St. Patrick's

April 3, 2020

Dear Parishioners,
 
This Sunday as we celebrate Palm Sunday, we begin Holy Week. We will miss the beautiful liturgies of Holy Week and Easter. To celebrate them the best we can under the circumstances, I would suggest that we read the daily scripture readings for Holy Week each day and spend some time in prayerful reflection on what we remember each day. The daily readings can be found at the bottom of this page. Sunday’s Gospel is the moving Passion Account as found in St. Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 26:14-27 to 27:66. It strikes us that Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem is met with cries of “Hosanna”. Soon after, those cries would   become “Crucify Him”. The Gospel sets the stage for what will bring us to Good Friday and ultimately to Easter Sunday. While we will not be celebrating Palm Sunday publicly or receiving blessed Palms, we can all be united in prayer as together we recall the events that would lead all to the hope of Easter Sunday.
 
The Mass of Palm Sunday will be live streamed from the St. Patrick’s Cathedral website. It will also be televised live on WPIX Channel 11 at 10 AM on this Sunday as well as on Easter Sunday.
 
I once again thank all who have sent in donations by mail or via WeShare. They are much needed and most deeply appreciated.
 
I pray that while our experience of Holy Week this year will indeed be different, it will also be a time for us to grow closer to the Lord. After all, Easter is the feast of Hope and new life! It seems the opening prayer of the Mass of Palm Sunday is a perfect prayer for each of us during this stressful time. Let us pray:
 
Almighty ever-living God, who as an example of humility for the human race to follow caused our Savior to take flesh and submit to the cross, graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
 
Stay well and God Bless You all during this Holy Week!
Msgr. John T Ferry

There are ways you can engage in your faith by utilizing FORMED throughout the week.
Use the link below to take advantage of the many selections!
Daily Mass
Lenten Reflections
Bible Study
Documentaries 
School at Home
Special Kids Section including Movie Nights!
and much, much more!

https://watch.formed.org/faith-at-home

Please be advised that the St. Patrick's Parish Office is closed at this time.
We appreciate your patience.
Thank you.

Dear Parishioners,
I hope that you are holding up during this time of stress and isolation. We continue to pray for all those who have contracted the virus and those who have died because of it. We pray in a special way for all our health care workers who are tirelessly working to restore health to those who are suffering. I want to bring you up to date on the latest information we have received from the Archdiocese.

• Sunday and weekday Masses continue to be suspended until further notice. The church is open for private prayer during the day.

• Sadly, the celebration of the Liturgies of Holy Week and Easter will not be celebrated publicly.

• The celebrations of First Holy Communion and Confirmation will have to be rescheduled to a later date still to be determined.

• The annual Carnival will have to be postponed until probably October. We will keep you informed.

• Daily Masses can be viewed online or on TV from the Cathedral, Catholic Faith Network and EWTN.

I thank all who have mailed in donations or made them through WeShare. Without the Sunday collections, the Easter collection and the Carnival we face extreme financial difficulty. Please consider making donations online through WeShare. You can make a one-time donation if you do not wish to make recurring donations. We need your help! There is a link on our website for giving.
Finally, keep the faith, continue to pray and hold on to hope. These things will help us to get through this TOGETHER. Though we are separated physically, we are united spiritually. Stay well. God Bless!
Msgr. John T. Ferry