Communication

OLM and the Coronavirus

Given the fact that the World Health Organization has declared the COVID19 a pandemic, and people are feeling fearful, OLM will take the following measures so as to hopefully bring more clam during these uncertain times.

1) CCD (Catechism classes are cancelled this Sunday and next Sunday). Adult Faith exploration is also cancelled, RCIA is also cancelled, and finally, the language program classes are also cancelled for two weeks.

2) Mass is not cancelled (unless the Bishop tells us otherwise). We will continue with the following steps:

a) No sign of peace at Mass

b) No hand holding during Our Father

c) Ushers will not allow people to pass baskets in each pew, they will reach over.

d) No Holy Communion cup

e) Hand Sanitizer is available in the chapel and in the main church for Ministers of Holy Communion and anyone who wishes to use it.

f) Fellowship after Mass will be available for those who wish (unless things worsen even more)

I have heard that a couple of parishioners have decided to stay at home 14 days because they know of someone who has been infected (and have been in the same room with them) and even though they are fine now, they don’t want to run the risk of infecting anyone. That is the right attitude!

I know that there will be less people at church, which reduces the risk, but your peace of mind is the most important thing. There is Mass on television.

OK, this will pass too. Hang in there. Wash your hands often. And Peace be with you!

Fr. Ron

Visit the local government COVID-19 website for updated information. Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.

New Teacher

It was the first day at school. The students were all in their seats, waiting for the new teacher to start.

The teacher stands up, and says, “Whoever in here thinks they are stupid, please stand up.”

The students all looked at each other, and finally, one boy stood up.

“Do you think you’re stupid?” asked the teacher.

“No, said the little boy, “but I didn’t want you standing there alone.”

News and the Coronavirus

This email comes a little early because I have a lot of Lenten news and want to talk about the dreaded Coronavirus.

First the news:

On Sunday: Food collection for the struggling families of our parish (and every Sunday in Lent). Please bring your donations of sunflower oil, canned meats, tuna, and vegetables, milk, juice and parboiled rice to the altar area at offertory time.

On Sunday: Children’s Mass: level 5 (Teacher Elizabeth and assistants Mariola and Sr. Esther)

On Sunday: CCD!

On Sunday: Mass intention for Ellen Thompson on the first anniversary of her death, remembered by her son Donal.

We also pray for Marcel who lost his father Adolphis in Nigeria recently.

OLM Young Adult Ministry:! Sunday, March 8th – March Monthly YAM Meeting Join us to talk about Lent!

Lenten Activities

Thanks to the initiative of our Verbum Dei seminarians, we are pleased to offer some Lenten talks to help parishioners to deepen their experience of the Lenten Season, as a way of preparation for the Holy Week and consequently Easter.

Guest Speakers: Priests, brothers and sisters of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity, most of whom are professors of Scripture, Dogma and Pastoral Theology at the Saint Paul, Apostle’ Theological Institute, affiliated to the Pontifical Urban University, Rome.

Time: Every Monday; 18hrs – 19:30hrs.

DATE	THEME	PRESENTER
Monday March 9th	Pope’s Lenten Letter 2020	Fr Ramiro Gallo
Monday March 16th	He made himself Vulnerable for us.	Sr. Angela Reddemman
Monday March 23rd	*To be determined	Fr. Joseph Atangana
Monday March 30th	I have come that you may have life. (Jn 10:10)	Br. William Muh

Carmen Rodríguez is also organizing the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to do a Food Drive for the struggling families of Our Lady of Mercy. The food will be accepted and blessed on March 29^th.

Annual Lenten Day of spirituality: Saturday, March 21 from 10:00-13:00 (More information to come soon)

The Dreaded Coronavirus

There is a lot of fear from the unknown out there. Our Lady of Mercy did not take any special precautions last Sunday because the risk of getting the Virus was practically non-existent.

As this week progresses, we will see how much the disease is spreading, and if it is propagating quickly we will take measures for the following Sundays.

If you are sick with any cold or flu, do NOT come to church. That is a golden rule.

If we need to, we will temporarily stop the shaking of hands at the sign of peace and remove the cup.

You always have your choice NOT to take from the cup.

It is recommended that you receive Holy Communion in the hand.

You can always smile and nod your head at the sign of peace.

We probably will not hold hands at the Our Father for a while.

If things worsen, we will make announcements at Mass. For now, please know that you will never be put at risk at OLM.

Lent has begun

It was very nice to have seen so many English-speaking parishioners at the Ash Wednesday bilingual Mass yesterday. We had nearly 500 people in attendance! It is nice to see both parishes together as one harmonious family of faith! Thanks Judy for singing so pretty at the offertory!

The Mardi Gras was a huge success. Sorry I didn’t join the crowd, I wanted to keep my cold germs to myself. I asked Janet to write up something and I will reprint it here:

Thank you to everyone to participated in the Mardi Gras Potluck last Sunday especially the volunteers who cooked, brought food and helped serve the meal. Thanks to you the event was a big success! It was a beautiful gathering celebrating the diversity of OLM with food from all over the world and we look forward to continuing this tradition for years to come.

(Photos attached)

This Sunday is the First Sunday of Lent. We now invite you to bring donations of food for the struggling families of our parish at offertory time on any Sunday during Lent. Always appreciated: Juices, milk, sunflower oil, canned meats, fish, and vegetables, and parboiled rice (like Brillante). Fresh vegetables are also welcome.

Although it is the first Sunday of the month, it is not children’s Mass. that has been postponed until the following Sunday, March 8th.

YAM meeting has also peen postponed until March 8th. They are planning some Stations of the Cross and Adoration in English during Lent. More to come.

The Manos Unidas collection a few weeks ago was 495 Euros. Thank you for your generosity.

have a blessed Lent,

FR. Ron

Quickest Way to the Lake

A tourist stopped a local in a village he was visiting and asked, “What is the quickest way to the lake?”

The local thought for a while. “Are you walking or driving?” he asked the tourist.

“I’m driving.”

“That’s the quickest way.”

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