Public Masses suspended across Diocese; confessions Monday through Saturday at Holy Comforter
WATCH FATHER’S SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM MARCH 21
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, all public celebration of Holy Mass has been suspended indefinitely in the Diocese of Richmond. Please know that Father Joseph Mary will continue to say the Mass every day for the intentions of our parishioners and for the whole world. We will post his homilies on a daily basis on our Facebook page and there will be more communication with the Faithful via Flocknote. We also plan to stream his private Masses as often as possible on Facebook.
TEMPORARY NEW CHURCH HOURS
Though public liturgy is suspended (which includes public stations of the cross and other devotions) church office remains open during its regular hours.
Unless there are additional restrictions placed by civil authorities, the church is open for private/family prayer under the following schedule until public liturgies resume:
Monday through Friday: 7 am to 7:30 pm
Saturday: Closed until confessions
Sunday: 7 am to 1 pm
The Lord is always there, waiting for you to visit Him!
CONFESSIONS
Additionally, Father will hear confessions Monday through Saturday at 6:30 pm as long as this crisis persists. Our chapel has been set up as a confessional to comply with social distancing safety measures, with a line of chairs in the Commons area. His Excellency, Bishop Barry Knestout, has insisted that the Faithful not be deprived of the opportunity to pray before Our Lord, to make spiritual communions and have their sins absolved.
OFFERTORY
Please remember also that we continue to rely on your support to continue to operate. We understand that this is a time of great anxiety, but humbly ask for your tithes to continue. You can drop off your offertory at the office or GIVE ONLINE HERE.
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!
Father Joseph Mary urges parishioners to pray the Rosary to ask for the Blessed Mother’s intercession and urge the Lord to act to “end this scourge.”
The Faithful are reminded that when we knock, the door is opened. When we persist in prayer, our Loving Father acts in the world. Our God acts when we repent of our sins, do penance and pray fervently. We must be practical of course, but as people of faith our first recourse ought to be prayer. To ask the Lord for His help in times of distress.
Let us ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to watch over us and those who are afflicted with this and every illness. And during this “most acceptable time” of Lent, let us redouble our prayer and petition to God to ask Him to rescue us as He has delivered His Church so many times before!
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Holy Trinity Conference
A new chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has begun right here in Charlottesville! This ministry, which began in 1851 here in the United States, is aimed at helping the poor both materially and spiritually. Volunteers go out into the community two by two to help people with rent, electric bills and other necessities… and also to pray with them and bring the Gospel to their homes.
The Holy Trinity Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a joint effort between the three parishes here in Charlottesville: St. Thomas Aquinas, Incarnation and Holy Comforter.
Visit their website HERE.
Contact Chuck McCurdy at cwm@virginia.edu for more information.