the church of saint sebastian...2020/05/10 · saint sebastian’s also offers level one, ages 3 -...
TRANSCRIPT
The Church of Saint Sebastian 67 Cole Ave., Providence, RI 02906
(401)751-0196 stsebastianri.org
Mass Schedule
Due to the directive from Bishop Tobin banning the public celebration of the Eucharist until further notice Saint Sebastian's schedule has changed. Sunday: 10:00 am via Livestreamed Mass on Facebook. Video Mass will be posted on www.stsebastianri.org following the livestreamed Mass
The Church is open daily from
8:30am – 7pm.
Come, rest, and pray!
Confession Times
By appointment
Devotions
Adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament: Monday – Friday,
5pm – 6pm
Sunday: 11am – Noon
Parish Office Hours Closed until further notice
Parish Contact Information (410) 751-0196
May 10, 2020
Weekly Bulletin Fifth Sunday of Easter
Upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy. He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you. Psalm 23:4-5
PARISH Directory and INFORMATION Directory Parish Information: P: (401)751-0196 F: (401)273-2753 Web: https://stsebastianri.org/ Reverend Father Jordan Kelly, O.P. Pastor 401-500-2462 [email protected] Elaine Ginn Receptionist/Secretary [email protected] Carole Graves Director of Music/Organist [email protected] Megan Morrow Cantor Robert Short Director of Faith Formation and Evangelization 401-272-6062 [email protected] Kristen Gold Assistant Religious Education Coordinator 401-272-6062 [email protected] Paul Castaldi Maintenance Kathy Harrington Parish Accountant finance@stsebastianri@org Parish Trustees Charles Rogers Catherine Taylor James Daly Ann Carnevale Elisa Vele-Tabaddor Douglas Nani Parish Finance Council Sarah Garcia-Mata Mary Hill Jamie Hill Janice Opalenski Patricia Recupero Ellen Reinhardt Fred Reinhardt Parish Council
WELCOME to the CHURCH of SAINT SEBASTIAN In my own name and on behalf of the People of Saint Sebastian’s, welcome to our Parish! If you are visiting, coming back to the Church and Mass after some time away, or looking for a Parish, you are most welcome here at Saint Sebastian’s.
Parish Registration Registration is the official way we join a parish community, please stop in the Parish Office or register online to become a registered parishioner. To be considered an active registered member of the parish, members are asked to give of their time, talent and treasure. The parish is in need of and welcomes all three parts of your stewardship.
Sacrament of Baptism Congratulations on the birth of your child! We require all parents and godparents to attend Sacramental Preparation Classes. Once you have called the rectory to plan for the baptism of your child, we will have someone contact you to set up a special appointment for Preparation classes. These classes are usually done one on one with each family and are conducted by a couple who are well prepared to teach and assist in Baptismal Preparation.
Sacrament of Matrimony Congratulations on your engagement and decision to enter into a Catholic marriage! Saint Sebastian Parish will help you in your preparation to ensure that you make this serious and sacred step in your life a holy and happy one. The day and time of your wedding must be arranged in person by the prospective bride and groom themselves as soon as they feel called to marry. No arrangement can be made by phone or parents. All arrangements should be made nine months prior to the wedding date and done prior to scheduling the reception. The first meeting with the Pastor may be scheduled by calling the Parish Office at (401) 751-0196. Spiritual preparation is a key part of this special time. Frequent participation in the sacraments during this time is important, particularly weekly Mass attendance. It is also strongly recommended that you bring yourselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this time of preparation.
Religious Education By their word and their example, parents are the first and principal teachers of their children concerning our Catholic Faith. The Religious Education of Saint Sebastian’s stands ready to assist parents in their sacred and most important responsibility. Should you have any questions about the program please contact Ms. Kristen Gold at [email protected] or Mr. Bob Short at [email protected]
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Saint Sebastian’s also offers Level One, ages 3 - 6, of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, commonly referred to as CGS. CGS is a Montessori-based program of faith formation. Please contact Mr. Bob Short, Catechist, at [email protected]
Robert Whelan Amy Thomas Karin Schrott Gerry Codola Catherine Denning Toni Dumville Robert Lough
Ellen Boyle
Jennifer Pizzuti
Parish Auditors
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us! This is the third and final reflection that I will write to you concerning Bishop Tobin’s Pastoral, The State of the Church in the Diocese of Providence in the Age of the Coronavirus. This reflection focuses on the Bishop’s second category, finances. In many ways this category may be the most tangible; seen by many as the most important; certainly very controversial; and finally, the most difficult. The Most Tangible Money is very tangible: it comes in, and it goes out. The amount coming in shapes the amount going out. If there is too much going out, and not enough coming in, you decrease how much is going out. That seems direct and easy. However, when do decrease or cut an expense, and then you find out it isn’t that easy to support the decrease or function without the cut, what do you? Again, the simple and very tangible answer is you find a way to increase your income. How many families face this reality: how do we grow our income? If we do not grow our income our children may not be able to continue at their current school; if we do not create more income the mortgage is untenable…you get the point. I remember my Dad always had at least two jobs: his job as the supervisor of a machine shop; his freelance job on the weekends playing in a Big Band Dance Orchestra; and during the evenings at home, repairing musical instruments in our basement workshop. When I would ask for something and my Father would say yes, my Mother would ask, “and where are we going to find that money?”, my Dad would simply say, “don’t worry, dear; we’ll find it.” Like any parent, my Dad worked all those hours in order that our family could have tangible goods; a better education; for me, private music lessons; and for all of us, a vacation. Every nickel was planned, and every penny accounted for. Finances are tangible. Tangibly, how will this pandemic affect the financial future of Saint Sebastian? Honestly, I do not know. As I mention elsewhere in today’s bulletin, you have been both faithful and generous in your sacrificial stewardship through both online giving and the weekly budgets. As such, it is my sense that we are
doing well – thanks to each one of you. Many of you have written to me about adjustments in your giving because of a decrease in income or loss of employment: I am deeply moved by your humility; and I hold you ever more tightly in my heart and in my prayers. One of the reasons we are in the black at this moment is because the payroll has been stopped for some employees and reduced for others because of fewer hours. What will we do when it is time to bring the Staff back to work? I am not sure. The other pressing tangible, financial reality is the question, will Saint Sebastian’s survive? I will reflect upon this question elsewhere in this week’s column. The Most Important and Controversial Many Bishops and parishioners consider the finances to be the most important thing a pastor does and judge his pastoral effectiveness by how well he does or does not manage the money. The administration of parish finances is one of the many “most important” tasks in a pastor’s job description. I know I can speak for my brother pastors and for myself, the finances are a very important concern for us; the finances are a matter of justice; they demand transparency; and the administration of parish finances requires trust: parishioners trusting their pastors; and pastors trusting that with him, his parishioners seek the common good of the parish. Discerning the common good and establishing the list of priorities about what to do when can be the source of controversy concerning both the finances and achieving established priorities. Just like your homes, emergencies occur; just like at home, you and your spouse may disagree about what to do when; just like at home, we need to come to a consensus when we do not agree. The Most Difficult While finances may frequently cause a certain knee jerk neuralgic reaction of fear and paralysis, the Pandemic has not only affected us physically, it has also effected the very psyche about how we live from day to day, from one moment to the next, with not the customary fear and paralysis about money, but
From FATHER JORDAN, O.P. , Pastor
also a more foundational bewilderment about our entire future, and especially our finances. For our Parish, or any other, discerning priorities and arriving at a consensus about projects to be begun or completed will become more difficult because of the uncertainty about our entire future, and that includes our finances. The Diocese has told my brother pastors and I that as a result of COVID-19 parish mergers and closings may begin sooner rather than later.. These decisions will be made based upon how well we manage financially not only now, but also in our past, and in our future. However, the decision will not rest solely on the state of the books, but also the conditions of the facilities, and most importantly the spiritual life of a Parish. Caring for our facilities and developing the spiritual life of our Parish will influence how we use the money we have, and how we keep the income steady and growing. Sharing the Vision; Meeting the Challenge During the highly active part of Sharing the Vision, Meeting the Challenge, we tried to learn that SVMC was not just about money, but also about our mission and our future. We have had some good results from the campaign, but I am not sure how well we have learned the lesson that SVMC is about our mission and our survival as much as it is about money. To that end, I accuse myself for not having been a better teacher about this particularly important support for our lives together. If you have questions about the Campaign or any anything about the parish finances, please come a talk to me. I have nothing to hide, and I would welcome you yourself telling me your thoughts and concerns! To date, we have received two quarterly payments from the Campaign $186,894.80. But, each quarter we have to pay the Diocese $12,800.00 until we reach the amount we owe for the Campaign, or $206,000.00, after that 100% of all monies remain here. Participation in the Campaign enables us to address four pressing realities: 1) repairing the drainage system under the Parish Hall, as well as the damage it has caused; 2) repairing the handicapped ramp; 3) being
sure we are able to pay the quarterly Diocesan payments for the Campaign; 4) replenishing and increasing our savings in order to continually address critical capital needs, and not deferring necessary maintenance. No gift is too small: if you have not considered the work of the capital campaign, please consider doing so. Evangelization and Finances Where do we go from here? Let us reflect upon the following: 1. How is Saint Sebastian an alive Parish
Community? How can we drive our mission? Can we:
a. Invite friends to join us for our on line Masses?
b. Are you able to help Karin find ways to serve the poor, even, or perhaps especially, during this pandemic?
c. Would a virtual bible study, prayer shawl meetings, and book club gatherings be a successful way to keep the Parish together and alive during this time, and as we move towards the “new normal?”
2. How is Saint Sebastian a viable community fiscally and a safe an attractive facility? Can we:
a. Support the completion of the repair work that needs to be done so the Church is structurally sound? What is that work: repairing the drain system in the parish hall and the damage it has caused; repair the handicapped walkway, and be sure the north side of the Church is watertight?
b. Continue to support our weekly offertory as well as SVMC to restore and increase our savings to serve the parish both in terms of capital projects, other programs ,as well as savings?
c. Each one of us pledge to give of our time and talent, in addition to, or even more than our treasure?
Will you join me in offering one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be every day for the spiritual and fiscal renewal of our Parish?
From FATHER JORDAN, (CONT.)
Working with Cardinal George I learned this saying: Mission does not follow money. Money follows mission. This is the reason for every dollar raised, and for every dollar you contribute to Saint Sebastian. You contribute money and we raise money in order that Saint Sebastian may remain a living presence for you, your children, and your children’s children. We give to continue our legacy of caring for those who have no one to care for them through our works of justice. We financially support the Parish so that just as generations before us have been brought here for baptism; celebrated their First Holy Communion and Confirmation here; been married here; bent some to God from here; and came to this altar to be nourished to live our Catholic Life, so future generations may find the same gifts we have found here. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee! In the Lord,
MASS Intentions
Father Jordan is celebrating Mass each day in the Rectory Chapel at 9am. While this is not a public
Mass, the intentions of the entire Parish are remembered in each celebration.
Sunday: 10am, Livestreamed Mass
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Monday – Friday, 5pm – 6pm
Sunday: 11am – Noon
The Church is open daily from 8:30am – 7pm. Come, rest, and pray!
SATURDAY, MAY 9—MOTHER’S DAY NOVENA
Easter Weekday
The recovery of Lewis McCarty
SUNDAY, MAY 10—MOTHER’S DAY The Fifth Sunday of Easter + All Mother’s Living and Deceased
MONDAY, MAY 11 Easter Weekday
+Robert Writzel
TUESDAY, MAY 12 Our Lady of Fatima +Joseph Dukehart WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 Our Lady of Fatima +Joseph Dukehart
THURSDAY, MAY 14 Saint Matthias
+ Stanley Nadel
FRIDAY, MAY 15 Easter Weekday
+Sister Mary Martinez and her companions
SATURDAY, MAY 16 Easter Weekday
+Bettie Jean Kelly on the 21st Anniversary of her death
PARISH PRAYER Requests
If you would like someone included in the Prayers for the Sick, please call the office at 401.751.0196 .
LET US PRAY FOR ALL WHO ARE ILL:
All those who test positive for COVID-19; Lewis
McCarty; Nicholas Castaldi, Belle Calenda; Ken
Johnson; Joseph Kennedy; Esther Sanjaya; Cornelia
Pacheo; those for whom the isolation in a great prob-
lem; all first responders who risk their lives caring for
the sick, and may become ill themselves; those who
live with addiction
LET US PRAY FOR OUR BELOVED DEAD:
Stanley Nadel; John Wursta, Jr.; Arthur LaCasse, Sr.;
Reverend Robert J. Stone, C.M.; those who have died
because of COVID – 19.
From FATHER JORDAN, (CONT.) JOIN us IN PRAYER
AROUND the PARISH SAVE THE DATES:
Monday – Friday, July 13 – 17: Vacation Bible
School
ASK FATHER JORDAN
Do you have questions about something you see in
the Parish? Or, do you scratch your head and say, “I
wonder about….?” If this is you, think about using
Ask Father Jordan by emailing your questions to him
at [email protected]. If the answer is for the
good of the entire Parish, Father will answer your
question in the bulletin (you will not be identified). If
Father’s answer is of a more private nature, he will
respond to you personally.
NEW PARISH FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE PAGES
Please visit our new Facebook page and YouTube Page! Click the link or search for Saint Sebastian Church.
Live stream Mass will be shown on the Facebook page until we can celebrate the Eucharist together again.
