St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Angola, Indiana

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NEW LITURGICAL PROTOCOLS FOR MAY 29, 2021: MASKS ARE OPTIONAL IN PARTS OF THE CHURCH

5/27/2021

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COVID-19 PROTOCOLS AT ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA
AS OF 29 MAY 2021 (WEEKEND OF TRINITY SUNDAY)

 
Following the recent decisions of the Indiana Bishops’ Conference and the new guidelines of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, we want to celebrate our progress, keep people safe from the lingering pandemic, and make our liturgies as inviting as possible to as many people as possible. We want to honor and respect both those faithful who long to return to a more “normal” form of liturgical celebration and those who are justifiably concerned about too much exposure to contagions too soon.
 
Our basic decision is, therefore, to create a hybrid model where there is a more restricted and a less restricted section within the main nave of the church. We ask that only people who already have been fully vaccinated should sit in the less restricted area, along with their children. Adults who have not yet been vaccinated should sit in the socially distanced area with masks.
 
These protocols will be used for about three weeks, although some things we will need to evaluate every week to see how it’s going. By about June 20 (Father’s Day) there will be a new set of protocols.


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CHURCH BUILDING
 
  • Pews, masks and seating: We seek to be accommodating to as many faithful as possible. The nave will be divided into two sections.
    • In the three seating sections on the west side of the nave (on the right as you enter the church) all pews are available for seating. In this area, masks are not required.
    • In the two sections on the east side of the nave (on the left as you enter the church), every other pew remains roped off. We ask that masks be worn in this area. We ask further that anyone who is not vaccinated please take a seat in this area.
    • This arrangement will be evaluated every week.
    • The choir area remains reserved only for musicians. The large plastic barrier will remain in place a few more weeks. (The smaller one can be removed.)
    • The extra chairs around the perimeter may be used, and the reconciliation room may be used as extra seating for one family. There is room for up to 40 people in the gathering area, if need be. Finally, the choir rehearsal room can be used as the last seating option.
    • Ministers in the sanctuary (celebrant, altar servers, lectors etc.) do not need to wear a mask. (Cf. below under “Mass”.)
  • Capacity: By opening up pews in some areas but not in others, and factoring in the perimeter seating, our practical capacity would now be about 375.
  • Holy Water:
    • There will be slightly chlorinated holy water in the two small stoups by the entrances. We will continue to wash the stoups and switch out the water twice a week all summer.
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MASS

  • Altar: The altar returns to the pre-Covid setup. That is, there is one big corporal in the middle of the altar.
  • Credence Table (Credence Wagon): We return to the pre-Covid setup, except we will not yet offer the chalice to the congregation. For a weekend Mass, there are usually 4 ciboria, 1 chalice 1 large corporal (unless it is already on the altar), 1 purificator and 2 extra chalice palls on the cart.
  • Ushers & Greeters: You will continue to keep an attendance count. Since we no longer need a precise count, you can use the counter or do a nose count during the Gloria – either method is fine. Someone should also be available at the Welcome station.
  • Altar Servers: There will be two altar servers – a cross bearer and an altar master. There is no book bearer at this time. The servers do not need to wear masks. The servers will not hold the book for the priest. They will, however, assist with the lavabo.
  • Music:
    • There are no longer any restrictions on wind instruments.
    • There are no longer any restrictions on choir size.
    • The large transparent shield should stay up at least a few more weeks.
    • We are now using the hymnbooks (Today’s Missal Seasonal and Music issue).
    • The congregation is invited to sing both the hymns and the Mass parts.
  • Lectors:
    • Starting Saturday, May 29, 2021, we will again use two lectors at each Mass.
    • We will continue using the loose-leaf lectionary for a few more weeks.
    • We will not carry the Gospel Book in the opening procession just yet. Therefore, the lectors will not join in the opening procession.
    • For the next three or four weeks, here is the division of tasks:
      • Lector 2 reads the announcements before Mass.
      • Lector 1 reads the First Reading. (Note: the choir is responsible for the responsorial psalm.)
      • Lector 2 reads the Second Reading.
      • Lector 1 reads the intercessions, followed by the offertory announcement.
      • Lector 2 comes to the microphone and reads the communion announcement.
      • Lector 2 returns to the microphone for the closing announcements. NOTE: on the weekend of May 29/30, a special speaker will do the closing announcements instead.
    • At the end of June, we will re-evaluate this whole process.
  • Offertory Procession: The bread, wine and water are on the offertory table. There should be at least three people in the procession. Masks are optional.
  • Collection: The ushers will not take up a collection and we will not pass a basket from hand to hand. Two large baskets are set up near the door and people are encouraged to put their gifts there. We will re-evaluate this system in July.
  • Our Father & Sign of Peace: People may now shake hands at the sign of peace, as they wish. Holding hands during the Our Father is not a Catholic custom but is not forbidden.
  • Communion:
    • The next few weeks, we will use four communion lines: two in the center aisle, one at each side aisle.
    • The priest may elect to distribute communion himself or may ask for a fourth extraordinary minister.
    • We still offer communion only in the form of the host. Each distributor may decide whether or not to give communion on the tongue.
    • Communion ministers should continue to wear masks at least until the end of June. Please note: this is the only required use of masks now at Mass.
    • The communion ministers should also continue to sanitize their hands before distributing.
    • The ushers will help guide the congregation forward for communion, starting from the front, like we used to do pre-covid.
    • We are no longer enforcing physical distancing during communion.
  • After Mass:
    • Social events may now be held in the gathering area. We hope to offer refreshments quite often this summer.
    • We will continue to fumigate the church every Monday through the end of June.
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OTHER SACRAMENTS
 
  • Until September, baptisms, weddings, First Communions, confirmations, and similar celebrations will largely be celebrated as separate liturgies and not during Sunday Mass. Exceptions can be made, especially for blessings for a wedding anniversary. With the return of the winter Mass schedule on September 11, 2021, we will also return to our practice of encouraging baptisms and other sacraments at the Sunday assembly.
  • Baptism preparation for families returns in September – obligatory for baptism of the first child, optional after that.
  • The quinceañera preparation class has returned. This will again be required for anyone who has not yet scheduled a quinceañera. For the four young women already scheduled, it will be optional.
  • Marriage preparation continues as usual. Weddings can be celebrated with no particular restrictions.
  • Confessions continue as normal. The normal placement of the chairs has been restored. Masks are optional – the priest will probably keep his mask on.
  • First Friday Devotions and similar events continue as normal. The Eucharistic Adoration Through the Night will return in July.
  • Sacrament of the Sick –
    • No group celebrations are planned at this time.
    • Individuals may arrange with any of the priests for an anointing in the church at any agreed upon time.
    • At this time, only Fr. Bob will be regularly visiting the sick in their homes or at the hospitals. Thank you for your understanding.
  • Hospitals and Nursing Homes – There are now new groups of volunteers to visit the nursing homes monthly. These visits will take the place of the previous nursing home Masses.
Funerals – wakes and funerals may be celebrated without any particular restrictions. The parish hall is available for luncheons.


Friar Robert Showers OFM Conv.
May 27, 2021
 
 
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CATHOLIC MASS: MASKED OR UNMASKED?

5/13/2021

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Today the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a new statement saying that , “Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.”  (Emphasis added)
Read full CDC statement here
This leads, of course, to the question: When can we take our masks off at Mass?
 
Short answer: I don’t know. But not now.
 
As a parish community, we rely on the guidance of the diocese. The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, in turn, relies heavily on the recommendations of the Working Group on Infectious Disease Protocols for Sacraments and Pastoral Care of the Thomistic Institute under the aegis of the Pontifical Faculty at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington D.C.
Guidelines from the Thomistic Institute
Even as I write this, these good people are busy discussing the newest CDC guidelines. When they are done discussing it, our local bishop’s workgroup will meet and discuss things further as it affects us here in northeastern Indiana. This is a lot of talking, but it is important. Throughout the pandemic, our decisions have not been spontaneous, emotion driven or “from the gut”. They have been the result of careful, thoughtful consideration by a large group of people who know what they are doing. This system is slower than “shooting from the hip”, but it is a whole lot better.
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Whatever decision our diocese makes next, it will be based on three principles already in use:
 
1. The Church decides
 
In a blog entry of May 4, 2020 (link), I quoted Archbishop Lori:
 
“I remind Catholics that it was the Catholic bishops who suspended public liturgies, not the civil gov-ernments. In many places, Masses were suspended before there were any stay at home orders from governors. It is the bishops who will decide when public Masses will begin again. The U.S. bishops make this statement not to show their power, but because they want to make clear that no earthly power is forcing us to suspend public events, rather Catholic morality compels us. … One of the over-riding responsibilities of government is to keep people safe. This is a health and public safety issue. And this is not only a concern that the government has, it’s also a concern of the church. The Church has to take steps to ensure that we are kept safe and healthy and those steps have to be rational. We do not feel as though we have been forced into doing anything by the government. We feel like we’re doing the right thing. … This means that it is possible that, even after some local governments lift the restrictions, the Roman Catholic Church might decide to wait a little longer.”
 
For example, in our diocese, Bishop Rhoades suspended public Masses as of March 18, 2020, but Gov. Holcomb’s stay at home order was not issued until March 23. The same delay will be experienced this time as we lift the restrictions.
    
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2. We are a Church of faith and reason
 
To quote Archbishop Lori again, the guidelines and protocols of the Catholic Church have been “emin-ently reasonable”. The science news aggregator Real Clear Science went so far as to say that the Amer-ican Catholic Church’s “evidence based guidelines for celebrating Mass safely” have proven themselves to be effective, in that “no outbreaks of COVID-19 have been linked to church attendance” at any of the 17,000 Catholic parishes in the U.S. This, a number of scientists say, is because the Catholic Church in this country has consistently applied “the three W’s” – watch your distance, wear your mask, wash your hands.
 
Social distancing, masks, frequent washing – these measures are working, so we will be slow to aban-don them.
Article in Real Clear Science
   
 
3. We do not want to discriminate between the vaccinated
and the unvaccinated

 
This principle is less clear. On the one hand, people who are fully vaccinated really are in very little danger of getting or giving Covid-19. Those parishioners who have made it a point to get the vaccine as soon as feasible have done a great act of charity to all of society, including to the Church. This is why the Catholic Church in general has been so eager to promote the vaccine.
 
On the other hand, many people have not yet gotten the vaccine through no fault of their own. It has only been a few weeks since the vaccine was made available to younger people, and many people really are quite busy. They’ll get the vaccine, they just haven’t managed it yet. A small percentage of people have legitimate medical reasons not to get the vaccine yet.
 
Yes, there are some people who are just stubborn, or are refusing the vaccine for worldly ideological reasons. Such a refusal is a conscious decision to refuse an act of virtue, which I have described else-where as almost a form of violence. (I will admit here that my statement follows the argument of the ethicist Peter Singer q.v.) Yet even these people are our sisters and brothers, part of the parish.
 
We will not, therefore, have something like a “Mass for the vaccinated” and a “Mass for the unvaccin-ated” with different rules for each Mass. We will follow the same protocols at all Masses and other liturgies. So the sooner everyone gets the shot, the sooner we can all ditch the masks!
 
Conclusion: hurry up and get vaccinated!
  
  

  
We will not have a
"Mass for the vaccinated"
and a different
"Mass for the unvaccinated" ...

  

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NEW COVID-19 GUIDELINES AS OF MAY 1, 2021

5/13/2021

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A SUMMARY OF COVID-19 PROTOCOLS AT ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA IN ANGOLA
Current as of May 1, 2021
 
Nota bene: These protocols for May and June 2021 were published on the assumption that our local area will remain the same or get slowly better in regard to Covid-19. Specifically, the presume that Steuben County will be at Covid-19 level Yellow or Orange. If there are sud­den changes one way or the other, our protocols will be reconsidered. Thank you for your understanding.
 

CHURCH BUILDING

  • Capacity: The church may hold up to one third of its rated capacity, or 250 people. This includes the gathering area (20-25 people). Any overflow attendees are invited to go to the annex connector and/or the parish hall.
  • Pews and seating: Every other pew is roped off. The choir area is reserved only for musicians. The extra chairs around the perimeter may be used, and the reconciliation room may be used as extra seating for one family.
  • Masks: Masks must still be worn while in the church.
  • Holy Water: There will be (slightly chlorinated) holy water in the two small stoups by the entrances.
    • There is a jug of chlorinated holy water in the work sacristy, as well as a supply of sanitizer wipes to clean the stoups with.
    • 5:00 Mass of Saturday – before Mass begins, the sacristan should empty the holy water stoups, clean them and refill them. – Revision: Laurie Beard said that she will clean the stoups and replace the water on Fridays as part of the regular cleaning of the church. The Saturday sacristan doesn’t need to.
    • 10:00 Mass – after the last Mass, the sacristan should once again empty the stoups, clean them and refill them.
    • We will not refill the large baptismal font at this time.
 
 
 MASS

  • Altar: The altar returns to the pre-Covid setup. That is, there is one big corporal in the middle of the altar.
  • Credence Table (Credence Wagon): For a weekend Mass, there is usually 3 empty ciboria, 1 chalice 1 large corporal, 1 purificator and 2 extra chalice palls on the cart.
  • Ushers & Greeters: You will continue to keep an attendance count, to ensure that we stay within proper guidelines. Someone should also be available at the Welcome station.
  • Altar Servers: There will be two altar servers – a cross bearer and an altar master. There is no book bearer at this time. The servers will wear masks. The servers will not hold the book for the priest. They will, however, assist with the lavabo.
  • Music:
    • Normally, there will be keyboard accompaniment. We will minimize use of wind instruments, and then only with safeguards.
    • There is either a cantor or a small schola of up to 8 voices. Proper distancing is observed. The cantors and schola do not wear masks but do stay behind the transparent shields.
    • We are now using the hymnbooks (Today’s Missal Seasonal and Music issue).
    • The congregation is invited to sing both the hymns and the Mass parts. The people must keep their masks on.
  • Lectors:
    • At least until Pentecost, we will use only one reader for each Mass.
    • That lector reads the First and Second Readings the intercessions, and 4 explanatory announcements. At most Masses, the singers will handle the responsorial psalm.
    • At Pentecost, we will re-evaluate.
  • Offertory Procession: The bread, wine and water are on the offertory table. There should be at least three people in the procession, who should wear masks. The priests and altar servers will also wear masks when they receive the gifts.
  • Our Father & Sign of Peace: Please refrain from shaking hands during the Sign of Peace or holding hands during the Our Father (families excepted).
  • Collection: The ushers will not take up a collection and we will not pass a basket from hand to hand. Two large baskets are set up near the door and people are encouraged to put their gifts there.
  • Communion:
    • The next few weeks, we will continue to have only three communion lines. On Pentecost Sunday, God willing, we will introduce a fourth line (i.e., two up the center aisle).
    • The ushers will continue to dismiss the people row by row, starting from the back.
    • It is important for the people to maintain the 6-foot distancing in the communion line.
    • We can offer communion only in the form of the host, and only in the hand.
  • After Mass:
    • We no longer need to disinfect the pews between Masses.
    • We will continue to fumigate, however, every Monday through the end of June.
    • Please see note above about the holy water stoups.
 
 
 OTHER SACRAMENTS

  • At least until September, we will continue to celebrate baptisms, weddings, First Communions, confirmations, quinceañeras and similar celebrations as separate liturgies and not during Sunday Mass.
  • Baptism preparation for families is suspended until September.
  • Marriage preparation continues since the couples should be able to meet safely.
  • At weddings, the bridal couple do not wear masks during the ceremony, nor does the priest. All other attendees are asked to keep their masks on.
  • Confessions – continue as normal. The chairs have been moved 10 feet apart.
  • First Friday Devotions and similar events – continue as normal, with the usual safety precautions.
  • Sacrament of the Sick –
    • No group celebrations are planned at this time.
    • Individuals may arrange with any of the priests for an anointing in the church at any agreed upon time.
    • At this time, only Fr. Bob will be visiting the sick in their homes. Thank you for your understanding.
  • Hospitals and Nursing Homes – we will respect any restrictions these places establish. We are organizing a new group to visit the nursing homes.
  • Funerals – wakes and funerals may be celebrated using the standard safety protocols for Masses. The parish hall is available for luncheons – see below.
 
 
 MEETING GUIDELINES

  • WE SEEK TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND CHARITABLE AT THE SAME TIME. Meetings in the name of the parish should take place in parish facilities. The parish cannot take responsibility for any meetings in anyone's private home.
  • SMALL GROUPS –We have set up one classroom for up to 10 people, a double classroom for up to 20, plus we have St. Francis Hall. For larger groups, we will decide on a case by case basis. Remember, all meetings should be scheduled through the office director Patti Webster, patti@stanthonyangola.com, 260-665-2259.
  • PROPER PHYSICAL DISTANCING is required. Arrange tables and chairs so that we can be at least 6 ft. apart.
  • MASKS are required upon entering and leaving the building and during all breaks. Masks are required during the meeting itself IF anyone present is unvaccinated. (Exceptions: for the main speaker/teacher if he/she is at least 12 feet away from anyone.) If EVERYONE present has been vaccinated, we may remove our masks during the meeting itself.
  • LUNCHEONS AND OTHER FUNCTIONS IN THE PARISH HALL (ST. FRANCIS HALL):
    • Current parish hall capacity: 75
    • The hall is now available for funeral luncheons, baptisms, weddings, receptions and other church related events. Contact the parish office for details.
    • Food may be served. All food handlers must wear masks and gloves, and exercise common sense caution.
    • Tables should be set up with physical distancing in mind.
    • Masks must be worn in the food line. Masks need not be worn while eating. See also above under “MASKS”.
    • If food or drinks are served, please disinfect the tables when you are done. Thank you.
  • CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS. Please wash and disinfect tables, chairs, door knobs, handles and switches both before and after your meeting. Thank you!
  • USE COMMON SENSE - STAY HOME IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING WELL. If you have any symptoms of any contagious disease (cough, fever, shortness of breath) be kind to the others and stay safely at home. 
 
 
As a parish community, we want to keep our doors open as much as possible while still pro­­tecting the health of our community. We want our small faith enrichment groups, coun­cils and other activities to continue when and where possible, while at the same time not making anybody sick. Our policies will, therefore, always represent a compromise, an at­tempt at balance. Thank you for your cooperation.
 
May the Lord bless us and keep us safe.
Fr. Robert G. Showers OFM Conv.
1 May 2021


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FOUR DAYS OF CHRISTMAS and A DAY OF COMMUNION

12/7/2020

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Four days of Christmas? Not twelve?

Four days celebrating the Mass of Christmas Day!

A brief survey suggests that many people hope to come to Mass at St. Anthony's and at St. Paul's Chapel this Christmas. How wonderful! Happy news!

Practical problem: we still have limited seating capacity. Therefore:

We will continue to celebrate Christmas Mass during the weekend after Christmas, to give people more options and, hopefully, to spread things out a little. Here is the complete schedule:

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020
  • 5:00 P.M. - Mass of Christmas Eve - St. Anthony's
  • 8:00 P.M. - Mass of Christmas Night - St. Paul's Chapel
  • 10:00 P.M. - Mass of Christmas Night - St. Anthony's

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2020
  • 9:00 A.M. - Mass of Christmas Morning - St. Paul's Chapel
  • 10:00 aA.M. - Mass of Christmas Morning - St. Anthony's

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2020
  • 5:00 P.M. - Mass of Christmas Day - St. Anthony's

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2020
  • 7:30 A.M. - Mass of Christmas Day - St. Anthony's
  • 9:00 A.M. - Mass of Christmas Day - St. Paul's Chapel
  • 10:00 A.M. - Mass of Christmas Day - St. Anthony's

As you can see, that gives you nine Masses to choose from!

IN ADDITION -

On Sunday, December 27, Friar Bob will remain in the nave of St. Anthony's from Noon until 6:00 p.m. to distribute communion quietly. If you still should not attend Mass with crowds but desire communion, you may receive privately in this way. No reservations or anything, just come - although I do ask you to respect other people's privacy and to avoid creating a crowd. I believe that this is a more appropriate alternative than a drive-by communion service.

Is all this allowed? Yes. Actually, we have done this every year. In past years, we celebrated Christmas Masses at Northern Lakes and Lakeland (now Aperion) nursing homes and at Cameron Woods Senior Living Community some time between December 20 and December 29, as those home's schedule allowed. This year, sadly, the parish will not be able to celebrate Christmas Masses outside our actual church buildings - but we still have latitude to offer more Masses.

The survey suggests that the three Masses of Decemberr 24 will be the most crowded. If you are worried about crowds, please consider coming to one of the other six Christmas Masses. Thank you and God bless you. May the Lord of Life keep us all safe!

Fr. Bob


NOTES:
  • Our posted capacities in keeping with covid-19 safety protocols are 215 people at St. Anthony's and 100 at St. Paul's.
  • Bishop Kevin Rhoades has extended the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass for an indefinite time ("until further notice"). Christmas is truly a holy day, a holiday, a happy day - but is not a day of obligation this year.
  • You are, of course, free to come to as many of these Masses as you choose! If you come to a mass on December 24/25, you are very welcome at any Mass on December 26/27. We are hoping that attendance will spread itself out naturally so we never have to turn anybody away. Hopefully.
  • This decision entails that we will not celebrate the Mass of the Holy Family this year.
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PUBLIC MASSES RESUME ON SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2020

5/8/2020

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For the Feast of Christ's Ascension, our parish - together with the entire diocese - will resume public Masses. There will be restrictions. I will update this blog post regularly as things change and develop.

NEW MASS SCHEDULE:

Saturday at 5:00 p.m., Sunday at 7:00, 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.
Weekday Masses resume on Monday, June 1, in the main church.
Spanish Mass resumes on Sunday, June 21.
Mass at Manapogo Campground still to be determined.

The new Sunday schedule allows proper time for cleaning and disinfecting between Masses. The schedule will be reevaluted after August 16.

Here is a short summary of the mandatory safety measures.

  • There will be a maximum of 200 people per Mass.
  • EVERYONE must wear a mask.
  • Every other pew will be blocked off.
  • In the pews that are open, maintain 6 feet between families.
  • Handshaking and hand holding are suspended.
  • Communion will be the host only, and only in the hand.
  • There will be no choir.
  • There will be no offertory.
  • The collection will be taken up by different means.
  • The church will be disinfected after every Mass, and fumigated weekly.

That sounds like a lot! This will definitely be a different experience of Mass. Who knows? Maybe we will learn something and grow from this!

Those who are particularly vulnerable - the elderly, those with underlying conditions, infants and small children - should consider not attending Sunday Mass just yet. Remember - the bishop continues to dispense you from any obligation to attend Mass. You might even consider attending a weekday Mass as your weekly Mass.

May the Lord continue to guide us.
friar Bob, pastor
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POPE FRANCIS HOME ALONE, by friar Wayne Hellmann

4/13/2020

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Wayne Hellmann OFM Conv. is the minister provincial of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation of the Order if Friars Minor Conventual, with its headquarters in Southern Indiana. Our friars here in Angola belong to this province. Friar Wayne sent the following letter to friends of the Order:

Dearest Friends of the Friars:
 
In the most unusual way, probably for the first time in our Catholic history, we celebrate the holiest and most ancient days of our Easter Triduum by abstaining from gathering together as the People of God. Yet, this is the central feast of our faith: He is risen! Current global circumstances dampen the Alleluia of our Easter cry.
 
I personally remember with fondness and joy the several times I was privileged to participate in a celebration of the Easter Triduum in Rome, even the Easter Vigil Liturgy in St. Peter’s. And then came the excitement of Easter morning: thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter’s square for the Easter Urbi et Orbi Blessing. It was a wonderful witness of love for our rich tradition and love for festive celebration!

This Easter, however, both the spaces at St. Peter’s, inside and out, will be empty, shrouded in eerie silence. Heartbreaking!
Picture
Amidst steady rain, Pope Francis delivered his “Urbi et orbi” blessing to an empty St. Peter's Square during the coronavirus pandemic.


I mention St. Peter’s as a symbol for what is now the case in nearly every Catholic/Christian community on the globe. Yet, if we pause and think a little deeper, this situation for many of our fellow Catholic brothers and sisters is not new.

I think of Catholics in Japan who persevered and lived their Catholic faith for nearly 200 years without the Eucharist and without any public celebration. Or, in more contemporary realities, I think of Catholics in Amazonia who are deprived not only of celebrations of the Liturgy but also more and more deprived of their homeland and natural environment.
 
This impoverished reality includes so many others: for example, those who are aged and sick, but also Catholics of the Eastern Churches in Syria and the Middle East who continue to suffer incredible devastation. The list goes on.

Maybe this year we are called to be in solidarity with them. The majority of Catholics across the globe, even without a pandemic, are deprived of regular access to Easter liturgy. Are they thereby less Catholic?
 
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Remnants of an Armenian Catholic church in Syria, 2018. Millions of Christians in the world are denied access to the Mass all year round.


The reality is that our liturgies and celebrations are vitally helpful for nourishing and sharing our faith, but we know God’s grace is not limited to sacraments. St. Peter’s is empty but nevertheless, even alone in the square, our principal pastor, Pope Francis, is there. He encourages us. He calls us to actualize the reality of our “domestic churches” within our homes. We can still open our hearts to enter into deeper communion within the whole Body of Christ.

During the Triduum this year, he encourages us that carrying " ... His cross means finding the courage to embrace all the hardships of the present time.” This accomplishes ultimately what our liturgical celebrations intend, namely, to open our hearts and “make room for the creativity that only the Spirit is capable of inspiring.” By that Spirit, “we uncover our common belonging, … our belonging as brothers and sisters."
 
Precisely therein is new life of fullness, joy of Easter sending us together on the way to Emmaus. I find solace in the pope’s example and in his words, especially for this Easter. For the first time in my memory, I am to be deprived of full assembly for the Easter Triduum. In case you may have missed Pope Francis’ prayer and encouragement, I have attached links to both. You may find them helpful. I did.


“If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus

from the dead dwells in you…(Rom 8:11)


Prayerfully,
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friar Wayne
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AN ELECTRONIC HYMN BOARD FOR ST. ANTHONY'S?

11/5/2019

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This blog entry is part of a series of follow-up articles to the questions and suggestions submitted at the Parish Town Hall Meeting of September 29, 2019. They are mostly written by Fr. Bob.
 

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Church of St. Nicolas in Schroeding, Bavaria (Germany)
SUGGESTION:

"Move the song board to the column by the flowers, closer to the altar. Everyone would be able to see it better."


An excellent suggestion! We've begun talking about this with the musicians, parish staff, pastoral council, etc. We think we have an even better suggestion:
We could get an electonic number board and mount it there, where you suggest. There are several advantages to this: The numbers can be very large if we want (I have seen boards with 12 inch digits!); a lighted board is easier to see, even from a distance; the musicians would no longer need to climb a ladder to change the numbers; any changes to the music could be registered immediately; we could also post the page number in the missalette for the Scripture readings, responses, etc.

The counter-arguments: It affects the aesthetics of the sanctuary, making it more "artificial" and "electronic"; we lose the concrete symbolism of the wooden board; someone has to be trained to control the board; it is one more electronic thing that can go haywire.

Price is not an argument. Electronic hymn boards are actually CHEAPER than old fashioned wooden ones.

In the coming weeks, we'll discuss this more. If you have any opinions - for, against, or neutral - please do let us know! You can comment here, send a note to pastoralcouncil@stanthonyangola.com, or just mention something to Marilee Roederer or Fr. Bob.

Praise the Lord with music!

friar Bob Showers OFM Conv.
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CATHOLIC MOMS WHO BLOG

1/21/2019

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Do you know this blog? Check it out! Most of the articles are by "guest moms" from all across North America - just ordinary moms trying to be Catholic in a fast and exciting world, raising children in love. CATHOLIC MOMS GROUP INTERNATIONAL BLOG

Our parish Catholic Moms Group meets every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the Parish Center. Children are very welcome! Come share your experiences with other Catholic mothers and be inspired! For more information, contact our Youth & Young Adult Minister, Cara Molyet, at cara@stanthonyangola.com, 260-316-9636.

Here's a sample blog: How to manage your toddler at Mass, from December of 2017.

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Angola Blessing Box on national webpage

10/2/2018

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The Blessing Box Facebook page wrote:

St. Anthony's Catholic Church parking lot at 700 West Maumee St., Angola. Indiana is the home for their new BLESSING BOX!!! Glory to God!!

Thank you Eric Anthony for sharing about the BLESSING BOX. Some of the things he shared was:

"On a sunny but cold and windy Palm Sunday, the traditional start of Holy Week for Catholics and some Protestants, members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Angola along with representatives from St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Angola got together after 6 months of planning to erect the first >Blessing Box< in Angola. So what is a Blessing Box? It's a place where people can donate items that they think that others, especially those in need, might find good use for. And, subsequently, those in need, or who simply need something, can drive or walk up to it and take what is needed any time of day or night, any day of the week. No questions asked. All of the wood, nails and shingles were recycled from the priest's previous residence that was located at St. Anthony's and torn down when the new church was built."

Beautiful with alot of preparation!! Thank you for stepping out in Faith!!

-Blessing Box Community, Crystal Rock Cathedral, Ardmore OK


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On Bad Priests and Judas Iscariot

9/13/2018

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Nota bene: this op-ed first appeared as Fr. Bob's "Letter from the Pastor" in the SEptember 2018 issue of Catholic 101: A Magazine for Catholics in Steuben County, published by St. Anthony od Padua parish incl. St. Paul's Catholic Chapel. The opinions expressed herein are Fr. Bob's.

In recent weeks, we as Catholics have experienced pain, shame, anger and confusion as a grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania revealed how a number of bishops mishandled accusations of abuse by clergy and other employees of the Church. Such news calls forth all sorts of reactions.

 
Let me say, first of all, that most of these reactions are legitimate. You feel what you feel. You are supposed to get angry at injustice. You are supposed to feel hurt when your family messes up. Sure, of course there are other families that mess up too. But this is my family, and we messed up. It hurts.
 
In my years as a Franciscan friar and as a Roman Catholic priest, I have known and spoken with both abusive priests and victims of abuse. I have worked closely with bishops who took the painful but necessary steps to protect the innocent; and I have had to work with bishops who tried to act like there was no problem. I do not expect perfection. I do expect a minimum of decency.
 
In the midst of this, there are moments of hope. I hope that these news stories, for example, will help parishioners and others understand why we at St. Anthony’s enforce the safe environment rules so strictly. I hope that, if the Roman Catholic Church gets beaten up in the public media, this just might help all of society start to deal more realistically with some big problems that are hurting people everywhere – both in the church and elsewhere. And I hope that it will help me to love appropriately.
 
St. Francis of Assisi said, if you see someone whose life choices you cannot agree with, do not look down upon that person, but look rather into your own heart and examine your own sinfulness, and then ask yourself, how can I love this person more?
 
Jesus loved his apostles, even though he knew that one would betray him, one would deny him, and most of the rest would run away when he needed them most. He chose to love them anyway, and he chose to build his church upon them in all their imperfection and weakness. Judas Iscariot and Simon Peter were both apostles.
 
I pray for those who were hurt. I pray for those whose lives were ruined. And I pray that the People of God – who are the Church – will learn how to care for one another in charity and with patience. “You are God’s chosen ones. Put on, then, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in the Lord.” (Col. 3:12-13)
 
 
Peace and all good,
friar Bob Showers OFM Conv.


_________________________
Postscript:

You can read more about the parish's Safe Environment Program here. To report suspicion of sexual abuse at the church, here is contact information. The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend has recently upgraded its Safe Environment Program, and we at the parish have followed suit. As a pastor, I am well aware that these efforts can be a hardship for our volunteer religion teachers and other parishioners. Some may even feel that we are doubting them or casting suspicion upon them. That is not our intention, of course. Our goal is to nurture a safe environment for all families, children, youth and vulnerable adults, so that everyone can feel welcome, withour fear. Thank you to all the parishioners who help us strive for that safe environment.

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