, and come back to confessions when conditions change.
Sad news – the ordinations of Steve Broussard and Dennis
McCormack to the Permanent Deaconate have been postponed. A new date has not
been set. We will announce when a new date has been chosen by Cardinal Dolan. Their
reception was to be our annual Parish Picnic but that has now been cancelled.
Many disappointments, but we do not give up hope! Their day will come!
Gary has discovered some of our collection envelopes from
DP Murphy have not been delivered on time. The Post Office is having challenges
with staffing, as are many companies. Thanks for your patience. We will watch
the situation.
Our livestreams are available after each event on our
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/saintcolumbahopewell.
We are working with Mike Minor to set up a permanent camera system in the
church. We plan to livestream a Sunday Mass each weekend for our homebound
parishioners. It will also give us the ability to record and post Confirmations,
First Communions, Graduations, etc.
Soon we will offer the opportunity to request Announced Mass
Intentions. Thanks for your patience. We must wait a while longer to determine
our Mass schedule. In the meantime, you are always welcome to request
unannounced Mass Intentions. Please mail your request (or drop it in the SVDP
box) with the name of the intention and the $10.00 donation.
I had planned to lead a Pilgrimage to Oberammergau this
summer. It is cancelled and we are planning a new Pilgrimage to Oberammergau (Austria
& Germany) in 2022. When the details are firmed up, we will make the
Pilgrimage available first to all who signed up for 2020. If any openings
remain, it will be opened to all. It is scheduled for late July and early
August 2022. More details to come!
Tonight at 8PM
ET, Mark Hart and Emily Wilson will be going live on the Ascension Facebook
page to discuss that source and summit of our Faith, the Mass. It’s the first
part of a four-part series that will be running every Wednesday in May where
we’ll be rediscovering the beauty and richness of the Mass.
To watch the video, simply click the button below or go to facebook.com/ascensionpress
If you do not see the video after 8 p.m. ET please refresh your browser and the video should be visible! Sometimes it takes a moment to become visible.
To watch the video, simply click the button below or go to facebook.com/ascensionpress
If you do not see the video after 8 p.m. ET please refresh your browser and the video should be visible! Sometimes it takes a moment to become visible.
“The fruit of silence
is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit
of love is service. The fruit of service is peace.” St. Teresa of Calcutta
