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“Phase 2” Changes
We are now in “Phase 2” of re-opening both across the Commonwealth and in the Diocese of Richmond. Here at Holy Comforter, there will be the following changes:
- “Vulnerable population” Masses are now Monday at NOON and the 5 PM Saturday Vigil Mass. Friday’s daily Mass no longer has that designation.
- Offertory will be collected in the usual way.
- Thursday evening Holy Hours (with confession beforehand) resumes on July 2.
- Small groups are permitted to meet in person at the parish with Father Joseph Mary’s permission.
- Our summer seminarian, Andrew Clark, will be giving a series of talks! The first, which will be about Catholic “recreation,” is set for Sunday, June 28 at 6 PM in the lower level. Seating will be limited to some degree and we will appropriately space all attendees per social distancing best practices. Please join us!
First Holy Communions!
Please include the following children in your prayers as they received His Real Presence for the first time in late May:
Frem Afram
Michael Afram
Emmanuella Ablewa Agbati
Mason Howell Baxter
Miriam Jablonski
Mathew William Phillips
Kynzlee Gabrielle Reyes
Zachary Robert Storm
Brooklyn Taft Weaver
Theresa Ann Van Dyke
Thank you to all the parents who, on top being thrust into the world of homeschooling while working or caring for little ones, did such an excellent job catechizing their children and preparing them for their First Communions. You are all our my prayers and we are blessed to have you in our parish! Thank you, also, to Father Joseph Mary for organizing and leading Zoom meetings with the kids and to our DRE, Melinda Wells, for all of her support.
Public Masses Have Returned!
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is once again open to the Faithful! Thanks be to God!
Capacity is limited. All attendees ages 10 and up are required to wear a facecovering at Mass. Also, children between the ages of six and nine who will receive Holy Communion must also wear a facecovering.
Younger children who are not of age to receive the Blessed Sacrament are not required to wear a facecovering.
Reception of Holy Communion will also go a little bit differently, but just listen to the announcements and the ushers instructions and let our staff and volunteers handle the rest! Our Flocknote messages provided more details about the changes needed to help reduce the risk of congregating for Mass.
Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and we are limited by state law as to how many people we can put in the church, so please come early.
The new Mass schedule is as follows
5 pm Mass of Anticipation on Saturday
8 am, 11 am and 2 pm (Latin) on Sunday
Our weekday Mass schedule is the same as it was before public liturgies were suspended.
Confessions will be heard on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. There will be no confessions on Saturdays or Sundays during this initial phase of re-opening liturgies to the public.
We look forward to seeing you all once again at Holy Mass!
Thank you for your financial support!
We are so moved by the amount of engagement on Facebook in during this pandemic and all the parishioners who continue to support the parish through the offertory both in person and online. In these days it is more important than ever to reach out to one another, lift one another up and for those who can, to financially assist your brothers and sisters who are now in hard times both directly and through charities (including your parish!) who are feeding and caring for the poor.
And of course, if there is anything we at the parish can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact the office or message the Facebook page. God bless and have a wonderful Holy Week. Check Facebook and Flocknote often as we move through this new normal.
Pray for the end of the pandemic
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.