Posted on August 27, 2022 View all news
Laudetur Jesus Christus! Gelobt sei Jesus Christus! Sia lodato Gesù Cristo! Praised be Jesus Christ!
This month of September sees parish life begin to return to normal after the slower summer. We start the new ‘parish’ year with the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14. There will be a Solemn Mass at 6:30 p.m. at Old St. Mary’s. Following this Mass, we begin Sung Sunday Vespers, Children’s Catechism, and regular parish events again. Please be sure to watch the newsletter, the weekly bulletin, and the parish webpage for upcoming events. Please take advantage of these as your time allows as we only get time once, and we can never repeat the past! The calendar, as we know it now through June, is all uploaded to the parish webpage.
A question that has been recently asked, and comes up from time to time, is what do we do if there is an emergency and we need a priest for Last Rites? The first thing that we want to DISCOURAGE is trying to contact one of the priests directly. If that priest happens to be away and it isn’t his day for sick calls, the call can easily be missed. So please do not do that. The priest on call is generally the only one monitoring that phone and voicemail on the assigned days. Please also do not try to make arrangements via email, as these also can easily be missed. If you simply want to arrange a sick visit or Communion for something that isn’t an emergency, simply email or call the parish office to be put on the list for that.
However, if this is an emergency and a priest is needed as soon as possible for Last Rites, please call either parish. If the parish office is open, just speak with the secretary, who will take down the information and pass this on to the priest on call that day. If it is after hours, there is an option to be connected to the priest on call. If he doesn’t answer, please leave a message with the details, and he will call back as soon as possible. Again, this would be for life-threatening situations that are emergencies.
If this is an ongoing illness, I encourage you to contact the office as soon as possible to arrange for a visit rather than waiting for something to be critical. Also, if you know you will have surgery, this is something that we can schedule in advance before you go in for surgery. Generally, an Anointing would only occur if general anesthesia were being given. However, always feel free to email or call in with questions to see if this is something that should be done. It is always better to ask than to assume an answer one way or the other.
I hope this helps explain what to do if you need a priest in an emergency. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Have a blessed month ahead!
TO YOU, O BLESSED JOSEPH, we have recourse in our afflictions, and, having implored the help of your holy Spouse, we now, with hearts filled with confidence, earnestly beg you also to take us under your protection. By that charity wherewith you were united to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by that fatherly love with which you cherished the Child Jesus, we beseech you and we humbly pray that you will look down with gracious eyes upon that inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by His blood. and will succor us in our need by your power and strength. Defend, O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen offspring of Jesus Christ. Keep from us, O most loving Father, all blight of error and corruption. Aid us from on high, most valiant defender, in this conflict with the powers of darkness. And even as of old you rescued the Child Jesus from the peril of His life, so now defend God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity. Shield us ever under your patronage, that, following your example and strengthened by your help, we may live a holy life, die a happy death, and attain to everlasting bliss in heaven. Amen.