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Beginning Wednesday, March 25^th,

MATTHEW 25 CARE & SHARE SOUP KITCHEN WILL HAVE NEW HOURS, WED/THU/FRI FROM 8:30 -11:30 A.M.  

THIS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.   WE WILL NOT BE OPENED ON MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS. 

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March 17, 2020
11:00am EST

Statement from the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana on the Suspension of Public Celebration of Mass

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Recently, the health and safety conditions in our diocesan community have shifted. The spread of the COVID-19 virus is a moment for Catholics to rely more deeply on their faith, deepen our prayer life and find ways to show loving kindness towards our neighbors. Offering special prayers of intercession for the healing of those infected, for the protection of the elderly and infirm who are at greatest risk, for the prevention of the disease’s spread, and for the courage and strength of care providers who minister to the sick, their families and those most in need, should become part of our daily prayer offerings. As your bishop, know that I am just as concerned about the health of our priests, especially those who are over the age of 60 and most at risk. There are sobering reports from Italy about priests’ virus-related deaths and hospitalizations.

Therefore, based on current guidelines from civic leaders and public health officials, I, as bishop of Lafayette-in-Indiana, together with all the bishops of the Province of Indianapolis, have mandated the suspension of all public celebrations of the Mass, other liturgical services and gatherings of the faithful effective Wednesday, March 18, 2020 and until further notice. Of course, the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass from March 13, 2020 continues until further notice. It is not a permanent dispensation.

The following decisions and directives have been formulated with local and statewide consultation. As a bishop, it hurts my heart to limit access to our churches and to the Divine Liturgy. I am in a position to make decisions that others cannot or will not, so I ask your prayers for the yet unforeseen challenges that we face in slowing down the contagion.

Today’s Mass reading from Daniel 3:25, 34-43 seems appropriate. “Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud.” We are there with him in some way, so let’s make his prayer our own. And let us commend each other to God’s daily protection and strength.

Bishop Timothy Doherty
Office of Communications -
610 Lingle Ave., Lafayette, IN 47901-1740 -
P.O. Box 1603, Lafayette, IN 47902-1603
Office: (765) 742-2050 - Fax: (765) 269-4615 -
www.dol-in.org

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Directives for the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana going forward. These are effective 12:01am EST, March 18, 2020 (this means no public Masses on Wednesday, March 18)

• We encourage all priests to celebrate Mass privately for the good of the People of God, the church and the intentions of the day. The bishop has given permission (GIRM, 374) for the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions as well as Votive Masses on Lenten weekdays during this time.

• Priests are forbidden to celebrate a public Mass; no home or outdoor Masses are permitted.

• The public will not be admitted to Masses celebrated in monasteries, convents, or hospital chapels. Hospitals will continue to set their own rules for access and entrance.

• At this time, we would ask each pastor who has scheduled a Propagation of the Faith appeal to contact and cancel the appeal until further instruction is provided.

• Online Masses provide opportunities for the faithful to remain connected in some way to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass during this difficult time. Parishes with the potential to broadcast their own Masses should do so. All permission requirements for the online use of the prayers and readings of the Mass in both English and Spanish have been granted.

• The bishop will continue to offer Masses at Church of the Blessed Sacrament on Sunday’s at 8am; they will be livestreamed online at: http://churchoftheblessedsacrament.yourstreamlive.com/

     o During a time of prayer on Sunday or while viewing the Mass online, the faithful are encouraged to make an act of Spiritual Communion. This beautiful devotional practice in the Church is a real source of grace in communion with our Lord. Below is an example of a 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 as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

     o The faithful are also encouraged to prayerfully read the readings of Sacred Scripture for the day or to pray the rosary. The goal is for our diocese to create a virtual spiritual community that provides hope and opportunity for prayerfulness. We will offer a nightly family rosary at 7pm as well as Friday Stations of the Cross at 6pm will be livestreamed from Church of the Blessed Sacrament:
http://churchoftheblessedsacrament.yourstreamlive.com/

     o Word on Fire, Magnificat online, and Formed are great resources as well. • The diocese is asking pastors and administrators to utilize staff in parishes in a safe and limited way to perform the most essential functions and to attend to routine maintenance with a heightened focus on disinfecting all areas of common use until further notice.

Office of Communications -
610 Lingle Ave.,
Lafayette, IN 47901-1740 -
P.O. Box 1603, Lafayette, IN 47902-1603.

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• Food pantries may continue to serve those in need but please make sure your process includes a method for goods to be packaged and handed out in a sanitary way by volunteers and respects personal space. The personal protections for the physical safety of volunteers should be considered.
• Out of an abundance of caution, churches and chapels, including perpetual adoration chapels, should remain closed until further notice.
• Decisions about the celebrations during Holy Week and other liturgical items will be made in the coming days.
• As to the celebration of other Sacraments whenever possible, any scheduled celebrations should be postponed until further notice. This includes the celebration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Matrimony. There should be no regularly scheduled Confessions at this time. See below.

          o More information will be forthcoming regarding the health precautions that should be taken for the celebration of the Sacraments of Penance and the Anointing of the Sick (and other Rites in Exceptional Circumstances), which should be administered whenever possible for those in danger of death. Regularly scheduled visits to vulnerable persons and to the homebound should be suspended until further notice.

          o Finally, the celebration of funerals should be postponed whenever possible. If a funeral is offered, then it should be celebrated outside of Mass and in the presence of a very small number of the faithful who practice the prescribed precautions for hygiene and social distancing. A Mass for the intention and the repose of the soul of the deceased may be offered privately by the priest.

• Additionally, the bishop is asking diocesan level directors to coordinate with their employees on their schedules in the office. It may make sense for those employees who are able to work remotely from home to do so until further notice.
• All Catholic school facilities in the diocese will continue to be closed until further notice. • All retreats at the Saint Joseph Retreat & Conference Center are canceled until further notice.
• Information related to compensation and care for our employees and for the financial well-being of our communities will be communicated with pastors and administrators as per our previous memo.

Office of Communications -
610 Lingle Ave. 
Lafayette, IN 47901-1740  
P.O. Box 1603, Lafayette, IN 47902-1603.

Looking for light, we wait in darkness.  Longing for truth, we turn to you.  Make us your own, your holy people.  Light of the world to see.

   
(from the hymn, "Christ be our light" by Bernadette Farrell)

The Mission of the Catholic people of North Cental Indiana is to proclaim the Kingdom of God, to praise the name of Jesus and follow Him by:

• Loving God and our neighbors, especially those in need;
• Worshipping God as a faith community in word and sacrament;
• Responding to ongoing personal conversion;
• Teaching of the Gospel message in the Catholic tradition; and
• Engaging in renewal, outreach, evangelization and ecumenical cooperation.

We, the people of the Local Church, gathered by the power of the Holy Spirit, are committed to responsible stewardship of our human and financial resources.

• The local Child Protection Services agency (Hotline: 800-800-5556); or
• A local law enforcement agency.

• Doris May, Victim Assistance Minister & Head of Pastoral Response Team:  (765) 464-4988
• Kurt Wolf, Diocesan Investigator: (765) 269-4666 or 800-533-7018

You may not have noticed but we have a window dedicated to St. Roch here in the parish. Please join me in reciting the prayer below while at home and know that my masses, which will be offered at the Shrine, will be for the safety of you and your family and for your intentions. Born at Montpellier towards 1295; died 1327. His father was governor of that city. At his birth St. Roch is said to have been found miraculously marked on the breast with a red cross. Deprived of his parents when about twenty years old, he distributed his fortune among the poor, handed over to his uncle the government of Montpellier, and in the disguise of a mendicant pilgrim, set out for Italy, but stopped at Aquapendente, which was stricken by the plague, and devoted himself to the plague-stricken, curing them with the sign of the cross. He next visited Cesena and other neighbouring cities and then Rome. Everywhere the terrible scourge disappeared before his miraculous power. He visited Mantua, Modena, Parma, and other cities with the same results. At Piacenza, he himself was stricken with the plague. He withdrew to a hut in the neighbouring forest, where his wants were supplied by a gentleman named Gothard, who by a miracle learned the place of his retreat. After his recovery Roch returned to France. Arriving at Montpellier and refusing to disclose his identity, he was taken for a spy in the disguise of a pilgrim, and cast into prison by order of the governor, — his own uncle, some writers say, — where five years later he died. The miraculous cross on his breast as well as a document found in his possession now served for his identification. He was accordingly given a public funeral, and numerous miracles attested his sanctity.
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Prayer to St. Roch
O Blessed Saint Roch, Patron of the sick, Have pity on those Who lie upon a bed of suffering.
Your power was so great When you were in this world, That by the sign of the Cross, Many were healed of their diseases.
Now that you are in heaven, Your power is not less. Offer, then, to God Our sighs and tears And obtain for us that health we seek Through Christ our Lord.
Amen. 
 

Many of you have not only been spending these days in prayer and reflection but your faith has also moved you to continue to support your parish financially.  
I have received in the mail a number of offertory envelopes which demonstrate that during this time of crisis we will not set aside prayer, fasting and works
of mercy, especially the work of supporting our parish.  My prayers and masses go out to you and I am moved by your continued support and care for your parish.  

Fr. Dominic

SUSPENDED 

Fr. Dominic's email:

  fr.dyoung@dol-in.org

Monthly service for each -
1st Friday starts at 5:00 pm - 2019  

St. Mary Cemetery