may 24, 2020 welcome back! · journey catholic cruises and tours holy land discovery • fatima,...

MAY 24, 2020

ST. MONICA PARISH 212 Lawrence Street, Methuen, MA

ST. LUCY PARISH 254 Merrimack Street, Methuen, MA

RENEW, REBUILD, AND REACH OUT: DISCIPLES IN HEARTFELT COMMUNION WITH JESUS CHRIST

Welcome back!

Great News!!

HIGHLIGHTS MAY 24, 2020

From the Pastor

Well, that was sudden�.and unexpected! From everything we’ve heard, either from the Commonwealth or from the Archdiocese, we were prepared for a Phase II opening of churches several weeks from now. My only hope up to this point was that when we did reopen for public Masses, we could allow large enough numbers of people to attend such that nobody would be turned away. As it is, we begin this weekend at 40% capacity, which should be workable. At the same time, we still have to ensure 6’ social distancing between seats (though families can sit together) so the final number will be somewhere around a hundred. The theme for this weekend is: “Walk Before Run.” First and foremost, anyone who has a vulnerable condition or lives with someone who does, must very seriously consider NOT attending church yet. The obligation to attend Mass is still dispensed, we are still recording the Masses so that they can be viewed from home, and we are using “large-crowd” social distancing protocols for the first time in church, which means perfection is not a possibility. So, as is the case everywhere in society, please use an abundance of caution for yourself and those around you. Second, if you come to church you can expect single-point access at the main doors, ushers counting the number of congregants, the wearing of facial masks, floors marked with tape to direct traffic flow and ensure distancing, modified Communion procedures, etc. etc. etc. Third, the Mass will be fairly simple: no ministry volunteers (not even a choir), no missalettes since we will not be singing as a congregation, just the priest and deacon in the sanctuary, and no sign of peace or holding hands during the Our Father. So, if you like to sit in the back and keep to yourself this Mass is for you! Lastly, you will notice that we are celebrating fewer Masses. You would think we’d have more to ensure maximum participation while maintaining safe distancing, but we also need to sanitize the whole church after each Mass. In addition, we are

not permitted to use an on the spot, volunteer “bucket brigade” after Mass; once again to ensure protection of the parishioners. What this all means is that we must proceed at a very measured pace to reopen the church, with this weekend merely being step one. Let us give thanks to Our Lord that we once again have the opportunity to worship Him in a reverent and simple manner, which has been denied to us up to this point. We must, also, use our reason and patience (also given by God) along with this opportunity, so that we will always move forward in the weeks to come--not back.

Fr. Colarusso will offer the Memorial Day Mass on Catholic TV on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25 with Massachusetts Air National Guard Commander Brigadier General Virginia Gaglio reading and Army PFC Kyle Bernardini serving.

“Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever.” (Psalm 136)

The Public Celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will resume this weekend. Masses will be celebrated at

St. Lucy Church at 4:00pm on Saturdays and 10:00am on Sundays. Masses will be celebrated at St. Monica Church

at 4:00pm on Saturdays and 9:00am and 12:00pm on Sundays. Daily Masses will be celebrated Mondays,

Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:00am at Gethsemane Chapel.

The obligation to attend Sunday Mass is still dispensed. If you or someone with whom you live with has a

vulnerable condition, please seriously consider NOT attending church yet. Sunday Mass and Daily Masses will

continue to be recorded and presented on our YouTube Channel and Methuen Catholic TV.

Please do not arrive for Sunday Masses more than 30 minutes early to give us the ability to properly clean the

church before Mass begins. You do not need to sign up to attend Masses.

Confessions will be offered from 3:00-3:45pm on Saturday afternoons. Both churches will be open

1 hour before the 4:00pm Mass on Saturdays.

• Parishioners five years and older are expected to wear masks while attending mass. Children aged 2-5 yrs. old

will wear masks at the discretion of their parents.

• Maximum occupancy is determined as 40% of each building’s capacity together with the requirement of

maintain a 6’ between members of different households.

• There will be a single point of entry at both churches and Gethsemane chapel. It will be the main doors.

• If we reach capacity, parishioners will be asked to remain outside. A priest or deacon will bring communion out

to you.

• Ushers will greet and count parishioners as they enter the church.

• The floors of the churches will be marked with tape to direct traffic flow and ensure social distancing.

• Seats for a given household have been designated in every-other pew with green or blue painters tape.

Painters Tape has also been used to cordon off pews in order to abide by the 6’ social distancing guidelines.

• There are modified Communion procedures which will be reviewed at each Mass.

• There will be no congregational singing. No missalettes, and no choir.

• Priests and deacons will fulfill all liturgical ministries during mass apart from cantor and organist.

• There will be no sign of peace nor holding hands during the Our Father.

• There should be no congregating in the church building before or after mass.

• Although we are blessed to resume the public celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we have not

resumed communion outreach to the homebound at this point.

HIGHLIGHTS MAY 24, 2020

WHAT PARISHIONERS NEED TO KNOW

WHAT PARISHIONERS CAN EXPECT

HIGHLIGHTS MAY 24, 2020

Offertory envelopes can be mailed to the office (254 Merrimack Street, Methuen, MA 01844).

Our parishes are grateful for your continued support. Thank you!

CENSUS 2020: One thing that became obvious during our efforts to reach parishioners during the past several weeks is the weakness of our database. Our information is simply not up to date. In order to get an accurate picture of you our parishioners and better serve you moving forward, we are going to take a census starting June 1. We will email the census form to everyone on our email list. If you'd like to complete a census but do not have access to email, please contact the office to complete one over the phone. (more information to follow).

We would like to thank all those who have volunteered their time to help others during this pandemic, especially those who participated in our outreach effort by contacting parishioners and all the wonderful ladies who have been cooking for our priests who are ministering to those sick with the Coronavirus. The group of priests serving in this initiative have been staying at St. Monica’s "ranch" house.

We would like to thank our St. Monica Knights of Columbus Council 14725 for sponsoring the Drive In - Drop Off Food Drive on May 16 to benefit our St. Vincent de Paul Society. The food drive was a great success! The Knights did a great job with the entire project and our SVDP pantry is full thanks to our generous parishioners!

ST. MONICA SCHOOL MAY 24, 2020

Parish Offices: 254 Merrimack Street, Methuen

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm St. Monica School: 212 Lawrence St., Methuen

Parish Offices: (978) 683-1193 or (978) 686-3311

St. Monica School: (978) 686-1801 St. Vincent de Paul Society: (978) 686 - 9573

Parishes: methuencatholic@gmail.com School: smsoffice@methuencatholic.org methuencatholic.org stmonicalucymethuen facebook.com/methuencatholic/

STAFF Fr. Darin Colarusso Pastor Fr. Joseph D’Onofrio Parochial Vicar Deacon John Pierce Permanent Deacon Deacon John Kobrenski Permanent Deacon Kera Mansour Business Manager Carolyn Leocata Administrative Assistant Isabela Peixoto Communications Associate Donna Henderson St. Monica School Principal Sharon Tully St. Monica School Administrative Assistant Karl Jackson Director of Faith Formation Eric Berthiaume Music Director - St. Monica Sharon Waning Choir Director/Lead Cantor - St. Lucy Dan Bolster Weekend Organist - St. Lucy Kevin Fitzgerald Facilities Manager (St. Lucy) & RCIA Coordinator

BULLETIN DEADLINE Mondays @ 10 am. Please email all bulletin notices to methuencatholicnews@gmail.com

BAPTISMS Please call the parish office. St. Monica: 2nd Sun. of the month @ 1pm | St. Lucy: 3rd Sun. of the Month @ 1pm

MARRIAGES Please call the Parish Offices at least six months prior to the proposed wedding date and before booking a reception hall.

Please pray for our priests/seminarians/vocations daily. Pick up a Pray for Our Priests calendar and a seminarian prayer card at the back of the church or just use this list each day. Our priests and seminarians need our prayers and we should be praying for vocations!

ST. LUCY PARISH SATURDAY, MAY 23 4:00 pm Leonita Klier SUNDAY, MAY 24 10:00 am People of St. Lucy and St. Monica Parishes SATURDAY, MAY 30 4:00 pm Vincent and Mary Rizzo

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ST. MONICA PARISH SATURDAY, MAY 23 8:00 am (Private Mass) Joseph O’Neil 4:00 pm Claire Waterworth SUNDAY, MAY 24 9:00 am Nancy Tardif Deceased members of the Chouinard Family 12:00 pm Thomas Mercuri and Maria and James Mercuri MONDAY, MAY 25 9:00 am (at Gethsemane Chapel) WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 9:00 am (at Gethsemane Chapel) FRIDAY, MAY 29 9:00 am (at Gethsemane Chapel) Michael and Laura Cote SATURDAY, MAY 30 4:00 pm James and Jennie Slattery

IN LOVING MEMORY

Roses for Life for this week Theresa A. Rickley

PRAYER CORNER

Virtual Course on Zoom Join us every Wednesday at 6pm for a course on the Holy Spirit. We are also running our Wednesday morning prayer group at 10am on Zoom. All are welcome to join one or both. Contact Bonnie Doherty for more information and the link to join: bonnieocds@gmail.com.

Day Date Priest Seminarian

Sun. 5/24 Fr. John Paris Diego Pena

Mon. 5/25 Fr. Richard Clancy Rodrigo Martinez

Tues. 5/26 Fr. George Evans Peter Schirripa

Wed. 5/27 Fr. Peter Casey Alphonsus Quang Vu

Thurs. 5/28 Fr. James Savage Jeremy Wagner

Fri. 5/29 Fr. Brian McHugh Desmond Conway

Sat. 5/30 Fr. John Schatzel Marcelo Ferrari

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Fr. John UnniPASTOR

Saint Cecilia Parish, BostonAssociate Fire Chaplain

Boston Fire Department

BOARD MEMBER

Pine Street Inn

Healthier Priests. Stronger Communities.

The strength of our communities depends on the well-being of our priests who tirelessly serve others.

Please support our priests at clergytrust.orgClergy Health and Retirement Trust is an independently managed trust for the care of active and senior priests in good standing.

Catholic Cruises and Tours and The Apostleship of The Sea of the United States of America

Catholic Cruises and Tours to Worldwide Destinations

Call us today at 860-399-1785 or email Janet@CatholicCruisesandTours.com

www.CatholicCruisesandTours.com

Take your FAITH ON A JOURNEY

Catholic Cruises and Tours

Mass is included with all of our tours!

Holy Land Discovery • Fatima, Lourdes and Shrines of Spain • Grand Catholic Italy • Footsteps of

Apostle Paul • Shrines of Alpine Europe • Pilgrimage to Lourdes • Scottish Highlands

• Camino, a walking journey for the soul

When patronizing our Sponsors Please let them know you saw them

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Support your Community.

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978-686-1872Fax: 978-686-1878

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Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, Inc.

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978-687-7300

our Family Helping Your Family

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“Feed My Sheep” John 21:17

Michael Arserio 978-494-3424

oakforestlandscapes@gmail.com

• Spring & Fall Clean Ups • Weekly Lawn Moving• Mulching & Edging • Overseeding & Aeration• Retaining Walls

• Walkways & Patios • Seed & Sod Lawns• Annuals & Perrenials • Planting• Shrub Pruning

Over 30 Years Experience Servicing the Merrimack Valley

BANKRUPTCY • REAL ESTATE ESTATE PLANNING • PERSONAL INJURY

www.zannipescelaw.comFree Consultation | 978-557-9700

St. Lucy Parishioners | 235 Merrimack Street, Methuen, MA

150 Water St., Haverhill 978-374-0707

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Licensed by Department of Public Health for Alzheimers Memory Care

Long Term Care

A Catholic Healthcare Center

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