Friday, February 19, 2021

Mass Music and Updates from St. Columba - February 20-21

 

Music for February 21, 2021 ~ First Sunday of Lent

 

Entrance

1.         Forty days and forty nights

            You were fasting in the wild;

            Forty days and forty nights

            Tempted, and yet undefiled.

 

2.         Shall not we your sorrow share

            And from worldly joys abstain,

            Fasting with unceasing prayer,

            Strong with you to suffer pain?

 

Psalm Response: Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.

 

Gospel Acclamation: 

Praise and honor to you, O Lord, O Lord. Praise and honor to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Presentation

1.         Tree of Life and awesome myst'ry,

            In your death we are reborn,

            Though you die in all of hist'ry,

            Still you rise with ev'ry morn,

            Still you rise with ev'ry morn.

 

2.         Seed that dies to rise in glory,

            May we see ourselves in you,

            If we learn to live your story

            We may die to rise anew,

            We may die to rise anew.

 

3.         We remember truth once spoken,

            Love passed on through act and word,

            Ev'ry person lost and broken

            Wears the body of our Lord,

            Wears the body of our Lord.

 

4.         Gentle Jesus, mighty Spirit,

            Come inflame our hearts anew,

            We may all your joy inherit

            If we bear the cross with you,

            If we bear the cross with you.

 

5.         Christ, you lead and we shall follow,

            Stumbling though our steps may be,

            One with you in joy and sorrow,

            We the river, you the sea,

            We the river, you the sea.

 

Communion

Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble, be with me, Lord, I pray. 

 

1.         You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord, Most High,

            who abide in the shadow of our God,

            say to the Lord: “My refuge and fortress,

            the God in whom I trust.”

 

2.         No evil shall befall you, no pain come near,

            for the angels stand close by your side,

            guarding you always and bearing you gently,

            watching over your life.

 

3.         Those who cling to the Lord live secure in God's love,

            lifted high, those who trust in God's name,

            call on the Lord who will never forsake you.

            God will bring you salvation and joy.

 

(If needed:)

Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy; come seek the tender faithfulness of God.

 

1.         Now the time of grace has come, the day of salvation;

            come and learn now the way of our God.

 

2.         I will take your heart of stone and place a heart within you,

            a heart of compassion and love.

 

3.         If you break the chains of oppression, if you set the pris'ner free;

            if you share your bread with the hungry, give protection to the lost;

            give a shelter to the homeless, clothe the naked in your midst,

            then your light shall break forth like the dawn.

 

No Recessional hymn during Lent

 

Used with permission under ONELICENSE #A700-703. All rights reserved.

 

 

THE CARDINAL’S APPEAL 2021 HAS BEGUN

It is in the spirit of conversion, charity, and love of neighbor, that we appeal to you once again for your generosity in contributing to the Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal – 2021. 

 

Some may have already received a letter from Cardinal Dolan explaining the appeal.  But allow us to briefly explain the goals of the fund. 

 Where will the money go?

(1)  To support financially stricken parishes, many of which are struggling to service the faithful

(2)  To support feeding programs and other essential human services

(3)  To support our Catholic schools and various faith formation activities

(4)  To contribute to the education of new parish priests

(5)  To care for our retired priests who continue to pray and make sacrifices for us.

(6)  And, as we learned from 2020, to set aside funds to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.

The total goal of the Archdiocese for this year is $21 million.  Our parish goal is $97,000.   Each family will be given the opportunity to make a one-time gift or commit to a monthly pledge.  You can make your donations online through www.cardinalsappeal.org. Make sure to note Parish #392 – St. Columba HJ.

We understand that your situation may have changed, especially due to COVID and we invite you to prayerfully consider a contribution and participate in this year’s appeal as you are able.   For those of you who will participate for the first time, and for those of you who have been participating in our online Masses, thank you very much for your effort and commitment to remain connected with the parish.  Your participation is vital to the success of the Cardinal’s Appeal.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support. We know that with God’s grace, all things are possible and with Him, we can achieve all things.

CARDINAL’S APPEAL 2021 as of February 12, 2021

Parish Goal - $97,000.00

Pledges from Parishioners - $38,622.00

Number of Gifts – 114

Average Gift - $338.79

God bless you and thank you for your generosity!

 

PARISH AND PASTOR EVALUATION – FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT

This year Father Michael McLoughlin will be completing his first six-year term as Pastor of St. Columba Church in Hopewell Junction. In keeping with Archdiocesan policy, an evaluation of the parish has begun.  Parishioners and staff who wish to do so may write letters with their own comments about our parish and the pastoral leadership of the parish.  Please address your letters to:

                                                The Office of Priest Personnel

                                                Archdiocese of New York

                                                1011 First Avenue

                                                New York, New York 10022

Letters should be received no later than February 28, 2021. 

Any correspondence received after the deadline will NOT be included in the evaluation process.

 

LENTEN FAST AND ABSTINENCE

During the season of Lent, the Church urges the faithful to reflect a spirit of penance in their daily lives through performing acts of fast and abstinence.

+Lent ends on Holy Thursday, April 1.

+Good Friday is a day of fast and abstinence. This is a serious matter within Church law.

+Fasting means only one full meal a day may be taken. Two smaller meals can be eaten to maintain physical strength but together they should not equal another full meal in quantity. Snacking between meals is not permitted. Catholics ages 18-59 are obliged to fast on Good Friday. Those who are not specifically obliged to fast are encouraged to join in the discipline of fasting to the extent that they are able. 2

+Abstinence forbids the eating of meat or poultry. Those who have reached the age of 14 or older are obliged to abstain on all Fridays of Lent. Those who are not specifically obliged to abstain from eating meat are urged to join in the discipline of abstaining to the extent that they are able.

+All Fridays of the year are designated as days of penance during which we are encouraged to practice self-denial out of gratitude for the suffering and death Jesus accepted for us.

+The time for fulfilling the Easter Duty extends from the First Sunday of Lent (February 21) to Holy Trinity Sunday (May 30).


DAILY MASS – NEW SCHEDULE

Beginning in Lent, here is our Daily Mass schedule:

Monday-Wednesday-Friday – 7:00 am

Tuesday-Thursday – 12:00 noon

Saturday – 8:00 am.

 

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Every Friday in Lent at 7:00 pm – except March 19 (Confirmation).

 

OPERATION RICE BOWL

Collecting coins each day and placing them in your Rice Bowl is an excellent way to participate in almsgiving this Lent. Your donations will be sent to Catholic Relief Services. Rice Bowls are now available, and they include a Lenten Calendar.

 

ADORATION DURING LENT

Our Adoration Chapel continues to be closed, but we have moved Adoration to our Church. Join us Monday to Thursday from 4:00 – 8:00 pm (Fridays 4:00 pm and concluding with Benediction at 6:40 pm) We would like to resume our devotions:

4:00 pm – Divine Mercy Chaplet

7:00 pm – Rosary

7:40 pm – Night Prayer and Benediction

We hope that all who led these devotions will resume. Let Deacon Chris or Deacon Steve know. Please remember that we will not be providing books. You must bring your own.

 

CONFESSIONS IN LENT

Every Saturday at 8:30-9:00 am and 4:00 – 5:00 pm

Reconciliation Monday – March 29 – 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm

 

PEOPLE OF THE PASSION - LENTEN TALKS AND HOLY HOURS BY FATHER MICHAEL AND FATHER CONNOLLY

Mondays 7:00pm – 8:00 pm include Talk, Compline, Benediction – in church and Livestreamed.

Monday February 22 – Mary, The Mother of Jesus – Father Connolly

Monday, March 1 – Peter – Father Michael

Monday, March 8 – Pontius Pilate – Father Michael

Monday, March 15 – The Centurion – Father Connolly

 

SOLEMN LENTEN VESPERS – SUNDAYS IN LENT AT 6:00 PM – ST. COLUMBA CHURCH

Father Connolly will lead Solemn Vespers, the Evening Prayer of the Church from the Liturgy of the Hours. All are welcome – February 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28.