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A message from our bishop
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Peace and all good things!
As we continue to monitor the coronavirus pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control has issued a directive to limit the number of people who can gather in one place at the same time to 50. As a result of this strong recommendation and in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Atlanta, there are to be no public Masses celebrated in the parish churches or missions in the diocese of Savannah beginning immediately. This also includes the celebration of Confirmation. Confirmation should be re-scheduled according to the parish calendar. Please notify the bishop's office to see who will officiate. Weddings and funerals should be limited to family members only.
Please communicate to your parishioners that there will be a live streamed Mass from the Cathedral on Sundays at 10 AM. Television and online Masses may be viewed on EWTN.
Our senior priests and those with compromised immune systems should self-quarantine until it is safer to leave the rectory or your home.
We recommend that we keep our churches and missions open, if possible, for private prayer and personal devotions.
It would be wise to ask the lay faithful to continue to support their parish church through online giving or by mail.
Please remind your parishioners to notify you by using the emergency phone number in case there is a need for the Anointing of the Sick, Last Rites or if there is a death.
We will review this protocol on April 1st and determine whether Palm Sunday and Holy Week services will be open to the public.
These may seem to be drastic measures; however, we are dealing with a deadly virus. Personally and as a parish community, please continue to pray for an end of this serous health emergency.
Please make this information known to our parishioners, places of worship and outreach as soon as possible. Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv.
Bishop of Savannah -
Today's Readings
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Reading 1 Jer 11:18-20Responsorial Psalm 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12Gospel Jn 7:40-53
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Un mensaje de nuestro obispo
Estimados hermanos y hermanas en Cristo,
¡Paz y Bien!
A medida que continuamos monitoreando la pandemia de coronavirus, el Centro de Control de Enfermedades (CDC) ha emitido una directiva limitando a 50 el número de personas que pueden reunirse en un lugar al mismo tiempo. Como resultado de esta fuerte recomendación y en colaboración con la Arquidiócesis de Atlanta, no habrá Misas públicas celebradas en las parroquias o misiones en la Diócesis de Savannah a partir de hoy. Esto incluye también la celebración del Sacramento de la Confirmación. Toda Confirmación debe reprogramarse para el futuro de acuerdo con cada calendario parroquial. Notifique a la Oficina del Obispo para saber quién oficiará. Bodas y funerales deben limitarse solo a miernbros de la familia.
Por favor comunicar a sus feligreses que habra una Misa transmitida en vivo en ingles desde la Catedral los domingos a las 10 a.m. La página de Facebook del "Ministerio Hispano Diócesis Católica de Savannah" estará transmitiendo en vivo la Santa Misa en español desde la Parroquia San José Obrero en Bainbridge, Georgia los domingos.
Nuestros sacerdotes mayores y aquellos con sistemas inmunológicos comprometidos deben someterse a cuarentena hasta que sea más seguro salir de la rectoría ode su casa.
Si es posible recomendamos mantener abiertas las iglesias y misiones para la oración privada y devociones personales.
Sería prudente pedir a los fieles laicos que continúen apoyando a su parroquia a través de donaciones en linea o enviándolas por correo.
Por favor, recuerde a sus feligreses que le notifiquen utilizando el número de teléfono de emergencia en caso de que haya una necesidad de la Unción de los Enfermos o si hay una muerte.
Revisaremos estas indicaciones el I de abril y determinaremos si los servicios de Domingo de Ramos y de Semana Santa estarán abiertos al público.
Estas medidas pueden parecer drásticas; sin embargo, estamos lidiando con un virus mortal. Personalmente y como comunidad parroquial, por favor continuen orando por el fin de esta seria emergencia de salud.
Por favor comunicar esta informaci6n a sus feligreses, a sus parroquias y lugares de apostolado tan pronto como sea posible. Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro, ora por nosotros.
En Christo,
Reverendisimo Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv.
Obispo de Savannah -
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Annual Catholic Appeal
Effective today (March 27, 2020), the Diocese of Savannah has placed the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) on a temporary, and mindful hold. Faced with the uncertainty of when churches will reopen, as well as possible financial changes for our donors, it is not the right time to continue with the active phase of the annual appeal.
So what does this mean for the ACA? With a temporary hold on the appeal, we will not actively seek new donations from our donors.
If you have already made your commitment, and are currently making pledge payments, pledge payments will continue as usual until the donor contacts the Diocese directly to make a change.
If you choose to make a gift, or pledge to the ACA from today on, that gift will be processed as usual.
We will resume the appeal in the fall, and more information on when, and how that will be done will be sent to your Parish Priest in the coming months.
Thank you and God Bless you,
Maureen Coats
Director of Stewardship & Development
Catholic Diocese of Savannah
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Updates from our pastor as of
March 25, 2020Dear parishioners,
The mayor of the city of Savannah has issued a shelter in place decree. Although the mayor of Richmond Hill has not done so yet, in solidarity with the Deanery of Savannah, which includes Richmond Hill, all parish churches are now to be locked in an abundance of caution to help mitigate the spread of this insidious Coronavirus.
Part of the nature of this virus is that it can live on surfaces for hours. All of these scrupulous actions are taken out of abundance of caution for the physical health of our parishioners, and all others we meet.
Our parish office is closed too. You can contact us by e-mail, which is found on our bulletin or our parish website. As well, Confessions will not be heard in our church buildings.
We will continue to live stream our daily Mass at 9:00 AM and our Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches the following about Perfect Contrition, which I urge you to strive to make while the Sacrament of Penance is suspended:
Among the penitent's acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again."
When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called "perfect" (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.
The contrition called "imperfect" (or "attrition") is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is born of the consideration of sin's ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process which, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance.
You can also learn how to make "The Act of Perfect Contrition", and "How to make an Act of Spiritual Communion" by clicking on the highlited titles.
In terms of our parish budget and the offertory collection, if your income has not changed, please consider maintaining your contributions to the parish. You can give easily on line by going to our secure Our Sunday Visitor on-line giving and setting up a personal account. WE NEED YOUR SACRIFICIAL OFFERINGS IF WE ARE TO PAY OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR BILLS AND OUR DEBT. You can also mail your offering to us.
Although the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is closed to the general public, the Mass is nonetheless offered for your intentions and more importantly, for your eternal salvation. That is what Jesus did for us on Calvary 2000 years ago. That bloody One Sacrifice is experienced in an eternal or timeless way in every Catholic Mass but in a “gloriously Risen, unbloody way!” What a blessing from our Lord is this Most Wonderful Sacrament. Priests are offering non-public Masses throughout the world, and all of us benefit from this whether we are there in person or not. We can be there in spirit, and pray for the reopening of our churches, and our public Sacraments, especially the Mass, and Penance!
I am so distressed about all of this, and I am worried about the spiritual and physical health, and well-being of our parishioners, and all people throughout the world. Together with Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Saints Anne and Joachim, and in union with the Church Triumphant, Militant and Suffering, God will see us through this hour to the perfection of heaven. BE NOT AFRAID!
God bless you,
Fr. Allan -