Fort Worth, Texas
COVID-19 Updates
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August 10, 2020
Update from the Parish
Greetings!
COVID has certainly disrupted our lives and routines. Some things are returning to near normal, and some may never return to pre-COVID ways.
Many have suffered hardships and tremendous difficulty, and families have lost loved ones. Please know your safety, health and well being are in the daily prayers of the Friars and Deacons.
The Bulletin – we are not yet printing bulletins for distribution but you can see every bulletin on-line from our home page. The link from the Parish website is here.
It is back to school time. Saint Andrew School is opening this week and excited for the return to school of the students. Faculty and staff have changed procedures and have a comprehensive COVID protocol. Most of the students are returning to the classroom, but there are many who will be learning virtually. Classwork and assignments are identical for in-person or online learning. Students are arranged in small cohorts to limit any potential virus exposure. Information can be found here.
Religious Education of our children. It is the responsibility of every Catholic parent to ensure their child is raised in the ways of the faith. Parents are the best teachers of the ways of the faith through example - being loving, acting generously, demonstrating kindness, attending and participating at Mass (as a family) receiving the Eucharist, offering prayers, attending adoration and educating our children in the ways of our faith. Children receive a Catholic education in the Catholic School OR through the Parish Faith Formation program. A letter to that effect can be found here.
Youth Ministry Our youth will once again be continuing their formation and experiencing ways to live out their faith. Both in-person and virtual options are available. For additional information and registration can be found here.
The Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) This very successful program to renew the faith in parishioners had weekends scheduled for this month. The renewal weekends have been postponed indefinitely - we will advise when they are rescheduled.
Mass attendance. Our Bishop has (temporarily) removed the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Since May 2 we have been permitting the faithful to attend Mass with the understanding that a mask is worn on the face covering the nose and mouth at all times. The numbers of faithful attending Mass continues to increase – it is so good to see everyone!
RCIA Interested in becoming Catholic or know someone who is? The RCIA has always been a process and should not be run as a program. We offer a year-round process as we invite people to become Catholic. Click here for more information.
God bless you and your families!
June 26, 2020
Pastoral Letter From Bishop Michael F. Olson
June 12, 2020GREETINGS!
As we anticipate the Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) we invite you to wear something WHITE to Mass this weekend.
This Solemnity celebrates the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. We continue to see more of the faithful returning to Mass and are delighted to see the numbers increasing each week!
CONFESSIONS The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation will resume in the confessionals in the Chapel. Access to the Chapel will be from the west doors (off Stadium Drive). The doors will unlock about 3:45 pm. Confessions will be heard from 4:00 – 5:00 on Saturday.
MASS Social distancing and the wearing of a face covering is a necessity. Every other pew is blocked off to help maintain our proper distancing during Mass. All surfaces are disinfected after every mass. Your offertory is needed more now than ever and we thank you in advance for your generosity. Offertory baskets are placed near where you receive the Eucharist as well as near the entrance. Have you considered electronic giving? The amount you specify is drafted from your account and sent directly to the Parish – really easy and convenient! We live stream the Saturday Vigil Mass (5:30 pm). It is available for viewing live on our website or Facebook. You can replay the mass anytime.
THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
In 1263, a Bohemian priest, Fr. Peter of Pragueon, on pilgrimage to Italy was afflicted by doubts about the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
While celebrating Mass in the town of Bolsena, he experienced a Eucharistic miracle. In response to his doubt, when he recited the prayer of consecration as he celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, blood started seeping from the consecrated host and onto the altar and corporal (an altar linen). Fr. Peter reported this miracle to Pope Urban IV, who at the time was nearby in Orvieto. The pope sent delegates to investigate and ordered that host and blood-stained corporal be brought to Orvieto. Tradition states the Pope held the corporal high and processed throughout the town of Orivetto demonstrating the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist! The relics were then placed in the Cathedral of Orvieto, where they remain today. The very next year, in 1264, Pope Urban IV extended the feast of Corpus Christi to the whole Church.
Inspired by the miracle, Pope Urban commissioned a Dominican friar, St. Thomas Aquinas, to compose the Mass and Office for the feast of Corpus Christi. Aquinas' hymns in honor of the Holy Eucharist, Pange Lingua, Tantum Ergo, Panis Angelicus, and O Salutaris Hostia are the beloved hymns the Church sings on the feast of Corpus Christi, as well as throughout the year during Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
June 11, 2020CONFESSIONS will be heard in the regular confessionals in the CHAPEL, NOT in the Angel Rooms effective immediately.
(Wear RED)
Update for the Weekend of May 30-31 (Pentecost Sunday)
This Sunday we celebrate PENTECOST when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles. We recognize this event as the birthday of the Church!
At the 12:30 mass on Sunday, nine of our parishioners will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation completing their initiation onto the Catholic Church.
Procedures and guidelines for attending Mass are the same as last week.
To recap:
Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (confession) – both Friars will be hearing confessions from 4 to 5 pm on Saturday. They will also be available for confession after Mass on Saturday and after all Sunday Masses.
Live-stream Mass – We are only live-streaming the Saturday Vigil Mass (including the rosary that precedes every Mass). The Mass can be accessed from the Parish website www.standrewcc.org or from our Saint Andrew Fort Worth Facebook page. You may choose to view the Mass on Saturday night from your vehicle, and if you wish to receive the Eucharist you must come into the church at the appropriate time. The Eucharist will not be distributed outside. A replay of the Saturday Vigil Mass is available from our website at any time after Mass ends.
For Mass – We enter the church from the glass doors on the east side of the church on Dryden Road. We ask that you to come into church with your face mask on, take advantage of the antibacterial sanitizer at the doors, and follow the guidance of the greeters to locate your seat. A basket is placed near the entrance to the church for your offertory gift, or you may place your offertory in a basket near where you will receive the Eucharist.
Readings, music and lyrics for Mass is on the Parish website… HERE.
Update for the weekend of May 23-24 (Ascension of the Lord and Memorial Day)
ONLY the Saturday Vigil Mass (Saturday, May 16, at 5:30 pm) will be live-streamed this weekend.
Eucharist will be distributed on the west porch of the Church at the usual time for Communion.
Confessions will resume at their scheduled time of Saturday from 4:00pm - 5:30pm.
Update for the weekend of May 16-17
This weekend ONLY the Saturday Vigil Mass (Saturday, May 16, at 5:30 pm) will be live-streamed.
Eucharist will be distributed on the west porch of the Church at the usual time for Communion.
This Sunday is the 6th Sunday of Easter. We welcome you to attend one of our regularly scheduled Masses. Yes, you must wear your mask and we maintain our social distance. There is plenty of room in the church, we have not come close to our "restricted maximum" capacity.We are here for you; we can't wait to see you - WE MISS YOU!
Understandably you might not want to attend mass yet, or may have underlying health issues and you shouldn't come to Mass.
We are ready to welcome you. The church is disinfected after every mass.
Come hear the Word of God in person and receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
We want you to participate in the mass - click (here) to find the Music and Lyrics.
Update for Mother's Day Weekend Masses (May 9 and 10)
The following Masses will be live-streamed with Communion distributed Inside and outside:- 5:30pm Saturday May 9,
- 7:00am Sunday May 10,
- 10:30am Sunday May 10
Confessions will be heard in both Angel Rooms Saturday from 3:00 to 5:00pm on May 9 . The priests will also hear confessions after every weekend mass.
Know that after every Mass the church is disinfected. Please be sure to wear your mask while in church. NO MASK – NO MASS.
Many thanks to those who continue to send in their offertory envelopes! We appreciate those who have moved to online offertory thru Pushpay https://www.standrewcc.org/online-giving.
The Sacred Heart Adoration Chapel is open – stop by and visit with our Lord for just a little while. Daily 7am - 9pm
Friday Benediction will resume at a later date.
Check here weekly for changes in schedule.
(5/1/2020)
RE-OPENING PLAN
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. [1]
God wants the best for us, he wants us to be happy, to care for one another, and to celebrate forever with Him in the Kingdom. He sent His only begotten son to us to show us how to live, how to be human, and how to give what we can out of love for each other.
As we re-open Saint Andrew Parish for the Celebration of the Eucharist, the Mass, we bear in mind our call to care for one another. This care for one another, this Christian love of humankind, is expressed in the Latin word CARITAS.
The Bishop of Fort Worth has relieved Catholics of the obligation to attend mass on Sunday during the Pandemic of 2020.
Parishioners are welcomed back to the regular celebrations of Mass at our Parish at all the regular times. If you are in a designated high-risk category, please stay safe at home! We will live-stream daily Mass and the Mass on Saturday evenings at 5:30.
We gather for Mass (and at this time Mass alone, no meetings) keeping in mind CARITAS. We care for the other by not spreading germs!
We demonstrate our CARITAS when we come to Mass by:- Properly wearing your own mask (PPE[2]) inside the Church
- Using only the east doors on Dryden Street to enter/exit the church
- Limiting the number of people in the church to 150
- Social distancing during Mass and for the reception of the Eucharist
- Receiving the Eucharist only in the hand
- Placing your (much needed) offertory in the container provided
- NO congregating (chatting and conversing) in the narthex or church
We add one significant consideration – If you desire to attend mass and receive the Eucharist but are concerned about transmission of germs, drive to church for the Saturday evening 5:30 mass, stay in your vehicle and watch the live-stream Mass. At the end of Mass, a Eucharistic Minister will come outside to distribute the Eucharist at the church’s west doors on Dryden Street.
We demonstrate our CARITAS when we come to Adoration in the Sacred Heart Chapel:- Adoration will resume May 4 (regular hours of 7am – 9pm)
- Only six (6) people in the Adoration Chapel at the same time
- Adoration time MUST be scheduled on the Adoration app
- Properly wearing your own mask (PPE - cloth covering) inside the Chapel
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION- Confessions will be heard this Saturday afternoon from 3 – 5:30 in an Angel Room
- PPE must be worn in all common areas on Parish property (includes confessionals)
- Baptisms will resume in May
- Appointments for Confessions can be made with one of the Friars
- Parish office will reopen with reduced staff on May 1
Further information can be found:- On the Corona Virus can be found here
- From the Center for Disease Control can be found here
- About returning to “normal in the State of Texas can be found here
- From the Diocese of Fort Worth can be found here
NO MASK - NO MASS
[1] New American Bible, Revised Edition. (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Jn 3:16–17.
[2] PPE – Personal Protective Equipment - CDC is advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used.
(4/3/2020)Prayer for a Pandemic
May we who are merely inconvenienced
Remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors
Remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home
Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close
Remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
Remember those that have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market
Remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
Remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country,
let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,
Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.
Amen.
http://krugthethinker.com/2020/03/prayer-for-a-pandemic/
(4/1/2020, 11:30am)New Temporary Mass Schedule
Dear Parishioners,
At the request of Bishop Olson, during this temporary time of the health crisis, we will not celebrate the Saturday Vigil Mass since it is provided only as a pastoral concession to the faithful for Sunday obligation. Instead we will now have an 8:00 AM Saturday morning Mass celebrated and live streamed. The intention for the Saturday Vigil Mass will move to the Saturday morning Mass.
During this health crisis, Bishop Olson has requested that each priest celebrate only one Mass per day. Temporarily, our schedule of Sunday Masses will only include the regular 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM Masses. These Masses will continue to be live streamed and recorded. If you do not view one of these Masses live streamed, you may go on our website on Sunday after 11:30 AM and choose a Mass to view at any time.
The Mass intentions previously scheduled for 7:00 AM, 12:30 PM and 5:00 PM on Sundays will be rescheduled at the earliest available dates. Theresa Gaitan will contact you. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Please watch this website for a few upcoming changes to the schedule our Triduum liturgies.
All on-campus non-liturgical events have been cancelled through May 1st.
(3/27/2020 11:00am)
Dear Beloved Parish Members of Saint Andrew Catholic Church,
The Friars are doing what we can to stay healthy. I trust we are all being good stewards over our health and hearth. Fr. John continues to visit his Office daily, handling phone calls and anticipating hospital and home visits where necessary.
I anointed my first Coronavirus victim two days ago. He was very ill and my age. Those ventilators are worth their weight in gold in these strange days. He had one going non-stop. It seems he has realistic hope because of this from home health agency. I do believe he will make it; thanks be to God.
We continue to stream our daily and weekend Masses, complete with BRIEF homilies. Confessions are suspended, as you probably have heard from our Bishop. One can gain a Plenary Indulgence (remission of sin) by performing certain prayerful devotions like the Stations of the Cross, the daily Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Consult the Diocesan website, as well as our own, for the specifics of how one receives forgiveness of sins in times of national or worldwide emergencies.
To update you, the new Parish Hall boiler is installed and should be operational today! Thank you to all who contributed to its expense. Speaking of expenses, we are obviously hurting with Offertory collections limited. PLEASE use Push Pay or whatever electronic giving you have in place. Like your own homes and lives, the bills keep coming in so that reality is not suspended. Most of our Office staff has been furloughed. We are on a skeleton crew, consisting of the Friars, Christina Alves, Deacon Kevin, Joseph Hicks and Lalo Martinez. Hours are staggered but phone calls are being fielded through Kathy Lawson who answers them at her home via the wonders of modern technology where the Parish phone rings in her home. Paul Gillilan is also on board as our IT needs and communication needs constantly must be adjusted as news comes in and rules from Diocese and City cause changes.
We miss the children and the School community very, very much. A Parish with a Catholic School is blessed with great creativity and joyful noise. It is so QUIET here these days. God bless our parents who find themselves ensconced in smaller quarters with rambunctious kiddos. I can at least move from the Friary to the Office and back and get a breath of fresh air. Perhaps a future fundraiser is in the works in that we can contribute discoveries of surfaced coping skills to a plethora of HOW TO books on survival in times of emergencies. Or, a book on what NOT TO DO in such times. The lifeblood of personal narratives is in the making as we speak. We just hope this incubation ends sooner than later. I miss the world!
Remember you can investigate several websites and YouTube videos on our Catholic Faith, our prayer Devotions and Holy Mass streamed live and recorded. In times past, during crisis and pestilence, Mother Church has strongly encouraged the Rosary to be prayed, especially as a family. Scripture reading and prayer is foundational for us, filled with the Holy Spirit and the virtue of Hope, nurturing Faith and Loving kindness. The FORMED website is at your disposal with a great deal of teachings about our Catholic Faith and movies on the lives of the Saints, etc.
Please know you are all much in our prayers here, daily and always. And we continue to pray for the end of this plague and multiple blessings upon those who work in the medical field ministering to the sick and suffering. Much to pray for; much to be thankful for…particularly for Jesus Christ. Because with Christ, there is always HOPE!
Blessings and love,
Fr. Jim
3/24/2020 10:50AM)
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price joined city and county leaders in calling for all residents to stay at home, joining a growing list of Texas metro areas seeking stricter regulations in fighting the spread of the new coronavirus.
The "stay home, work safe" order takes effect at midnight Tuesday and runs through April 3.
- IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS DIRECTIVE, CHURCH AND SCHOOL OFFICES ARE CLOSED but the Church phones will be answered 8:30AM - 5:00PM Monday through Friday.
- ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT WILL not TAKE PLACE.
- DAILY MASS WILL BE CELEBRATED AND LIVE STREAMED BUT COMMUNION WILL not BE DISTRIBUTED.
- A Spiritual Act of Communion may take the place of the actual reception of the Host (Click here).
Click here for Bishop Olsen's March 24, 2020 Pastoral Letter.
Click here for the latest communication for Bishop Olson
(3/20/2020 9:30am)
Click here for Governor Abbott's executive order.
3/18/2020 4:30pm)
Dear Parishioners,Bishop Olson has requested to keep our regular Mass schedules, but NO ONE IS ALLOWED inside the Church for Mass. They can stand outside and listen to the Mass and at Communion time, the Eucharist will be brought out to Communion stations on the Front Porch of the Church. Communion on the tongue will be discontinued until further notice.
"The current circumstances in our community are such that attendance at Mass borders on an impossibility and thus there is no obligation to attend.”- Bishop Olson.
We would like to encourage all parishioners to consider using PushPay for their offertory and special collection giving during this time. If you wish to drop off your offertory, you may palce it in the Night Drop Box in front of the Pastoral Center Offices. Click here for more information on PushPay.
We will be live-streaming our Daily and Weekend Masses both on our hone page and on the Church Facebook page. (updated 3/19/2020 1:10pm)https://standrewcc.org/live-stream
https://www.facebook.com/StAndrewFW/
Below you will find two Acts of Spiritual Communion for those who are watching the live-stream at home.
An Act of Spiritual Communion (Modern Translation)
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.
An Act of Spiritual Communion (Traditional Translation)
My Jesus, I believe that Thou art present in the Blessed Sacrament.
I love Thee above all things, and I desire Thee in my soul.
Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though Thou wert already there, I embrace Thee and unite myself wholly to Thee; permit not that I should ever be separated from Thee.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be offered in the Church from 11:00am to 1:00pm Monday through Friday. Access will be through the Handicap Door at the Front of the Church. All doors, pews, and common touch surfaces are being cleaned and disinfected daily.
The Pastoral Center Offices will be open so people feel the comfort of coming there for any urgent needs. But we ask that if you are sick, to please use caution and stay at home. Phones at Parish offices to be answered by a real live person during normal business hours 8:30am-5:00pm Monday through Friday.
From Magnificat
During this difficult time, many of the faithful may be unable to attend Mass. To help them sanctify their day and to keep walking in the liturgical rhythm of the Church, we are honored to make our online version of MAGNIFICAT temporarily available to everyone for free.
Please help us spread this message and share this email and link:
www.magnificat.com/free
Free temporary access is also available in Spanish:
www.magnificat.com/gratis
We are thankful for your cooperation and prayers in this time of uncertainty.
Fr. Jim, Fr. John, and the Pastoral Center Staff
(3/13/2020 7:oopm)
Message from Fr. Jim:
Due to the Coronavirus and the need to protect the health of our parishioners, please note the following:
• Adoration Chapel will be closed effective 9:00pm on March 13 th. The Adoration Chapel will reopen on Monday, March 30th.
• Knights of Columbus Fish Fry Dinners before Stations of the Cross are cancelled. The Stations of the Cross will still take place in the Church at 7:00PM.
• The Learning Center will be closed until March 31.
• Meetings (including Family of Faith, Bible Studies and choir rehearsals) during the upcoming weeks are cancelled through Sunday, March 29.
• The holy water fonts have been emptied.
• No holding hands during the Our Father.
• No handshakes during the Sign of Peace.
• Holy Communion will be distributed only under one species.
All liturgical events (weekend and daily Masses, Confession/Reconciliation, Stations of the Cross) will take place as scheduled.If you are ill, elderly, have a sick family member in your home, have other health concerns or are particularly vulnerable to the transmission of the virus, you are not obligated to attend Mass. Please stay home if you feel sick.
Please pray for good health and the protection of each of us from the spread of this virus.
DUE TO THE CURRENT HEALTH PRECAUTIONS
FR. JIM HAS REQUESTED THAT THE
PARISH OFFICES REMAIN
CLOSED UNTIL MARCH 30, 2020.Please pray for those who are ill and their caretakers.As this very fluid situation with the COVID-19 or Coronavirus continues to take shape, please look for updates on the Parish website https://standrewcc.org/covid-19-updates for the most update announcements from our Parish. Please use this as your source for all future updates. Thank You.
Thank you for your faithfulness and cooperation!
3/10/2020