St. Anthony’s Update – June 30, 2020

Dear St. Anthony’s Family:

Please be aware that Bishop Boyea has extended the dispensation from Sunday mass attendance through September 6.  Those who are considered “at risk” because of age or health conditions are encouraged to continue to stay home from public masses.  That being said, at St. Anthony’s we HAVE resumed public masses, at limited capacity, and with precautions in place.  Our weekend mass schedule has resumed at the normal times:  Saturday 5:00, Sunday 8:30, 10:30 and 5:00.  8:30 and 10:30 mass are at or near capacity, but we have room available at the Saturday and Sunday evening masses.  Those who attend are asked to wear a mask, if possible.  Every other pew is roped off to encourage distancing.  At communion time,  please stay in your pews and Father will bring communion to you.

The daily mass schedule is as follows:  Monday, Tuesday 5:00 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 12:00 noon, Saturday 8:00 a.m.  Confessions are offered on Wednesday and Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in the parking lot.

The parish office is open 9-5 Monday through Thursday, 9-noon on Friday.

At this point, only masses have resumed, we are unable to schedule social events and other gatherings.  We hope to have a new update soon from Bishop Boyea.

When unable to receive the Eucharist, we may pray the following Spiritual Communion prayer:

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.

Thank you. St. Anthony’s Parish Staff

St. Anthony’s Update – March 17, 2020

Dear St. Anthony’s Family:

After consultation with the priests of the diocese, who were of mixed minds on this matter, and out of deep concern for the health of all our folks, especially our elders, and with due deference to medical and government authorities, it has been decided that all public Masses, events, and gatherings will be canceled throughout the Diocese of Lansing beginning tomorrow morning (March 18, 2020) lasting, for now, through Wednesday of Holy Week (April 8, 2020).

When unable to receive the Eucharist, we may pray the following Spiritual Communion prayer:
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. 

Thank you.
St. Anthony’s Parish Staff

St. Anthony’s Update – March 14, 2020

Friends of St. Anthony’s,

Parish leadership and staff want to make sure that you have seen the recent advisories from Bishop Boyea, most notably the dispensation from attending Mass on Sundays:

All Catholics within the Diocese of Lansing are dispensed from the grave obligation of attending Holy Mass on a Sunday. This applies to everybody and is particularly aimed at those groups most at risk from infection, including the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.  

This means that Mass is still happening, and St. Anthony’s is presently keeping to the usual daily and weekend Mass (and confession) schedule.  However, if you are sick in any way, might have been near someone who is sick, or are worried about getting sick, there is no guilt in staying home.  In fact, if you fall in either of the first two categories, please DO stay home.

If you come to Mass, please practice social distancing (leaving space between non-familial pew neighbors) and follow all other sanitation guidelines. The church remains open for prayer during usual daytime hours.  Most events are being cancelled by the staff or volunteer in charge, so watch for e-mails or phone messages regarding those or check the website.  Updates for the coming week include:

• Sunday Morning Bible Study: IS meeting
• Youth RE: Cancelled all week
• Monday Islam Series: IS meeting
• Tuesday Living the Gift Series: Cancelled
• Tuesday Men’s Night: Adoration only, 8-9pm, no social time
• Wednesday RCIA and Adoration: Cancelled
• Friday Stations of the Cross: IS meeting

If you are in need of material or spiritual assistance during this time, please let us know by calling the office next week at 437-3305.  We must pray for one another and see how we can assist one another, even while keeping our distance socially.  We have the example of many, many saints (and Our Lord!) who continued to love and care for others–and grow in faith–during very stressful times.

• You can follow all updates from the Diocese of Lansing here: https://www.dioceseoflansing.org/news
• Mass can be watched online at noon every Sunday here:  http://www.nationalshrine.org/mass/
• The daily devotional Magnificat is offering all Mass readings and other daily prayers free of charge here: https://us.magnificat.net/free
• And you can pray a prayer of Spiritual Communion any time, especially on Sundays if you do miss Mass:
  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 in 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.  

Finally, let us all pray Pope Francis’s prayer to the Blessed Mother during this trying time (and continue to pray it daily):
O Mary, you always shine on our path as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus, who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows to lead us, through the cross, to the joy of the resurrection.
Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God.
Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial,
but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.  Amen.

St. Anthony’s Youth Activities & RCIA

As I am sure you are aware, the facts and developments related to Coronavirus are rapidly changing. I have made the decision to suspend all youth activities (CGS, OFH, Youth Group, and Sacrament Prep) as well as RCIA for one week starting on Saturday, March 14 through Saturday, March 21. Daily masses, Sunday masses, and other events are proceeding as scheduled. We will evaluate again next week. I do this out of an abundance of caution and with word of many already alerting me that they are withdrawing from these events for the time being. Join me in praying for those who are ill or may become ill, their caregivers, as well as medical professionals. God bless you.

+Fr. Dave

Advisory: Liturgical Celebrations & Public Health Concerns

From: Jeremy Priest, Director of the Office of Worship, Diocese of Lansing. 

To: Priests and Deacons of Diocese of Lansing

Re: Liturgical Celebrations and Public Health ConcernsDate: 12 March 2020

Reverend and Dear Fathers,

In light of the current health concerns regarding Coronavirus /COVID-19, it is prudent to remind ourselves of some basic common-sense precautions that can be taken in order to prevent the potential spreading of the virus during liturgical celebrations.As has been our diocesan policy during times of public health concerns, the local pastor/administrator has the discretion to exercise the options already provided in the Roman Missal.At this time, all public liturgies will continue. To both ensure good public health and to reassure the faithful at this time of concern, however, the Diocese of Lansing Office of Worship strongly encourages initiating the following measures beginning this weekend, the Third Sunday of Lent, March 15, 2020, until further notice.

1. Everyone should be strongly encouraged to remain at home when ill: The faithful are not obliged to attend Holy Mass when ill, and even out of charity they ought not to attend. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor” (CCC 2181). In this instance, the faithful should be encouraged to view or listen to a broadcast of Holy Mass and to make a spiritual communion.

2. Encourage all ministers of Holy Communion to practice good hygiene: All ordinary and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion should be attentive to practice good hygiene when serving at parish Masses and during service to the infirm in homes, hospitals and health care facilities in the diocese. Hand sanitizer may be used prior to the distribution of Holy Communion, which should be done discreetly so not to denote a ritual act. Hand-washing is the most effective way of preventing the spread of germs.

3. Omit or modify the Sign of Peace: The invitation to the sign of peace, although a regular part of our liturgical practice, is always an option according to the Roman Missal (GIRM no.154). Therefore, priest celebrants and deacons are strongly encouraged to exercise the option not to extend the invitation, “Let us offer each other the sign of peace”. The Lamb of God should begin immediately after the words, “The peace of the Lord be with you always,” and the response, “And with your spirit”. If this option is not exercised, the pastor should consult and instruct the faithful to exchange one common and appropriate gesture.

4. Communion under one kind: Priest celebrants are strongly encouraged to exercise the option, also provided in the Roman Missal, to refrain from the distribution of the Precious Blood to the faithful and to distribute Holy Communion under one species, i.e. the Sacred Host. Pastors should make arrangement for those suffering from severe cases of celiac disease to receive the Precious Blood. To avoid catechetical confusion, pastors are also advised to instruct the faithful that “Christ, whole and entire, and the true Sacrament, is received even under only one species” (GIRM no. 282).

5. Communion on the tongue: Those who prefer to receive Holy Communion on the tongue are encouraged, for the time being, to receive Our Lord in the hand although not to do so is a perfectly licit choice on the part of the communicant and should be respected by the minister of Holy Communion.

6. No holding hands: In order to lessen opportunities for spreading the virus, it should be noted that there is no requirement for holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer and, so, this practice should cease until further notice.

7. Holy Water precautions: Holy water fonts should be regularly emptied, cleaned and then refreshed with blessed water or they should remain empty.

If you have any further questions or queries regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact me in coming days.

Yours sincerely in Christ,
Jeremy J. Priest