* This weekend’s liturgies:
Confessions: Saturday, 9-9:30 am
Mass, Sunday: 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 am
*Mass for the Feast of the Pentecost from STM will air Saturday at 4:30 pm, via the parish website
**Thanks for your on-going financial donations to the parish!
*Daily Masses next week at 7:30 am; please do not arrive before 7:15 am.
*The church will be open for your visits next week for prayer from Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., and Saturday from 9-9:30 a.m.
*We continue to pray for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic:
On Fridays, we are invited to join Bishop Daly in fasting.
We are invited to join Pope Francis in praying the Rosary daily during the month of May, asking our Blessed Mother intercede before God for us.
Daily Prayer to the Sacred Heart- daily until June 19, the Feast of the Sacred Heart
Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
In new and painful ways, the pandemic has challenged each of us individually, and all of us together as a diocesan family, to maintain and deepen our faith, hope, and love for the Lord and the Church. In many ways, this time of testing has broken our hearts. Bishop Daly has asked us to pray together that we reopen our hearts. We are asked to allow the grace of Christ to enter us through our wounded hearts just as it poured out into the world through the wounded Sacred Heart of Christ.
To that end, he proposes that we pray the attached prayer to the Sacred Heart beginning today until the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart on June 19.
Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory be to the Father…Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender mother and ours. Hail, Holy Queen… Saint Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us. Amen
*This weekend will be the last opportunity to sign the R-90 petition, located on a table in the Narthex
*To contact Gov. Inslee, to express sentiments of the importance of the public practice of our faith and/or gratitude for his allowance of limited liturgical gatherings now:
https://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/contact/send-gov-inslee-e-message
Or write:
Governor Jay Inslee
Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
We just received notification of a clarification on the number of people allowed to attend Mass in parishes this weekend. Whereas yesterday a “person” was defined for us as a “household,” today we received word that a “person” is an individual. I am sorry for this confusion; as we’ve experienced regularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, things change rapidly.
This means that there is to be a MAXIMUM of 50 people in the church for Mass. As we had originally planned, if there are more people arriving for Mass than are allowed in the church, others will be directed to the PACC for the Mass, celebrated by one of our available priests (Fr. Pat or Fr. Ed). If the PACC fills up to 50 people, no more can be allowed in. If you are one of these, you can either return home (remember, the dispensation from the obligation to participate in Sunday Mass remains in effect), or you could wait around outside or in your cars, keeping social distance protocols, and after the regularly-scheduled Masses are celebrated, we would invite in those waiting for another Mass (so, about 8:15 am, 9:45 am, 11:45 am). I know this is confusing, but hopefully it’s clear enough to get us started. As with all of these efforts to do the best we can with responding to directives, I ask for your continued patience and understanding.
Greetings to All!
Yesterday Bishop Daly sent out an announcement that he is allowing public Masses to be celebrated in parishes in Counties which are in Phase II of the State’s reopening process. This is a decision made in consultation with the Spokane Regional Health District and in accord with the governor’s revised directives, announced yesterday as well. As the bishop noted in his statement, parishes must be diligent in following health and safety directives; we are totally concerned with the health and well-being of all people.
Given the contagious nature of the Covid-19 virus, there is a risk in gathering. For this reason, the bishop is continuing the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. If you are ill, live with someone who is ill, are in a vulnerable age group or medical condition group, or are at all anxious about the idea of gathering, by all means, stay home!
Here at St. Thomas More, we will “ease into” celebrating Sunday Masses. We are allowed a congregation of no more than 25% of the building seating capacity or no more than 50 households, whichever is less. For us, this means about 115 people, or perhaps a few more depending on the size of families who may attend. This first weekend, the Feast of Pentecost (May 30-31), we will only have Masses at the regular SUNDAY MORNING TIMES: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, and 11 am. We will see how it goes this weekend, and make any necessary adjustments in subsequent weekends. Fr. Ed and I will be available; if it turns out that more people come for a certain Mass than is allowed, we will direct the “overflow” into the PAC, where Mass will also be celebrated.
There will also be daily Mass at 7:30 am this week. Please do not arrive before 7:15 am for daily Masses so we can limit the duration of the gathering. The same safety protocols (see below) will be in place.
I ask you to read and take seriously the statement from the bishop, available on Flocknote and the diocesan and parish websites. I want to reiterate just some of the bishop’s directives for Mass-celebration, designed for our health-safety:
I know much of this is against our human, social, and ecclesial nature, but they are necessary to take care of each other in these times.
Thank you, and God bless!
Fr. Pat
Friends in Christ,
I share with you today good news and an exhortation to responsibility.
But first, I want to take stock of our situation. Over the last ten weeks, we have been apart; apart from our parish communities, parishioners apart from their pastors, friends apart from one another. Many have written to me, many are pained by the separation, at the same time many are thankful for the efforts our pastors, our parish staff, and volunteers and diocesan employees have all made to be in contact and serve you God’s holy people even when we are apart.
I too am thankful for all those who have helped continue ministry during this disruption. I am also thankful for the President’s encouragement to state and local leaders to be supportive of reopening. I am thankful for the advice and guidance of the local public health district, of Providence Health, and many local healthcare providers who have shared their expertise with me. I also want to thank Fr. Kyle Ratuiste, our diocesan bioethicist, and my liaison with the Catholic Health care community for his hard work in spearheading our reopening plans.
In the absence of state guidelines, the diocese had been working on a plan over the last few weeks in consultation with the local health authorities, Providence Health services, and the other Catholic Bishops in Washington state. Today the governor announced a plan to reopen religious services, I am pleased that the state plan largely coincides with the plans we had already developed.
This is good news indeed for most of our parishes. For these last months, we have been like the apostles after the Lord’s ascension, sheltered in place. But with Pentecost, the birthday of the church, we will reopen. We will open our doors and celebrate public Masses. I have directed your pastors that they may reopen their parish for Mass on Saturday, May 30th the Vigil of Pentecost if their county has moved to Phase II of the state’s reopening plan.
As I said I must also encourage you to act responsibly in these new conditions. Mass will not be the same as it was before the pandemic for the foreseeable future.
First of all, the obligation to attend Mass remains suspended. If you are not well, stay at home. If attending Mass in the current climate brings you anxiety, please be at peace and honor the Lord’s Day at home. If you are a member of a vulnerable or at-risk population please remain at home.
Parishes are ordered to limit attendance to 25% of possible building capacity or a maximum of 50 households. Safe social distancing between households must be enforced. The names and contact information of all who attend will be kept by parish staff for 30 days to assist in contact tracing if the need arises. This means that parishes will be registering attendees for each Mass. Gatherings before or after Mass are prohibited.
Many other changes will be implemented to keep the Mass as brief as possible and provide for proper sanitation. Some of these changes include the wearing of face masks by the faithful, a temporary elimination of the sign of peace, a prohibition on congregational singing, and shortened homilies. Protocols for the reception of Holy Communion have been modified with a strong encouragement to receive on the hand during this time.
A full list of these modifications can be found on the diocesan website.
I ask you to be patient as we reopen Mass and to respectfully and strictly adhere to the guidelines. Our need to reduce the risk for the spread of coronavirus at Mass is key to our ability to keep Masses open to the public. As the Spiritual Father of the diocese, I am putting in place these restrictions and modifications for the spiritual and physical health of all the faithful. As Christians we are called to bear one another’s burdens in the spiritual life, to be there for our brothers and sisters. In this moment we must make sacrifices of our personal preferences, and even our personal comfort to make gathering for Mass safe and accessible.
Please pray for me and for your pastors as we prepare to reopen the parishes of the diocese. The road ahead will not be easy or comfortable but know our Lord is with us each step of the way.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
St. Jean Gabrial, martyr of Wuhan, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our Hearts, forever.
A short while ago, President Trump made an unexpected announcement in which he called religious services to be essential. He also indicated that churches should be open this weekend for worship. While the President’s sentiments are welcome to many people of faith, the reality is that it is Friday. Implementing parish safety plans by tomorrow is unrealistic.
Bishop Daly asks that we maintain the status quo for the next few days and hopes to have further direction by Tuesday. He will continue consulting with local health experts and the bishops of Washington State as the final adjustments are made to the plan which will allow us to worship in a responsible manner.
*We are encouraged to pray for an end to the COVID-19 threat:
On Fridays, we are invited to join Bishop Daly in fasting.
We are invited to join Pope Francis in praying the Rosary daily during the month of May, asking our Blessed Mother intercede before God for us.
Daily Prayer to the Sacred Heart- daily until June 19, the Feast of the Sacred Heart (see below)
*Mass for the Feast of the Ascension from STM will air Sunday at 8:30 am, via the parish website
**Thanks for your on-going financial donations to the parish!
*The church will be open for your visits next week for prayer from Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (closed for Memorial Day), and Saturday from 9-9:30 a.m. If you are out on an “essential task” or for a walk, you’re welcome to stop by. Copies of “The Word Among Us” are available in the Narthex. Those are also times to sign the R-90 petition, located on a table in the Narthex, if you have not yet done so. The petition will be available for signing for another week; after that, all signed petitions will be sent to the group compiling them from around the state to turn in to the legislature.
*Saturdays, while the church is open from 9-9:30 am, the Sacrament of Confession will be available in the PAC. If you come, please maintain physical distance from others who may be there, and enter/exit through the doors that are held open to the Narthex and the PAC. Please wear a mask, and do not enter the PAC for Confession until the person in front of you has exited.
*If you saw the bishop’s video update on Wednesday, you noticed that there is some positive movement toward reopening churches for the public worship of God. As we go through “phases,” this would initially be on a very limited basis; the bishops, also collaborating with other religious leaders in the state, have made a proposal to the state government that would expand those limitations. Let us continue praying that the day of being able to gather and celebrate the Sacraments publicly will come soon! The bishop sent out a link for contacting our state government:
https://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/contact/send-gov-inslee-e-message
Or write:
Governor Jay Inslee
Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
Express the importance of the public practice of our faith to our elected leaders, as they continue to strive to respond to COVID-19 in the safest, most prudent way. Please consider this, exercising your faithful citizenship by letting your voice be heard in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
*Check out the video of Vincent DeFelice giving a tour of his studio, where he is creating our beautiful new Stations of the Cross. Go to the parish website if you didn’t receive it in a Flocknote.
Have a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!
Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
In new and painful ways, the pandemic has challenged each of us individually, and all of us together as a diocesan family, to maintain and deepen our faith, hope, and love for the Lord and the Church. In many ways, this time of testing has broken our hearts. Bishop Daly has asked us to pray together that we reopen our hearts. We are asked to allow the grace of Christ to enter us through our wounded hearts just as it poured out into the world through the wounded Sacred Heart of Christ.
To that end, he proposes that we pray the attached prayer to the Sacred Heart beginning today until the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart on June 19.
Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory be to the Father…Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender mother and ours. Hail, Holy Queen… Saint Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us. Amen
See the information on the parish/school website and in your Flocknote about a way to participate in “May Crowning” on this coming Monday!
We are encouraged to pray for an end to the COVID-19 threat:
Mass from STM will air Sunday at 8:30 am, via the parish website
**Thanks for your on-going financial donations to the parish!
The church is open for your visits for prayer from Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. If you are out on an “essential task” or for a walk, you’re welcome to stop by.
The church will be open Saturdays, from 9-10 am, if you are out on an “essential task” and would like to stop by and sign the R-90 petition, located on a table in the Narthex of the church.
Saturdays, while the church is open from 9-10 am, the Sacrament of Confession will be available in the PAC. As of May 5th, this Sacrament qualifies as an “essential spiritual service” and thus you may leave home to come to the church for it. If you come, please maintain physical distance from others who may be there, and enter/exit through the doors that are held open to the narthex and the PAC. Please wear a mask, and do not enter the PAC for Confession until the person in front of you has exited
The bishop sent out a link last week for contacting our state government (see the Flocknote from May 6) to express the importance of the practice of our faith to our elected leaders, as they continue to strive to respond to COVID-19 in the safest, most prudent way. Please consider this, exercising your faithful citizenship by letting your voice be heard in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Check out the video of Vincent DeFelice giving a tour of his studio, where he is creating our beautiful Stations of the Cross. Go to the parish website if you didn’t receive it in a Flocknote.
Reminders:
We are encouraged to pray for an end to the COVID-19 threat:
Mass from STM will air Sunday at 8:30 am, via the parish website
**Thanks for your on-going financial donations to the parish!
The church will be open tomorrow, Saturday, from 9-10 am, if you are out on an “essential task” and would like to stop by and sign the R-90 petition, located on a table in the Narthex of the church.
We are now in Phase 1 of the state’s “re-opening” approach. In this phase, “Drive in spiritual services” are allowed. There is still discernment of what this might mean for Mass celebrated in a dignified way (there may be a “phased in” approach to this in the coming weeks- it seems that there is no permissible way to offer Communion in such services at this point). What is significant in this is that “Spiritual Services” are now deemed “essential,” so that people may leave their homes for them. Another provision for this is that people not leave their cars; this envisions that there are a number of groups of people in cars, and there would be a danger of “bottle necking” or tight grouping if people left their cars for, for instance, a Communion rite. In light of this, our bishop has interpreted that it might be possible for the public offering of the Sacrament of Reconciliation without violating the spirit of this law. The pope has allowed “General Absolution” in these extraordinary times, with people remaining in their cars in a parking lot. We are awaiting more direction on this. The “drive by” individual Confession, while possible, is not optimal given the difficulty of assuring confidentiality and the uncertainty of weather. But given the likelihood that there would not be a large gathering of cars/groups if Confessions were available, perhaps they could be held in a room in the church, in which individuals could leave their car to enter for the Sacrament, maintaining social distancing and observing hygiene rules.
In light of this, we will try this:
TOMORROW, SATURDAY MAY 9, WHILE THE CHURCH IS OPEN FROM 9-10 AM, THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE PAC. IF YOU CHOOSE TO COME, PLEASE REMAIN DISTANT FROM OTHERS WHO MAY COME FOR THE SACRAMENT (WAITING IN LINE). GO THROUGH THE DOORS THAT ARE HELD OPEN TO THE NARTHEX AND TO THE PAC. WAIT OUTSIDE THE PAC, AT LEAST 6 FEET APART FROM OTHERS. PLEASE WEAR A MASK. DO NOT ENTER THE PAC UNTIL THE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU HAS LEFT.
We will see how this goes this Saturday, and modify as necessary for the future. It is one way of trying to provide the Sacrament while doing all possible to keep each other safe and healthy.
The bishop sent out a link for contacting our state government (see the Flocknote from May 6) to express the importance of the practice of our faith to our elected leaders, as they continue to strive to respond to COVID-19 in the safest, most prudent way. Please consider this, exercising your faithful citizenship by letting your voice be heard in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We’re headed for another month of state-ordered “slow down” directives, with their restrictions on leaving home, physical contact outside the family, and social gatherings. This, of course, impacts us as church, as we are not able to do “church as usual,” with public meetings, prayer, catechetics, etc. Necessary meetings and gatherings, including our school ministry, have taken their place in the virtual world. Before March 17, I’d never heard of Zoom; now I fall asleep at night with Zoom on my mind! As we get further into this time of public inactivity in church, let’s not get lackadaisical in utilizing the other ancient practices of our faith that are available to us to praise God, experience His grace, and grow as a community of faith. Prayer- this month the pope invites us to pray the Rosary daily, for the intention of praying for our Blessed Mother’s intercession before God that the end of the COVID-19 pandemic might come soon. While the normal celebration of the Sacraments (except in danger of death) are not available, let us utilize the Spiritual Communion and Perfect Act of Contrition: These are time-honored, venerable parts of our Tradition that, in the absence of the Sacraments, are efficacious- they WORK- in opening us up to God’s forgiving and strengthening grace.
Every time you “view” Mass on TV or the computer screen, at the time of Communion say:
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 into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You.
Amen.
On a regular basis, take some time in prayer for:
A Perfect Act of Contrition
Act of Contrition
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong, and failing to do good, I have sinned against you, whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.
Let us also keep up our community-building within families, and growing in our knowledge of the faith, like through Formed.org.
Let us continue our charitable giving as we are able; for instance:
Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington
THE VIRTUAL GALA IS MAY 14th AT NOON. Join us for the Courage and Commitment Challenge LIVE event via Zoom! It will be a fun filled, upbeat, 35 minute whirlwind tour around Eastern Washington to pop in on our work to serve those in need! Visit our website at www.cceasternwa.org/CC-LIVE to join the event or visit Zoom.com and use the meeting code: 960-3463-3801 MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! It will be ONLY a THIRTY FIVE MINUTE EXPERIENCE so as to attract as many as possible to zoom in and we have invited all 3,000+ Catholic School Students in the Diocese to ZOOM In with us!. PLEASE FORWARD THE ATTACHED INVITATION TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!!!!
Donations to the parish: thomasmorespokane.org/give
If you are out of the house anyway on an “essential task,” know that the church is open Monday-Friday, 9 am-1 pm for prayer. The R-90 petition, designed to have the new K-12 Sex Ed curriculum in public schools placed on the November ballot for public vote with hopes of it being repealed, is available for signing at those hours in the Narthex of the church.
Let us remember that God is with us. He is blessing us in ways we never could have imagined through this crisis! When we gather again as church, we will together thank Him deeply for his love and mercy.