CORONAVIRUS AND OUR COLLABORATIVE

On March 23, Governor Baker issued a stay-at-home advisory effective until Tuesday, April 7. Indoor gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited throughout the Commonwealth. In accordance with Governor Baker’s advisory, our collaborative parish offices have closed at noon on Tuesday, March 24.

Weekday visitation to the chapels at St. Ann and Sacred Heart and St. Mary Church have stopped, as well as Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon confessions. However, our three churches will be open for visitation on Sundays from 9 to 11am. Eucharistic adoration on Tuesdays and Thursdays also have been suspended. Please note the governor’s advisory that persons over age seventy or with underlying health conditions should limit social interactions with other people as much as possible. With recognition of the responsibilities that we all have during this time of public health crisis, all people are encouraged to limit social interactions, and therefore to exercise careful and prudential judgment before making a decision to visit a church.

These certainly are trying times, with the closures of buildings and the suspension of holy Mass, classes, faith formation, and social events. Although we cannot gather as a community of faith, we encourage you to practice your faith at home through prayer, study and reflection. Resources such as FORMED.ORG and televised Masses (see the side bar), and other sources for prayer are available online or through the media.

We thank all of you who have made your financial contributions to our parishes through online giving or by dropping off your weekly envelopes. We realize you have bills to pay during these hard times, but we also must pay our parish bills, which include salaries and utilities. As Cardinal Sean wrote recently to all archdiocesan parishioners:

   "In this moment I am reaching out to you on behalf of all your pastors with recognition of the challenges our parishes are facing. At this time, I ask you to please continue your weekly offertory support of your parish by mailing in your envelopes or donations, or by making an online donation through your parish website. In asking for your support I note that approximately only 30% of all the parishioners in our 283 parishes currently contribute regularly online. We understand many of you may not be able to continue your offertory contributions given the economic impact this pandemic has had on your personal finances. We hope that those who are able will continue to support the operations of your parishes during this emergency. 
   Faith is indeed a gift in times of crisis, providing us with courage to look to the future with hope. It is through this hope that we are able to respond not only to the needs of our families and those closest to us, but also those of others who are served in our parishes. I am grateful for your consideration of this critical request."

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 2016-17

FUNERAL LITURGY PREPARATION

WEDDING LITURGY PREPARATION