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Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to participate in liturgical ministries such as usher/greeter, Eucharistic Minister, altar server, lector or sacristan. You have gone through the COVID-19 training and are making it possible for us to celebrate more Masses indoors. The entire parish owes you a great deal of gratitude. Because of your time and devotion, we are going to be able to provide two more Masses on Sundays, 9:00 am Mass at St. Vitus and an 11:00 am Mass at
St. Camillus. So, on the first Sunday of Advent, the last weekend of November, the 28th and 29th, our new Mass schedule will be as follows:
Saturday evening: 4:00 pm Mass at St. Vitus and
4:00 pm Mass at St. Camillus,
on Sunday morning: 8:00 am Mass at St. Mary,
9:00 am Mass at St. Vitus,
10:00 Mass, weather permitting, at the Sears parking lot, and
11:00 am at St. Camillus.
Our pastoral team is working on the schedule for Christmas Masses. We will announce that schedule as soon as possible. With all of the COVID-19 restrictions and sanitization that needs to be done, we have to be wise in the way we go about scheduling the liturgies. We have no idea how many people will choose to come to Mass. The Bishop did give us permission to have Masses earlier on Christmas Eve. However, that does not account for all of the lay help which we need to make the liturgy possible, safe, and COVID-19 compliant.
Thanks again for those of you able-bodied and very generous volunteers
assisting with our sacramental celebrations. We deeply appreciate your
willingness to have your clearances and also the necessary training so that we are all in compliance and everyone knows what they are doing for the well-being of the entire parish community.
A huge thank you again to McClure Realty and all of the businesses in the Union Plaza for allowing us to have our weekend liturgies there since June. Please thank them in person or drop them a line to share our gratitude. Please visit the stores and patronize these businesses who have been so generous and kind to our parish. Also, a huge thank you to the Union Township Police Department for their assistance during our liturgies, helping with traffic and making sure everyone has a safe experience coming and going.
The pandemic has caused a great deal of heartache for many people throughout the world. Locally, families have suffered, and some family members have died. But God always brings about good even out of evil. One of the goods has been to bring us all together and help us all realize what really matters in life.
The pandemic has offered us an opportunity to reprioritize our goals as
individuals and as a community. Gathering in the Sears parking lot to
celebrate Holy Mass has helped bring our community together. It has also been a wonderful opportunity for evangelization! Many non-Catholics have witnessed our desire to worship God. Many who are frequenting stores during Mass, hearing homilies, and hearing us pray together were inspired and enlightened. Some were even attracted to come and join us. God always brings good out of evil. Please take some time to reflect on the good that God has brought about in your own life from your trials and tribulations. I am sure if you prayerfully reflect, He will enlighten you with moments when your life, faith, and experience of His faithfulness were increased because of the trials have you faced. We are about to celebrate Emanuel, God with us. He is always with us, especially in our darkest hours!
For the beginning of Advent, we have available for your spiritual enrichment: “The Little Blue Book” of reflections on the daily scriptures. These can be picked up in the bulletin box at the churches and at the parking lot when you get your bulletin this weekend and next.
Please take only one per family.
God love you,
