A blessed Memorial Day to you. It is a day to remember all who made the supreme sacrifice to preserve the freedoms that you and I enjoy. We usually gather at St. Denis Cemetery for an outdoor Mass, but sadly, not this year. I will offer a Memorial Day livestream Mass at 8:30 am. Special readings and prayers will be chosen.

A reminder that our Rectory Office is closed on Memorial Day and the church will also be closed. Our East Fishkill Supervisor, Nick D'Alessandro, has asked me to record a Memorial Day Prayer for the Town Service. It was written by a Jesuit friend. Here is the text:

With Gratitude and Honor

May 21, 2020

Dear Parishioners,

Cardinal Dolan will hold a Press Conference today (Thursday, May 21) at 11:00am to detail plans for the gradual reopening of our churches and return to sacramental life. We are grateful that the governor recognizes the strong desire of our people to resume religious services in a safe and responsible manner.

Please understand that this will be a process, taking place in phases. Actual dates and detailed descriptions of each phase will be forthcoming as time goes on, in consultation with health and government officials and in consideration of current health metrics. It is expected that different regions of the Archdiocese will begin the process of reopening at different times.

Phase 1 – Churches open for private prayer and confession
Phase 2 – Celebration of Baptisms and Marriages (limited to 10 attendees)
Phase 3 – Celebration of the Rite of Distributing Holy Communion Outside of Mass
Phase 4 – Celebration of Daily and Funeral Masses with limited attendance
Phase 5 – Celebration of Sunday Mass with limits on attendance (25% capacity of church)
Phase 6 – Resume full Sacramental life
Permission is granted to have outdoor Masses. It is yet to be determined at which phase this will be permitted. This will certainly be offered at St. Columba.
 
Regarding church attendance:

1. The obligation to attend Mass is suspended until further notice.
2. Those at a higher risk for COVID-19 (those older than 65 or have underlying health conditions) are urged NOT to come to church for Mass until it is safer to do so. Those who should not attend can continue to pray privately, watch a broadcast or livestream Mass, and make an Act of Spiritual Communion.
3. Those who feel sick in any way or who are worried about attendance should not enter the church.
4. In accord with current state policy, everyone over two years old must wear a cloth mask when in the church building.
5. All should carry hand sanitizer with them and use it frequently.
6. All must stay 6 feet away from others. Pews will be marked. Families may sit together.

 
These are just the basics. I and Gary Bartilucci have been doing some preliminary work. But now we are forming a Task Force to understand everything that must be done so that we can be ready for each phase. Our first meeting will be Tuesday.
 
We ask for everyone’s patience as we move to put many safety requirements in place. We will communicate with you as always via Flock Notes, Facebook, and our Website. Please encourage any parishioner you know to sign up for Flock Notes, and please try to keep your fellow parishioners who do not use technology in the loop. Give them a call and tell them what is going on!
 
It is a good step forward, but we have much work to do. Pray for us!
 
Sincerely,
Father Michael P. McLoughlin
Pastor
 

New Way to Give to St. Columba – We Share

Our Collections are down by ½. Our annual Easter Collection was much less than usual! We need your help before we go into the red. That’s why we are offering you a new way to support your parish – We Share.

We Share is On Line giving with new options – you can give using a bank account, credit card or debit card. It is easy, safe and secure. It is used by hundreds of parishes. It is under your control! For questions and support go to: https://www.4lpi.com/my-account/donor-support/

This is a great new way to support St. Columba. If you are presently using E-Giving, you can stay or switch, your choice. If you want to switch to We Share, email manager@stcolumbaonline.org.

To get started, just click the image below. Thanks for supporting your parish, especially during these difficult days!

Please click on the icon below to start online giving:

St. Columba LIVESTREAM - Click here: http://www.facebook.com/stcolumbahj
Videos also archived on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/saintcolumbahopewell

LITURGY SCHEDULE DURING THIS TIME OF PANDEMIC

Saturday
Livestream Mass at 7:30 am in Rectory Chapel
Confessions 8:30 - 9:00 am & 4:00 - 5:00 pm - Outdoors - side parking lot
If at all possible, please wear a facemask & keep social distance. Thank you!
Church open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Sunday
Livestream Mass at 9:00 am in church (private, doors locked)
Church open 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Monday - Friday
Church open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Livestream Mass at 8:30 am from rectory chapel
Adoration 4:00 - 8:00 pm

You are required to wear a facemask when you enter church or for confessions. You must keep it on during your time in church. This is for the safety of all. Thank you!

PLEASE BE REMINDED – BEFORE ENTERING OUR CHURCH – THINK – Do you have any cold or flu-like symptoms? – Have you spent time with anyone with a cold or flu-like symptoms? IF ANY APPLY TO YOU – DO NOT ENTER  – Stay home and get better - then come back!  Thank you!

Please consider placing a Divine Mercy Image - Jesus, I Trust In You - on your door. Click here for information: Divine Mercy Shrine Video

Prayer Requests – The Prayer Intention Books in the narthex have been removed for safety. We still want to pray for your Intentions, especially for those who have the corona virus or have lost their lives because of it. We also want to pray for those on the front lines – doctors, nurses, emergency service workers and the people who care for our every day needs like grocery store workers, and those delivering the mail and our packages. Send your Intentions to prayer@stcolumbaonline.org. 

The Parish Office is closed. You may leave messages and we will try to check the phones as frequently as we can. There is always emergency access. Please mail your donations or drop them in the Poor Box in the church (or better yet join We Share – see above!).

Baptisms can only be held in emergencies. We cannot schedule Baptisms until restrictions are lifted.

Funeral Masses or services in the church or funeral home can not be conducted. Burial prayers may be offered outdoors in a cemetery with the proper distancing of people. We will be happy to arrange Memorial Masses as soon as restrictions are lifted.

No weddings at the present time unless necessary. Only the bride, groom, two witnesses and priest may be present. Call to reschedule any existing weddings. We can only schedule new weddings with the understanding that conditions may change, calling for a postponement. 

Wedding Anniversaries - 25th & 50th - have been moved to Sunday, September 20. More information when restrictions are lifted.

Confessions will still be offered but only outdoors in our side parking lot with proper distancing. In case of rain, we will be inside in the far corners of the church. Please, if you have any cold or flu like symptoms, make a perfect Act of Contrition and come when you are better. Please do wear a facemask.

Adoration time will be Monday to Friday 4:00 – 8:00 pm. No group devotions – all prayers to be said privately. No Benediction. We can have nothing that would gather people – this is for their own protection. 

Communion can only be administered as Viaticum (in danger of death).

Anointings of those in danger of death and The Last Rites can possibly be offered, depending on the hospital or nursing home in Dutchess County. They can be offered at home. Call our St. Columba Emergency line.

First Communions have been rescheduled for October 17 at 9:30 am and 12:00 noon and on October 24 at 9:30 am. These dates may have to be adjusted for safety's sake.
 
Confirmations have been rescheduled for September 26 and October 3, 2020. These dates may have to be adjusted for safety's sake. 
 
Visits of Eucharistic Ministers are suspended. Normal house visits and house blessings are not possible at this time. 
 
Care Ministry usually offers rides to doctors and home visits. This is not possible right now. But they are happy to offer telephone calls to anyone who may feel isolated and would like to talk to a fellow parishioner. They are now in contact with over twenty parishioners. Call 227-7430 and leave a message.
 
St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry is available. Some of our parishioners may have been laid off or lost their jobs. The food pantry can help you – call 227-7863 and leave a message – they will get back to you. Please consider making a donation toward our Food Pantry. Make your check payable to SVDP Food Pantry. Send it to St. Columba Church, SVDP Food Pantry, PO Box 428. Hopewell Junction NY 12533.
 
Catholic Schools are physically closed for the rest of the school year. The children continue to do online learning. The office at St. Denis – St. Columba School is closed but you can leave messages.
 
Religious Education Programs and Youth Ministry Programs are closed for the school year. The Religious Ed Office is closed but you can leave messages. 
 
These changes are very difficult! Let us pray together for an end to this pandemic, for the well-being of all, and for the safety of those on the front lines, especially doctors and nurses. Let us do our part to slow down and stop the spread of this virus.
 
Your priests love you and miss seeing you. Let us pray for one another. Do not be afraid!
 
 Act of Spiritual Communion: It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Prayer for Spiritual Communion My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, Come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there And unite myself wholly to you.  Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

Prayer to the Virgin Mary for Protection O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick. At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith. You, Our Lady of New York, know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father’s will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
 
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.

See Video
https://vimeo.com/386732628

To give to the Cardinal's Appeal
https://Cardinalsappeal.org

Blog By Father Connolly
https://www.millennialpriestblog.com

Podcast - "Raising Saints" for Catholic Families by Father Connolly & Alexandra Sullivan
https://anchor.fm/raisingsaints

On our home page, click on ABOUT, then click on
"A Scriptural Tour of our Stained Glass Windows" on side bar, for our Church layout, history and stained glass windows. Second document contains an explanation of each statue located within our Parish.

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