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Message from Msgr. Gorman and Fr. Hokamp

Until things can get back more to normal, this bulletin will be our main means of communication.  Unless something changes, both churches are open daily in the morning and remain open until 5:00 PM or so.  Feel free to drop in for private prayer before the Blessed Sacrament for as long as you want. If you do drop in, pick up a bulletin for yourself or a neighbor who may not be able to access it online.  You may also drop off your envelope. At St. Charles, drop it into the “Scrip Depository” slot in the narthex. At St. Peter, I am hoping that Deacon Rider will have provided a box or a milk can with a slot in the lid for this purpose.  You can always mail your envelope with the self-addressed envelopes in your packets or contribute online. We are still counting on your support.

If you were accustomed to making a Holy Hour in the Goldsmith Adoration Chapel, you can still do that in your parish church.  Our Lord is no less present when the Blessed Sacrament is reposed in the tabernacle than when exposed in the monstrance. Of course, God’s presence is not confined to the tabernacle and we may pray to him anywhere.  We heard in the Gospel on Ash Wednesday, “But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” (Matthew 6:6) This time of staying at home is also great opportunity for families to pray together with some bible reading and especially the family rosary.  The family home, after all, is the domestic church.

Remember that our parishes have a subscription to FORMED, which is an online treasury of Catholic programs, movies and books.  Go to the “Faith Formation” tab on our parish website <stcharles-cf.com>, click on the tab for St. Charles/St. Peter, then click on “Formed” on the drop-down list.  Then either sign up, if it’s your first time; or sign in, if you are returning. It’s free, so take advantage of it.

Did you know that Father Hokamp has started a YouTube channel?  Just type “Fr. Hokamp” in the search box and you will find his posts, produced especially for this period of isolation.

Even though you may not be able to attend Mass in person during this time, there are ways to tune in for a Mass both daily and on Sundays.  A prerecorded Sunday Mass from our diocese is broadcast on WQOW Channel 18 at 9:30 every Sunday morning, or anytime on the diocesan YouTube channel or Facebook page.  You may watch Mass daily on EWTN at 7:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM and 11:00 PM. You may also listen to the Mass daily at 12:00 noon and 7:30 PM on Relevant Radio on station 1050 AM WDVM or at <relevantradio.com>.  Finally, if you just want to read the readings for each day’s Mass, go to <usccb.org> and click the day on the calendar you see there. Here is a prayer for making a spiritual communion when you cannot receive holy communion itself:

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.

Father Hokamp and I are also available for confession on request; and we are also willing to come to the home of anyone who asks for confession, anointing, holy communion and viaticum.  Deacon Rider will also bring communion to the home of anyone who requests it.

I have decided that we will not collect any prepackaged Easter goodies for the homebound.  It is better for them that we do not bring in anything from the outside. We will visit them when it is safer to do so again.  In the meantime let us all continue to pray for each other.

2019-2020 Prayer

Holy and Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we thank you for Your gifts of time, talent, and treasures manifested in our daily lives.
We pray, Father, for the openness of heart; Jesus, we ask for the ability to recognize Your gifts in ourselves as well as in our brothers and sisters; Holy Spirit, we ask for Your guidance for us to live the life of stewardship for which we were created and called.
St. Joseph, we ask you as the Patron of our Diocese, intercede for us, be a model in our use of our time, talents, and treasures by living the command of Jesus, working together and sharing the Joy of the Gospel, for the building up of the Kingdom to Heaven here on earth.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, so gracious, our model of humility, help us and encourage us, strengthen us in our faith, so we may generously answer the Lord’s call with a resounding yes to a life of service for which the Father created us, Jesus calls us, and the Holy Spirit guides us.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord
Amen.