PLEASE NOTE: I have had a COVID test done and was found negative. I was in self quarantine for two full weeks after anointing a person at FHN. But now we are ready to start the process of celebrating public functions with ten people at a time. We hope we can increase those numbers once the safety of all is well established. Live streams will still be done for Mass every day, as well as some of the prayers on St Joseph Facebook. The English events will be at St Joseph Church while the Spanish events will be in St Mary Church.

Sunday morning Mass will be on St Mary’s Facebook. If you would like the bulletin mailed or brought to you, phone the office at 1-815-232-8271, my extension is 7. You can also use the parish app to read the bulletin. The distribution of Holy Communion and the administration of the Sacrament of the Sick remains for emergency situations only. I ask that you make a spiritual communion at this time when physical participation is not possible.

Still working slowly from calls from the Response Team to see how everybody is doing and to see if there are any needs. Many said they do not need a call. If you do not want a call, please let me know by calling the above phone number. Many of you know each other, please spread the word about all we are planning and tell them to call the office if they would like to take advantage of these services.

In addition to the live streaming of the Mass, I am also live streaming the rosary starting at around 7:10am Tuesdays through Fridays. At 3:00pm on Tuesdays through Saturdays I will stream live the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and possibly the Mid-Afternoon Prayer. Evening Prayer and Night Prayer may vary on the day and schedule as I figure the times available. So this is what the schedule may look like on a weekly basis. If you feel uncomfortable coming to confession here, St Thomas offers drive-up confessions Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30pm and Saturdays from 3:30-4:30pm. The guidelines are: One occupant per car, drive up to the canopy, wait in line and remain in your car.

• Tuesday Rosary live streamed with the rosary on St Joseph
Facebook at about 7:10am.
• Tuesday Morning Mass live streamed on St Joseph
Facebook at 8:00am.
• Tuesday Morning Confessions by the garage at St Joseph
Church after Mass till 10:00am.
• Tuesday Chaplet of Divine Mercy live streamed on St
Joseph Facebook at 3:00pm.
• Tuesday Evening Confessions by the garage at St Joseph
Church rectory at 4:00pm.
• Wednesday Rosary live streamed on St Joseph Facebook
at 8:00am.
• Wednesday Mass live streamed on St Joseph Facebook at
9:30am.
• Wednesday 3:00pm Chaplet of Divine Mercy live
streamed on St Joseph Facebook.
• Thursday Rosary live streamed on St Joseph Facebook at
about 7:10am.
• Thursday Mass live streamed on St Joseph Facebook at
8:00am.
• Thursday Chaplet of Divine Mercy live streamed on St
Joseph Facebook at about 3:30pm (after praying at the
corner).
• Friday Rosary live streamed on St Joseph Facebook at
7:10am.
• Friday Mass live streamed on St Joseph Facebook at
8:00am.
• Friday Chaplet of Divine Mercy live streamed on St Joseph
Facebook at 3:00pm.
• Saturday Mass live streamed on St Joseph Facebook at
8:00am.
• Saturday Rosary live streamed on St Joseph Facebook at
about 7:10am.
• Saturday Morning Confessions by the garage at St Joseph
Church rectory by 9:00am.
• Saturday Evening Confessions by the garage at St Joseph
Church rectory at 3:00pm.
• Sunday Rosary live streamed on St Mary Facebook at
7:10am.
• Sunday Mass live streamed on St Mary Facebook at
8:00am.

Note not all Masses will be streamed live. If you miss the live streaming, it will be available as a recording. There will be recorded events in Spanish on the St Mary Facebook with Fr Ospina. I like to keep regular, but I never know what will happen next. I might be at different locations from time to time. Times may also vary. As we deal with this situation, I decided to focus on the prayers and gain peace of mind and heart. As we go, we will be getting better equipment and better at this and hope to keep in contact with you.

Jesus gave us the Church to be a community of believers in support for each other. We are all a gift to each other by the graces of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all!

— Father Barr