PASTOR'S MESSAGE
April 11-12, 2020 - Easter Sunday
Dear Friends,
Happy Easter! He is risen, alleluia, alleluia!
For all of us who will be celebrating Easter through watching videos and livestreams on-line, this certainly is a challenge. But let us remember that the same Lord who walked through the walls of the room where the disciples were hiding after the resurrection, is walking through YOUR walls into YOUR home during these days. We are a people who believe in GATHERING for the Holy Eucharist and for prayer and community (because this is exactly what Jesus intended) but for this unusual time, let us remember that Jesus is THERE in your kitchen and living room and den and home. He is WITH YOU along with Mary and Joseph and all the saints, Truly.
Dear Friends,
Happy Easter! He is risen, alleluia, alleluia!
For all of us who will be celebrating Easter through watching videos and livestreams on-line, this certainly is a challenge. But let us remember that the same Lord who walked through the walls of the room where the disciples were hiding after the resurrection, is walking through YOUR walls into YOUR home during these days. We are a people who believe in GATHERING for the Holy Eucharist and for prayer and community (because this is exactly what Jesus intended) but for this unusual time, let us remember that Jesus is THERE in your kitchen and living room and den and home. He is WITH YOU along with Mary and Joseph and all the saints, Truly.
So let us not feel too un-holy about our home celebrations this Holy Week my brothers and sisters, and let us keep the faith.
Indeed, let us see the opportunities that this unusual time might just be offering us: And not squander those opportunities watching too much t.v., or just waiting for “regular parish life” to return to us. Indeed: I just talked to a woman from the parish today who says that she is praying more than ever right now, and I talked to several people who said that they felt like they were reconnecting more with loved ones at this time.
For all of that, please help us to stay connected with you and everyone and send your email or cell phone number (or someone else who may not be connected) to Donna at office@hfccmail.org if you would like to get our email blasts. And please click onto the facebook link to watch masses and events online. You don't have to be signed into facebook to watch them. We’ll also be posting creative ideas on how to make your home celebrations more meaningful.
Here are some events we will be having on-line:
9am mass Tu-F online. 9am Scripture service and homily.
Tues Apr 7 - 7pm, rosary
Wed Apr 8 - 4pm, reflection from Fr. Andy on getting through difficult times w our faith.
Thurs Apr 9 - 730pm, Holy Thurs Mass. No adoration following.
Fri Apr 10 - 2pm, Good Friday service.
Fri Apr 10 - 7pm, Stations of the Cross from the Convent of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg
Sat Apr 11 - 8pm, Easter Vigil (this is an Easter Mass, but it is a little bit longer.)
Sun Apr 12 - 9:15am, Easter Mass
Mon Apr 13 – 7pm, Living out an Easter faith during the time of the Corona virus.
Fri Apr 17 – 7pm, rosary with music
Sat Apr 18 – 5pm, 2nd Sunday of Easter Mass, 5pm
Sun Apr 19 – 2:30pm, Divine Mercy celebration including the recitation of the chaplet
Tues Apr 21 – 7pm rosary / Wed Apr 22 – talk on topic TBA / Thurs Apr 23 – Exposition and Adoration from 6:30-7pm.
The famous quote from Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 says:
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
It’s interesting, in this time of “social distancing” and “virtual Mass” and “virtual events” to see this quote – a time to refrain from embracing and a time to heal – which is now.
But looking at that same quote, I can also see that besides what we DON’T have at this time, that right now is a time that could be an opportunity for us in many ways to GROW IN OUR RELATIONSHIP AND LOVE OF GOD and to GROW IN SERVICE TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS and to GROW IN HOW WE LOVE THE PEOPLE AROUND US AS OURSELVES.
For example, last week, during drive-through confessions (which have now all been cancelled, I am sorry) a number of people told me how right now really had become an OPPORTUNITY to grow in their relationships or to pray and things like that. Indeed, we posted a nice talk on this on March 25 (with Erin Bright) on using right now as an opportunity and not just spending the whole time on our screens or tv.
Indeed, I talked to someone I know and we have a mutual friend who hadn’t talked to in five five years, and now they have talked 3x in a week.....An example of how we can busy ourselves in this life with many things, but that when our busyness is thwarted (like right now)....maybe that's an opportunity to reconnect w God and the people around us and doing service.
Speaking of service, we now have an ICON on the home page www.holyfamilychurch.com (keep scrolling down) entitled “COVID-19, Ways to help your community.” It has all the info you need on helping our Sew Time group (they do many good works and are also making masks right now), St. Vincent de Paul (emergency relief we give to people from our area), Catholic Charities, Lighthouse Shelter, Our Daily Bread and the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Food Pantry. Please remember to support our bros and sisters at this time. I am attaching photos of the large response we have gotten in collecting PB and bread and also groceries. THANK YOU, but please don’t cause you to hold back from helping more – all of these charities are stretched at this time and every bit of assistance will be appreciated.
OUR PARISH OFFICES: We are still answering phone calls and emails. Our main office is still responding immediately during normal office times (8:30am – 4:30pm Mon – Thurs and 8:30am – noon on Fri). But please call ahead if you are coming down to the office because there may be times when we are answering calls remotely due to keeping a stripped down staff at the church.
ACCESS TO FR. ANDY: I am happy to take phone calls. Please know you can call any time: 301-261-7399, ext. 32. If there is a true emergency and someone needs a sacrament from a priest, please also know you can call, though we are using discretion due to the fact that if I get exposed to the virus in some way, I will have to be quarantined and then we will really be facing challenges to make sure our parish can still function.
STEWARDSHIP: Offertory donations are essential for Holy Family’s parish operations. We rely heavily on the Sunday offertory to maintain operational budgets, and fund staff positions and outreach activities in our community.
Many of you have asked how to continue your support while you are unable to attend Mass in person. Holy Family uses Faith Direct to facilitate electronic giving directly to the parish accounts. If you are not already enrolled in Faith Direct you can use this link https://membership.faithdirect.net/MD61 or use the link on the Holy Family website. You can join Faith Direct, using the Holy Family code of MD61 and make a one time or recurring donation from either your checking account or credit card. Options for giving include Offertory, Second Collection and special collections, such as Easter. Those of you who are already enrolled in Faith Direct can also use these links to increase your recurring donations if you believe that you are able to do this.
You can also send us your offertory through your personal online banking just like you pay your bills or you can mail your offertory envelopes to Holy Family Church at P.O. Box 130 Davidsonville, MD 21035. If you have questions you can contact Donna at office@hfccmail.org.
God bless friends and please know of my prayers and best wishes.
Your brother in Christ, Fr. Andy
Indeed, let us see the opportunities that this unusual time might just be offering us: And not squander those opportunities watching too much t.v., or just waiting for “regular parish life” to return to us. Indeed: I just talked to a woman from the parish today who says that she is praying more than ever right now, and I talked to several people who said that they felt like they were reconnecting more with loved ones at this time.
For all of that, please help us to stay connected with you and everyone and send your email or cell phone number (or someone else who may not be connected) to Donna at office@hfccmail.org if you would like to get our email blasts. And please click onto the facebook link to watch masses and events online. You don't have to be signed into facebook to watch them. We’ll also be posting creative ideas on how to make your home celebrations more meaningful.
Here are some events we will be having on-line:
9am mass Tu-F online. 9am Scripture service and homily.
Tues Apr 7 - 7pm, rosary
Wed Apr 8 - 4pm, reflection from Fr. Andy on getting through difficult times w our faith.
Thurs Apr 9 - 730pm, Holy Thurs Mass. No adoration following.
Fri Apr 10 - 2pm, Good Friday service.
Fri Apr 10 - 7pm, Stations of the Cross from the Convent of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg
Sat Apr 11 - 8pm, Easter Vigil (this is an Easter Mass, but it is a little bit longer.)
Sun Apr 12 - 9:15am, Easter Mass
Mon Apr 13 – 7pm, Living out an Easter faith during the time of the Corona virus.
Fri Apr 17 – 7pm, rosary with music
Sat Apr 18 – 5pm, 2nd Sunday of Easter Mass, 5pm
Sun Apr 19 – 2:30pm, Divine Mercy celebration including the recitation of the chaplet
Tues Apr 21 – 7pm rosary / Wed Apr 22 – talk on topic TBA / Thurs Apr 23 – Exposition and Adoration from 6:30-7pm.
The famous quote from Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 says:
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
It’s interesting, in this time of “social distancing” and “virtual Mass” and “virtual events” to see this quote – a time to refrain from embracing and a time to heal – which is now.
But looking at that same quote, I can also see that besides what we DON’T have at this time, that right now is a time that could be an opportunity for us in many ways to GROW IN OUR RELATIONSHIP AND LOVE OF GOD and to GROW IN SERVICE TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS and to GROW IN HOW WE LOVE THE PEOPLE AROUND US AS OURSELVES.
For example, last week, during drive-through confessions (which have now all been cancelled, I am sorry) a number of people told me how right now really had become an OPPORTUNITY to grow in their relationships or to pray and things like that. Indeed, we posted a nice talk on this on March 25 (with Erin Bright) on using right now as an opportunity and not just spending the whole time on our screens or tv.
Indeed, I talked to someone I know and we have a mutual friend who hadn’t talked to in five five years, and now they have talked 3x in a week.....An example of how we can busy ourselves in this life with many things, but that when our busyness is thwarted (like right now)....maybe that's an opportunity to reconnect w God and the people around us and doing service.
Speaking of service, we now have an ICON on the home page www.holyfamilychurch.com (keep scrolling down) entitled “COVID-19, Ways to help your community.” It has all the info you need on helping our Sew Time group (they do many good works and are also making masks right now), St. Vincent de Paul (emergency relief we give to people from our area), Catholic Charities, Lighthouse Shelter, Our Daily Bread and the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Food Pantry. Please remember to support our bros and sisters at this time. I am attaching photos of the large response we have gotten in collecting PB and bread and also groceries. THANK YOU, but please don’t cause you to hold back from helping more – all of these charities are stretched at this time and every bit of assistance will be appreciated.
OUR PARISH OFFICES: We are still answering phone calls and emails. Our main office is still responding immediately during normal office times (8:30am – 4:30pm Mon – Thurs and 8:30am – noon on Fri). But please call ahead if you are coming down to the office because there may be times when we are answering calls remotely due to keeping a stripped down staff at the church.
ACCESS TO FR. ANDY: I am happy to take phone calls. Please know you can call any time: 301-261-7399, ext. 32. If there is a true emergency and someone needs a sacrament from a priest, please also know you can call, though we are using discretion due to the fact that if I get exposed to the virus in some way, I will have to be quarantined and then we will really be facing challenges to make sure our parish can still function.
STEWARDSHIP: Offertory donations are essential for Holy Family’s parish operations. We rely heavily on the Sunday offertory to maintain operational budgets, and fund staff positions and outreach activities in our community.
Many of you have asked how to continue your support while you are unable to attend Mass in person. Holy Family uses Faith Direct to facilitate electronic giving directly to the parish accounts. If you are not already enrolled in Faith Direct you can use this link https://membership.faithdirect.net/MD61 or use the link on the Holy Family website. You can join Faith Direct, using the Holy Family code of MD61 and make a one time or recurring donation from either your checking account or credit card. Options for giving include Offertory, Second Collection and special collections, such as Easter. Those of you who are already enrolled in Faith Direct can also use these links to increase your recurring donations if you believe that you are able to do this.
You can also send us your offertory through your personal online banking just like you pay your bills or you can mail your offertory envelopes to Holy Family Church at P.O. Box 130 Davidsonville, MD 21035. If you have questions you can contact Donna at office@hfccmail.org.
God bless friends and please know of my prayers and best wishes.
Your brother in Christ, Fr. Andy