St. Andre Bessette Parish

At the beginning of the Covid Pandemic in the United States, the American Bishops, for the most part, gave a blanket dispensation from participating in the Sunday Eucharist for all Catholics until further notice. This dispensation was enacted when most states were experiencing ”shelter in place” ordinances for the safety and well-being of all citizens. During this time, many parishes and dioceses offered “on-line” Masses and televised liturgies, encouraging people to participate from their homes.
 
Since mid-May, however, for the most part, those “Shelter in Place” orders have been lifted , People are free to move about as they please,  And while some social distancing protocols remain in place, life has returned to normal. So the question needs to be raised: Why are people NOT returning to the practice of the Faith in regards to Sunday Eucharist?
 
For some, the dispensation is a convenient excuse—the Bishop says I don’t have to go to Mass, so I don’t have to go to Mass.
 
Others have become accustomed to watching it online or on TV because it better fits their busy schedules or is more convenient.
 
Still others refrain from participating in the Sunday Eucharist because they have legitimate health concerns, are homebound, or simply cannot get to the scheduled Masses because of other obligations.
 
So, the question is this: Just because the Bishop says we CAN skip Mass on Sunday, SHOULD we skip Mass on Sunday.
 
The Church has long taught that the Eucharist is central to our Life of Faith. To live without the Eucharist is to condemn oneself to death from hunger. The Eucharist is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ given to the world as Food and Drink. He promises that all who feast on Him will have life in Him and will be raised up on the last day. Yet, many Catholics are content to sit back on their couches, lounging in their jammies, and watch Mass on TV because the Bishop Says we Don’t Have to Go to church!
 
This is an outrage to God and an affront to the Blessed Sacrament!
 
Those who are ill, suffering from underlying medical conditions, feeling the effects of advancing age, or caring for someone who is sick or unable to care for themselves are the ones who need to avail themselves of the Dispensation to Participate in Sunday Mass. As a matter of fact, these always have a dispensation from participating in Sunday Eucharist.
 
Those, however,  who are in reasonably good health, who go to work daily, who frequent restaurants, bars, and pubs, who are capable of going on vacations, camping trips, or other activities, and who are not carriers of the Covid 19 virus SHOULD NOT avail themselves of the Dispensation. They should get back to the regular practice of the Sunday Eucharist.  If there is nothing to prevent you from taking part in these other, normal, daily activities, there is nothing preventing you from participating in the Eucharist.
 
Just because the Bishop says we CAN dispense ourselves from Mass, doesn’t me we SHOULD dispense ourselves from Mass.
After all, Our eternal destiny is at stake.
 
 

 




CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE 

PLEASE NOTE: 

THE 4pm Mass for Christmas Eve is already filled. There are no more spots open! 

Please do not call the rectory asking to be put on the 4pm Mass for Christmas Eve, it won't happen. 


Choices open are 

CHRISTMAS EVE            10:30PM 

CHRISTMAS MORNING    8:00AM 

CHRISTMAS MORNING      11:00AM 

Please consider participating in one of these Christmas Masses.

 We are limiting attendance at each Christmas Mass to 65 people and will be taking reservations for each Mass. If your name is not on the list, you will not be admitted into the church building. 



    SATURDAY EVENING 

CONFESSIONS 2:30-3:30PM
Confessions will be heard in the side sacristy (behind the Sacred Heart). We ask that you enter by way of the sanctuary and exit by way of the side door. 

ROSARY 3:40pm 

VIGIL MASS FOR SUNDAY 
4:00pm 

It has come to our attention that those who use the van service will not be able to attend Mass if we kept it at 4:30pm. In an effort to accommodate the needs of all, the vigil Mass has been moved back to 4pm. 

THE 5:30 pm Vigil Mass has been
discontinued. 

SUNDAY MASSES 

ROSARY 7:40am 

SUNDAY MASS 8:00am 

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 
when it resumes in the fall will begin at 9am and end at 10:30am. 

ROSARY 10:40 am 

SUNDAY MASS 11:00 am 

ROSARY 5:40 pm 

SUNDAY MASS 6:00 pm 

WEEKDAY 
ROSARY 7:40 am 
Mass 8:00 am 
Tuesday thru Friday 

The Church will continue to be open on Thursdays from Noon until 4 pm for Private prayer and Adoration.

It has been our experience over the course of the last few weeks, that many of the parishioners who "signed up" for a particular Mass do not "show up" for the Mass. 

If you would like to come to Mass, do not let the fact that your name is not on the list stop you. In most cases, there is still plenty of room in our church for you to participate, even with the Covid 19 social protocols in place. 

If you desire to receive our Lord in the Eucharist, all you have to do is come.

 

Prayer for a Return to the Practice of the Faith

O Good Shepherd, 
you never cease 
to seek out the lost,
to call home the stray, 
to comfort the frightened, 
and to bind up 
the wounded. 
I ask you to 
bring your people
back to the practice 
of the Faith, 
Remove all obstacles 
that prevent them 
from receiving 
your abundant mercy, 
flowing through 
the Sacraments 
of your holy Church. 

Through the intercession of 
Mary, the Mother of God, 
St. Joseph, her Spouse,
St. Michael the Archangel 
and all the heavenly hosts, 
St. Andre Bessette, 
their Patron Saints 
and the ever-prayerful 
St. Monica, 
may you pardon their sins
and unshackle them 
from whatever hinders 
their freedom 
to come Home. 

For you, O Good Shepherd, 
have loved us to the end 
and offered yourself 
to the Father
for the salvation of all. 
Amen.



HOLIDAY SEASON OF GIVING 

ST. NICHOLAS DAY INTERNET RAFFLE

What: A Virtual Mash-up of our most popular fundraisers. 

The Raffle will open online by Thanksgiving day, using random number generation, our online host, a neutral third-party website, will draw all winners on December 6th and publish winners' names on the raffle page. We'll also publish winners' names in our bulletin and notify winners via the email or phone number ticket-buyers provide when purchasing chances. 

Where: Stay tuned for our website link. It's in progress now. 
 

• Do I need a computer? You can participate from a computer, mobile phone, tablet or any device. 
• What if I have no device, not even a cell phone? After the link is announced, you can call the parish office for help. Or perhaps a friend or relative can assist?
• Can anyone participate? Absolutely! In fact, the raffle will be more successful if non-parishioners take part and the link is shared widely. 
• How do I buy tickets? Online via credit card. Simply visit the site when revealed. It's easy! 
• How much are tickets? Tickets will be sold in batches. The smallest batch is 1 single ticket. As batches get bigger, the price per ticket gets smaller.
• But tickets cost the same for large prizes and small prizes! Why? It may seem strange, but it's also about strategy and odds. If you buy 50 tickets, you might assign 20 to your favorite big-ticket prize and fewer to your favorite smaller prizes. You'll increase your chances of winning something if you assign tickets to smaller items. 

THANKSGIVING/CHRISTMAS HELP
If you are in need of help for the holiday season, please let the parish office know. by November 2nd. 

Food Vouchers for Thanksgiving will be mailed on November 13th. 

Food Vouchers for Christmas will be mailed on December 14. 


 
GIVING TREE
In lieu of Christmas Gifts this year we will be distributing gift cards from local business and big box stores to families in need. Please pick up your gift cards now (Walmart, Target, Best Buy, etc.) and deposit them in the special container in the vestibule BEFORE November 30th. 

We will mail these out by December 4th. 

We are also looking for gift cards from local grocery stores to distribute to our homebound parishioners as Christmas gifts in lieu of presents. 



THANK YOU for your constant generosity and understanding during this festive season made difficult by Covid-19.





Religious Education Classes Have Resumed!!

Our parish catechetical program has returned, beginning at 9am in Fr. Zolcinski Hall. 

All students, not attending Catholic Schools, are to be enrolled in the parish catechetical program.

In light of the Covid Restrictions, the following protocols will be observed:

* Children are to arrive at the hall no earlier than 10 minutes to 9 and no later than 9 am. Once the children are in the hall, the doors will be closed and no one else will be allowed access. 

* Masks will be worn by students and teachers during class time. Students will be separated by recommended social distance. 

* Children will be dismissed at 10:30 am. Parents may meet them at the top[ of the hill. No one will be admitted to the hall during religious ed. 

* Children and their families are asked to participate in the 10:40 Rosary and 11:00 am Mass each Sunday as part of their spiritual formation. 



 

We recently purchased a used truck for $8,950.00. 

To date, our "Parish Truck Collection" has raised $6,331.38. 

We are only $2,618.62 away from replacing all the money we withdrew from Parish Funds to purchase the Truck. 

Thank you to all who have given so generously to htis much needed addition to our parish. 

Also Mrs. Irene Seegar would like to extend a heart-felt THANK YOU to all who sent her cards, flowers, gifts, food, and prayers on the recent occation of her 92nd birthday. May God extend to you the generosity you showed to her. 






 



 

Check out our brand new blog which was created by Matt Kurtz
You can view the blog at the top of this page!! Also if anyone has any awesome blog ideas please let me know my email is mattystandre1979@yahoo.com!      

Looking for recipes from our Parish chefs!!

If anyone has any delicious recipes I would love to show them off on our 
website for everyone to enjoy, please email Matty at mattystandre1979@yahoo.com  
Or you could also write them down and put them in with the collection envelopes also. 
Looking forward to see what wonderful recipes we have!