St. Cyril Catholic Church

Dear friends, After Sunday, June 7, I will no longer be offering an early-morning Mass on Sundays at St. Ann’s. Beginning the weekend of June 13/14, the weekend Mass schedule at St. Ann’s and St. Cyril’s will be:... 4:00 PM Saturday, St. Ann’s 9:00 am Sunday, St. Cyril’s 10:45 AM Sunday, St. Ann’s Celebrating 4 Masses within 20 hours has become too great a burden for me. As we have returned to the regular schedule, I have come to realize that the schedule is exhausting. Earlier this week, Bishop Johnston issued a pastoral letter entitled, Keeping the Lord’s Day: Pastoral Letter on the Importance of Sunday. In it, he notes that, Sunday is a gift from God for rest and relationship. Part of that entails divine worshipour living relationship of communion with God ; but worship of God is joined to rest. He also quotes the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which says that in addition to the celebration of Sunday Eucharist, the faithful are strongly encouraged to make it a day of rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives. As I read these words, I realized that, at this stage of my life, and under the current conditions, I am not able to fulfill in my own life this ideal vision of what Sundays should be. I am sure that this decision will inconvenience some parishioners, for which I am sorry. I hope, though, that, as we return to public worship in the days ahead, everyone will be able to enjoy Sunday as a gift from God for rest and relationship and the celebration of Sunday Eucharist. I also hope that, by reducing the number of Masses offered, we can work together to strengthen worship at the remaining Masses. Finally, I encourage anyone who is able to participate in weekday Masses as they are able. The weekday Mass schedule is as follows, but note that there will be no weekday Masses June 15-17 while I am receiving medical treatment for prostate cancer. 10:00 AM Tuesday, St. Ann's 10:00 AM Wednesday, St. Cyril's 10:00 AM Thursday, St. Ann's Blessings always Fr. Jim Carlyle

Confessions 2 till 3 PM tomorrow, Saturday, May 30. Father Carlyle will be hearing confessions in the west wing of St. Ann’s on Saturdays from 2 till 3 PM. A ...reversible sign will be posted on the southwest door of the church. When the sign is green, with the words, Confessions Come In, you can enter. Please wear a mask. Flip the sign on the door to show the red side so that it reads. Confessions Please Wait. Kneel, sit, or stand in the last pew to make your confession. Father Carlyle will be seated on the first pew, six feet away. After your confessions, please leave by the same door. All other doors into the church will be locked while confessions are being heard so that the secrecy of confessions can be preserved. Fr. Carlyle will sanitize the pew, sign, and door between confessions and flip the sign back to green.

https://www.facebook.com/12927183/posts/10216902338732721/

Masses resume this weekend, May 16-17. Saturday -- 4:00 PM Saturday St. Ann's Sunday -- 7:30 AM St. Ann's, 9:00 AM St. Cyril's, 10:45 AM St. Ann's Tuesday -- 10:00 AM St. Ann's... Wednesday -- 10:00 AM St. Cyril's Thursday -- 10:00 AM St. Ann's As a reminder, the bishop has dispensed all from the Sunday obligation to attend Mass. If you are ill, vulnerable to COVID-19, or are concerned about being in public, please do not come to Mass. You can instead read Holy Scripture, especially the Sunday Mass readings, and pray the Rosary. You can also watch Masses that are livestreamed on the internet or broadcast on television. If you're ready to come back to Mass please note these health protocols established by Bishop Johnston: Please wear a mask or other facial covering at any time when you are not in the pew with your family. Please stay six feet or more from people who do not live with you. Please place your offering in one of the baskets near the door, either as you enter or leave. Offering baskets will not be circulated. Please feel under no pressure to receive communion if you have concerns about the safety of doing so (or, of course, if you are not properly disposed and spiritually prepared). Remember that Catholics are obliged to receive communion only once a year. Those who refrain from receiving communion still unite themselves with the sacrifice of Christ by their active participation at Mass. If you come forward to receive communion, please stay six feet away from the person in front of you. Missalettes wil not be available. You are welcome to bring your own missals or smartphones for use during the celebration of Mass.