Announcements

Link to Sophia Award Nomination Form 

Guidelines Q&A 

https://www.facebook.com/stmaryscatholicchurchlacenter/ 

                                                                                                                                                     May 15, 2020

Dear Parishioner, praying you are doing well!

In line with the CDC guidelines and the Governor’s directives, our Bishop, Very Rev. William Medley has announced that we can resume the public celebration of Mass within our diocese beginning May 20, 2020. We thank God that we can be able to worship again within our church buildings as we continue to pray for an end to this pandemic.

However, we are to gather in very restricted capacity in compliance with the guidelines. Many things will be different and we are working out plans that will fit our individual parish community. As a result, with the Bishop’s permission for Saint Mary, we will resume public celebration of Mass for our Parish on May 31, 2020 (Pentecost Sunday). This will give us time to plan and prepare for the new ways we will worship which will include social distancing and 33% occupancy of the church building. There are many other details to this and I invite you to visit the website regularly to get more information.

Please note that:

·         you are not obligated to come to church even on Sunday. The Sunday obligation is still suspended.

·         Mask must be worn if you will be in attendance.

·         Little children that are under 2years old are encouraged to worship from home since they cannot wear a mask.

·         You can come for a weekday Mass in place of a Sunday Mass. This will help reduce the number of worshippers for Sunday.

·         The elderly and people who are vulnerable are encouraged to continue to worship from home at this time. We will continue to provide resources for them.

Again, I encourage you to check your email and visit the website regularly as a lot of information will be coming through these coming days and weeks.

Know of my prayers for you as we journey through this together!

Thank you! Stay safe and God bless you!

Fr. Emmanuel Udoh, Pastor

Link to livestream 

10:30 am

EASTER FLOWER DONATIONS

APRIL 12, 2020

DONOR                                                                                                             IN MEMORY OF

Sonny & Helen Anselm                                                                 Barnay & Bena Anselm

                                                                                                           Angie Grief  

                                                                                                       Harold & Helen Lovelace

                                                                                                           Jereme Anselm

                                                                                                       Michael Anselm

Jim & Marie Funk                                                                           Ruby Rowe

                                                                                                           Wilbur Rowe

Pat & Joan Hutchins                                                                        Sylvia Buerk

                                                                                                            Sherman & Iretta Hutchins                                                                    

                                                                                                            Ralph & Marian Sickmann                                                                   

Mark & Patty Matuszewski                                                           Jereme Anselm

                                                                                                           Alice Baird

                                                                                                           Anthony Matuszewski

                                                                                                           Scott Matuszewski

Karen Mayer                                                                                    Eric Geiger

                                                                                                        Michael Geiger

                                                                                                           David Mayer

                                                                                                       Jim & Ruth Robinson

                                                                                                           John & Ruth Walsh

Chris & Sharon Naas                                                                 Ray & Muriel Naas

                                                                                                          Doug Simmons

                                                                                                          Norman, Doug, Tim & Judy

Bob & Mary Ann Noe

                                EASTER FLOWER DONATIONS

                                            APRIL 12, 2020

Fran Roderfeld                                                                               Floyd Roderfeld

Jim Shaughnessy                                                                           Shaughnessy & Oppermann Familes

Gene & Virginia Sullivan                                                              Jereme Anselm  

                                                                                                       Michael Anselm

                                                                                                          Angie Grief

                                                                                                       Dean Sullivan

                                                                                                           Harry Sullivan

Jennifer Sullivan                                                                             Jereme Anselm

                                                                                                           Michael Anselm

                                                                                                       Angie Grief

Kyle Thomas                                                                                   Betsy Turner

Bud & Gayle Waltmon                                                                  Ed & Alberta Waltmon

                                                                                                          Bubba & Anna Rollins

Happy Easter

Tonight, I celebrated the Easter Vigil at Saint Mary’s La Center. The light of the risen Christ is lit for us! Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, not sickness, not a lock down, not a pandemic. Christ is victorious over death; we too are conquerors! I prayed for you! Have a blessed Easter and God be with you! I miss you!

Fr. Emmanuel

    Here is a link: https://owensborodiocese.org/resources-for-prayer-at-home<https://owensborodiocese.org/resources-for-prayer-at-home/ to resources for families to pray and celebrate Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil at homes. 

Liturgy of the Word- Easter Sunday

Hymn

Alleluia! Alleluia! Let the Holy Anthem Rise

1.      Alleluia! Alleluia!

Let the holy anthem rise,

And the choirs of heaven chant it

In the temple of the skies;

Let the mountains skip with gladness,

And the joyful valleys ring

With Hosannas in the highest

To our Savior and our King.

2.     Alleluia! Alleluia!

Like the sun from out the wave,

Christ has risen up in triumph

From the darkness of the grave,

Glorious splendor of the nations,

And the lamp of endless day;

Christ the very Lord of glory

Who is risen up today.

Introduction

All sign themselves with the sign of the cross saying, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Leader:        Let us praise God, who fills our hearts and home with peace.

Blessed be God for ever.

All respond: Blessed be God for ever.

Sing or recite the Gloria together:

                     Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to people of good will.

We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you,

we give you thanks for your great glory,

Lord God, heavenly King,

O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;

you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

Leader:        Let us pray,

O God, who on this day,

through your Only Begotten Son,

have conquered death

and unlocked for us the path to eternity,

grant, we pray, that we who keep the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection

may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit,

rise up in the light of life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Readings

It is encouraged that someone other than the leader should proclaim the readings of the day from a Bible.  Otherwise, daily readings may be found at usccb.org/bible/readings, and audio recordings of the daily readings may be found at usccb.org/bible/readings-audio.cfm. 

First reading: Acts 10:34A, 37-43

Responsorial Psalm: PS 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

Refrain (all together):    This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

                     or     Alleluia.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

for his mercy endures forever.

Let the house of Israel say,

“His mercy endures forever.”

Refrain (all together):    This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

                     or     Alleluia.

“The right hand of the LORD has struck with power;

the right hand of the LORD is exalted.

I shall not die, but live,

and declare the works of the LORD.”

Refrain (all together):    This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

                     or     Alleluia.

The stone which the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

By the LORD has this been done;

it is wonderful in our eyes.

Refrain (all together):    This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

                     or     Alleluia.

Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-4

Gospel (All stand for the reading of the Gospel. A layperson omits the greeting, “The Lord be with you” and proceeds to “A reading from the holy Gospel According to ….”): John 20:1-9

Reflection on the Readings

This week we have a reflection from our Bishop, Most Reverend William F. Medley:

“Let There Be Light”

Easter Sunday

April 12, 2020

Typically we begin the Easter Vigil outside, in darkness.  A fire is created and we solemnly bless that fire. The scriptures recall the story of creation, a moment of drama when God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light. God saw that the light was good.  God separated the light from the darkness, calling the light day and the darkness night. God made two great lights: the greater one to govern the day, and the lesser one to govern the night. God saw how very good all this was.

When we gather to remember this act of creation in any other year we cannot replicate the physical darkness that covered the abyss.  There is light. Human eyes are marvelous and adapt to the very dimmest of light and can see—at least partially—except in the deepest, darkest cave where light cannot penetrate.

In our day, even on the darkest of nights and despite our best efforts, light manages to keep shining. Perhaps it is from a street lamp blocks away. Or someone invariably checks their cellphone. Nevertheless, we can still experience some sense of darkness. We understand the darkness of sin and brokenness, the darkness of death.  We can understand a life without light, a world without light.

On this Easter Vigil we abbreviated our celebration of light as the assembly of God’s people could not gather.  We could not gather because our communities, our world, are cast into a darkness unlike anyone has known.  Oh certainly, darkness abounds and people have experienced the ravages of war.  There have been epidemics in places that have decimated populations. There have been holocausts of millions. There have been floods and famines and millions have been left homeless. There have been atrocities like human slavery and wholesale slaughter of the unborn. There have been nations living in the darkness of materialism and greed. All of these stories have begged for light to dispel darkness.

But today, unthinkably in the 21st century, the world is joined in a darkness unlike anything anyone alive today has seen. For all of our scientific prowess we face a darkness of disease that touches every corner of the world.   People are dying and our best doctors cannot stop it.  We live in fear. By now we all know someone, or know someone who knows someone, who has been stricken by the Coronavirus. And we do not know when it will stop.

Thus our commemoration of the Resurrection of Jesus speaks to our world in a new light.

Year after year, for nearly two millennia, believers in Jesus have marked this celebration proclaiming in song, “Light of Christ. Thanks be to God.”

The Light of Christ is dispelling the darkness of sickness and pandemic. Even before we have found a cure or a vaccine we see the Light of Christ. We see that light in healthcare workers courageously bringing comfort and healing. We see the Light of Christ in those whose jobs require them to encounter strangers day in and day out.  We see the Light of Christ in people who have chosen temporary isolation to assure the safety of others. We see the light of Christ when neighbors are caring for one another. We see the Light of Christ in families gathered in prayer when they cannot come to church.  We see the Light of Christ glowing on computer and cellphone screens and on televisions. We see the Light of Christ in ourselves when we strive to receive Christ in Spiritual Communion when the Holy Eucharist is not available to us.

The Light of Christ will dispel the darkness that touches our world today.  The Light of Christ shines the brightest in darkness. We are never beyond the reach of God.

Let us open our hearts and our spirits to the Light that only Christ can bring.  And let us be that Light of Christ to others who now feel that they dwell in darkness.

+ W. F. Medley

Additionally, you can also find video reflections from the USCCB on the readings here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/.

Observe a period of silence for reflection on the Word of God.  You may want to ask the following questions:

                     What word or phrase is stirring in your heart?

                     How can you apply this message to your daily life?

Renewal of Baptismal Promises

Leader:         When we were Baptized, we were joined to the same death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We will now renew our baptismal promises. If so, say “I do” to each promise:

Leader:         Do you renounce Satan?

All:               I do.

Leader:         And all his works?

All:               I do.

Leader:         And all his empty promises?

All:               I do.

Leader:         Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?

All:               I do.

Leader:         Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered death and was buried, rose again from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father?

All:               I do.

Leader:         Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

All:               I do.

Leader:         May the Lord bless and give us strength to live these baptismal promises, now and always.

All:               Amen.

If Holy Water is present: the Leader signs himself/herself with Holy Water with the Sign of the Cross and invites others to do the same.

Prayer of the Faithful

Leader:        The Son of God who invites us to live by his Light stands ready to banish our darkness, Let us call upon him in our need.

You or members of your family can be invited to speak out their intercessions, to which all reply, “Lord, hear our prayer.”  It would be good to include a prayer for the end of the coronavirus pandemic and a return to public Sunday Eucharist.

Leader:        Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Response:    Amen.

Spiritual Communion

My Jesus,

I believe that You

are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things,

and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment

receive You sacramentally,

come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.

Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

Act of Thanksgiving

Make a prayer of thanksgiving. This can be your own personal prayer of thanksgiving, a canticle of praise from scripture, or you may choose one of the following Psalms: Psalm 100; Psalm 113; Psalm 118:1-4, 19-29; Psalm 136; Psalm 150

Concluding Rite

In solidarity with our diocese, here you could include Pope Francis’ prayer to Mary for protection against the coronavirus found at the beginning of the Diocese of Owensboro Prayer Companion.

Leader:        Let us pray.

God our Father,

by raising Christ your Son

you conquered the power of death

and opened for us the way to eternal life.

Let our celebration today

raise us up and renew our lives

by the Spirit that is within us.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Response:    Amen

Leader:        May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

All sign themselves with the cross.

Response:    Amen

As an option here, you could add “Let us offer each other the sign of peace,” extending a sign of Christ’s peace to your loved ones by way of a hug, kiss, or whatever would be most appropriate for your situation.

Hymn

Alleluia! Alleluia! Let the Holy Anthem Rise

3.     Alleluia! Alleluia!

Blessed Jesus, make us rise

From the life of this corruption

To the life that never dies.

May your glory be our portion

When the days of time are past,

And the dead shall be awakened

By the trumpet's mighty blast.

Isaac Watts, 1702

Liturgy of the Word- Palm Sunday

Hymn

All glory, laud and honor to you, Redeemer King!

To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.

You are the King of Israel and David’s royal Son,

Now in the Lord’s Name coming, our King and Blessed One!

All glory, laud and honor to you, Redeemer King!

To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.

John Mason Neale, 1843

Introduction

Leader:        Since Ash Wednesday, we have prepared our hearts and home

through prayer, fasting, and works of charity

for this celebration of Holy Week.

While we cannot be together with our parish family in person,

we unite with the whole Church at the beginning of this Holy Week,

as we walk recall the Paschal Mystery:

the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Let us walk with Jesus in a special way this week

and today remember his entry into the city of Jerusalem.

By following in his footsteps and recalling his great sacrifice,

may we join our hearts to his, and share in his Cross

as we prepare our hearts and homes for the joy of his Resurrection.

All sign themselves with the sign of the cross saying, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Leader:        Let us praise God, who fills our hearts and home with peace.

Blessed be God for ever.

All respond: Blessed be God for ever.

Leader:        Let us pray.

Almighty and 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.

Readings

It is encouraged that someone other than the leader should proclaim the readings of the day from a Bible.  Otherwise, daily readings may be found at usccb.org/bible/readings, and audio recordings of the daily readings may be found at usccb.org/bible/readings-audio.cfm. 

First reading: Isaiah 50:4-7

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 22

Refrain (all together):    My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

All who see me scoff at me;

they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads:

"He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him,

let him rescue him, if he loves him."

Refrain (all together):    My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Indeed, many dogs surround me,

a pack of evildoers closes in upon me;

They have pierced my hands and my feet;

I can count all my bones.

Refrain (all together):    My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

They divide my garments among them,

and for my vesture they cast lots.

But you, O LORD, be not far from me;

O my help, hasten to aid me.

Refrain (all together):    My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

I will proclaim your name to my brethren;

in the midst of the assembly I will praise you:

"You who fear the LORD, praise him;

all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him;

revere him, all you descendants of Israel!"

Refrain (all together):    My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11

Gospel (All stand for the reading of the Gospel. A layperson omits the greeting, “The Lord be with you” and proceeds to “A reading from the holy Gospel According to ….”): Matthew 26:14—27:66 OR 27:11-54

Reflection on the Readings

This week we have a reflection from our Bishop, Most Reverend William F. Medley:

“We Remember”

Palm Sunday

April 5, 2020

Religious experience is founded on memory.  For Catholics, the central memory we hold is that Jesus, on the night before he died, blessed bread saying “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he shared with them a cup of wine saying, “Drink from it … for this is my blood of the covenant.”  And, of course, even this meal was for Jesus and his disciples a commemoration of the Passover, the delivery of the Israelites from slavery.

Most of us recall memories of Palm Sundays past, the gospel account of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem where the people cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, hosanna in the highest.”  Typically the congregation assembled outside the church to bless palm branches with which we reenacted that procession into Jerusalem, singing our own hosannas.  We remember.

Palm Sunday is a day of stark contrast, for our reenactment does not conclude with triumph and hosannas.   In the course of one liturgy of memories, we preview the story of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Today we set the stage.

The institution of the Holy Eucharist is recounted and we hear the words from inside us, “Do this in memory of me.”  The gospel leads us through the Garden of Gethsemane and Jesus’ anguished prayers and pleadings that those closest to him might stay awake to comfort him.  We have heard the gospel so many times that we vividly remember.

The story unfolds with Jesus’ arrest, Peter’s denial, the trial, the crowd crying out, “Crucify him, crucify him.”  This is the same crowd that only days before had sung, “Hosanna!”  Our memories are clear because we have joyfully and then somberly marked these memories for years.

Year after year we have heard homilies recounting the bearing of the cross to the place called Golgotha, a place we remember as Calvary:  Jesus’ anguished cries; a mother grieving in pain unimaginable; the stark embarrassment of the Son of Man feeling forsaken.  We remember.

We remember because we have joined as people of faith to recall this story year after year, decade after decade, a half century and more for some.  Our memories have built faith.

I recall the many different churches where I have relived Palm Sunday and Holy Week.   I remember as a child thinking that that the reading of the Passion surely must take longer than Jesus’ own ordeal.  I recall a deacon who could not proclaim the story without weeping himself.  I recall the words sung, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”, and know those words to have come from an old spiritual among African American slaves.

This year the memories are with me. And I sadly add to those memories this year when I gather with but a handful of faithful and look out upon an empty church.  I know that many hundreds are with us through our live-streaming.  Many more join when they see this taping later in the day or later in the week.

I am grateful that we remember.  I am grateful that you who cannot be in your parish church today can reach into the store of your memories and by that still encounter Jesus Christ in the power of the gospel stories.  I know that, while you cannot receive the Holy Eucharist, the Lord Jesus comes to you and is in Holy Communion with you -- and all of us with each other because of our common faith, our common memories.

I have talked with scores of the priests of the Diocese of Owensboro this week and I am pleased to say that they sense a good morale even in anxiety and doubt.  Our parishes are doing many innovative things to remain connected.  They are striving to reach out in any way they can to those most isolated -- while remembering we are creating new memories.

Families, I pray that in years to come when you remember the pandemic of 2020 there will be good memories. I pray that you will recall ways you prayed together, ways you observed Holy week and Easter.

Our prayer together might echo the psalms: “How long, O Lord, how long?” And only the Lord knows.

+ W. F. Medley

Palm Sunday

April 5, 2020

Additionally, you can also find video reflections from the USCCB on the readings here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/.

Observe a period of silence for reflection on the Word of God.  You may want to ask the following questions:

                     What word or phrase is stirring in your heart?

                     How can you apply this message to your daily life?

Profession of Faith (Nicene Creed)

I believe in one God,

the Father almighty.

maker of Heaven and earth,

of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the Only Begotten Son of God,

born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation,

he came down from heaven,

(At the words that follow, up to and including “and became man,” all bow.)

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,

and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,

he suffered death and was buried,

and rose again on the third day

in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into Heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead

and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins

and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Faithful

Leader:        As we remember the hardships that Jesus endured for us, we are still filled with hope because God is with us always, even in difficult moments of life. Let us therefore call upon Him who hears all of our needs.

You or members of your family can be invited to speak out their intercessions, to which all reply, “Lord, hear our prayer.”  It would be good to include a prayer for the end of the coronavirus pandemic and a return to public Sunday Eucharist.

Leader:        Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Response:    Amen.

Spiritual Communion

My Jesus,

I believe that You

are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things,

and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment

receive You sacramentally,

come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.

Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

Act of Thanksgiving

Make a prayer of thanksgiving. This can be your own personal prayer of thanksgiving, a canticle of praise from scripture, or you may choose one of the following Psalms: Psalm 100; Psalm 113; Psalm 118:1-4, 19-29; Psalm 136; Psalm 150

Concluding Rite

In solidarity with our diocese, here you could include Pope Francis’ prayer to Mary for protection against the coronavirus found at the beginning of the Diocese of Owensboro Prayer Companion.

Leader:        Let us pray.

Almighty, ever-living God,

You have given the human race Jesus Christ our Savior

as a model of humility.

He fulfilled your will

by becoming man and giving his life on the cross.

Help us to bear witness to you

by following his example of suffering

and make us worthy to share in his resurrection.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Response:    Amen

Leader:        May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

All sign themselves with the cross.

Response:    Amen

As an option here, you could add “Let us offer each other the sign of peace,” extending a sign of Christ’s peace to your loved ones by way of a hug, kiss, or whatever would be most appropriate for your situation.

Hymn

O God, Our Help in Ages Past

O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast,

And our eternal home.

Isaac Watts, 1702

What to Do if You Can’t Go to Confession

As Catholics, we know that even after the washing away of our sins in Baptism and the grace that comes with it, we still stand in need of God’s loving mercy and forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In the unique time that we find ourselves in, it may be difficult or impossible for some of us to go to Confession. The wisdom of the Church teaches us that even when it is impossible to go to Confession, God does not abandon us or withhold his forgiveness. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that perfect contrition—contrition that arises from a love of God above all else—“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” (CCC 1452). If you are unable to go to confession during this time, we implore you not to wait to seek God’s forgiveness in prayer.

God loves us and wants us to always be reconciled to Him. This involves an interior conversion and repentance, seeking to turn away from our sin and instead turn toward God with our whole heart. Below are some suggested steps for praying at home when unable to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation:

1. You may want to begin with a prayer to the Holy Spirit to guide you. Recall the immense love of God for you, that he sent His only Son to die for your sins, so that we can live a life of union with God while we still live on earth, and one day be with Him eternally in Heaven.

2. Sometimes it is hard to recognize our need for forgiveness because sin hardens the heart, making us blind to our own sin. This is why a daily examination of conscience is a beneficial spiritual practice for all. Slowly go through your day (or week, or however long it has been since your last examination of conscience) and ask God to show you times when you have sinned (consider thought, word, deed, failure to act, etc.). It may be helpful to consider each of the Ten Commandments, or the Beatitudes. Alternatively, the USCCB has provided a variety of examinations which can be found here: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/penance/examinations-of-conscience.cfm.

3. You can then pray an act of contrition. This can be your personal prayer of contrition, or you can choose from a variety of formulations here: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/prayers/act-of-contrition.html. The important thing is that you pray with sincerity of heart. Here is one example of an act of contrition:

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things.

I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.

Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.

4. You may wish to set for yourself some small form of penance such as praying for someone you have harmed or refraining from some small pleasure that day. This should be done with contrition and a spirit of love for God, not to be overly scrupulous or demanding for its own sake.

5. Rejoice! Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s mercy. Resolve to go to Confession when you are able, but feel confident in God’s love and forgiveness.

New Indulgence

The this time of particular hardship, the Holy See has seen fit to offer a “the gift of special Indulgences to the faithful

suffering from COVID-19 disease, commonly known as Coronavirus, as well as to health care workers, family members

and all those who in any capacity, including through prayer, care for them” (Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary on the

granting of special Indulgences to the faithful in the current pandemic, 20.03.2020).

Requirements to gain this indulgence are as follows, that:

…with a spirit detached from any sin, they unite spiritually through the media to the celebration of Holy Mass, the

recitation of the Holy Rosary, to the pious practice of the Way of the Cross or other forms of devotion, or if at

least they will recite the Creed, the Lord's Prayer and a pious invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, offering this

trial in a spirit of faith in God and charity towards their brothers and sisters, with the will to fulfil the usual

conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer according to the Holy Father's intentions),

as soon as possible” (Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary on the granting of special Indulgences to the faithful in

the current pandemic, 20.03.2020).

The Church teaches us that indulgences are closely related to the effects of the sacrament of Reconciliation. While

sacramental confession restores us to communion with God and the Church and frees us from the eternal punishment due

to sin, temporal punishment remains unless remedied by prayer and penance. For example, if in a fit of anger someone

punched a hole in a wall, that person could be truly sorry and be forgiven, yet the temporal effects of the sin, the hole in

the wall, remain. This is also true in a spiritual way. God is always waiting to forgive us of our sin if we ask, but the act

of sinning causes not only eternal punishment that can be forgiven by asking, but temporal punishment, that by God’s

grace we seek to be free from.

An indulgence is one way that God in His mercy has given to the Church to help the faithful to be free of temporal

punishment of sin. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been

forgiven…partial or plenary according as it removes either part of all of the temporal punishment due to sin. The

faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead. (CCC 1471)

Indulgences are not magical remedies and one does not gain an indulgence by simply checking off a few boxes. In His

infinite love for us, God is always concerned with the state of our souls, and desires true conversion of heart above all.

Therefore, it is important that in all we do we are striving for a more perfect love of God and neighbor rather than acting

out of fear of punishment. However, God knows that we are imperfect, and we should trust that God blesses our sincere

efforts to grow in holiness through our prayers and works of charity.

USCCB President Calls for National Moment of Prayer on Good Friday

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has invited the faithful to join him in a moment of prayer on Good Friday (April 10) to pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart. Praying together as a nation, the archbishop asks that we seek healing for all who are unwell, wisdom for those whose work is halting the spread of coronavirus, and strength for all God’s children.

Friday, April 10, 2020 (Good Friday)

11:00 AM CDT

Text of Litany of the Sacred Heart: English / Spanish

A livestream of the Litany of the Sacred Heart with Archbishop Gomez will be available on the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ website: www.lacatholics.org and on the USCCB Facebook page: www.facebook.com/usccb.

Good Friday is a day when Christians around the world solemnly commemorate the day when Jesus suffered and died on the cross. Catholics traditionally mark the day with fasting, penance, and reflection on Jesus’ loving sacrifice. This opportunity to pray together during the coronavirus pandemic offers a special moment of unity for the faithful during a time when communities throughout the United States and worldwide are physically unable to congregate for Holy Week and Easter because of COVID-19.

Additionally, with special permission received from the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See, a plenary indulgence is available for those who join Archbishop Gomez in praying the Litany of the Sacred Heart on Good Friday.

Calling all Catholics in the Diocese of Owensboro:

Though it is not possible for Catholics of our diocese to gather in our parish churches for the celebration of the Easter Vigil, we can still be united in our prayer.  A most striking and moving element of that liturgy occurs at its beginning.  There a great fire is blessed, the Paschal candle is lit, and its light is shared with all who received the Light of Christ at baptism.  Later in the liturgy, the newly baptized receive a lighted candle and are asked to “keep its flame burning brightly.”

In these dark days, we invite all Catholics of Western Kentucky to engage in a project meant to communicate faith and hope to our neighbors and be a sign of encouragement and support to all who are suffering.

Beginning at 8:00 PM on April 11, Holy Saturday, and through May 31, Pentecost Sunday, use the symbol of light as an outward sign in some way on your property as a witness to all of the prayers burning in our hearts and as a reminder that the light has come into our world and has conquered even death.

Bring out the Christmas lights you have stored away.  Wrap a strand around a door or window, visible to all who pass.  Place a flower wreath on a door and weave through it a strand of light.  Two stands of lights can be used to form a cross on a garage door.  Strings of light can be woven through bushes, or even a small tree.  The candles you put in your windows at Christmas can be placed there once again.  Be creative!

Each night, as you “turn on the lights”, you might also light a candle and say a prayer to the one “who sheds his peaceful light on all humanity”  (the Exsultet from the Easter Vigil) for an end to the pandemic.

Let’s unite with one another in prayer this Easter season and remind one another and our neighbors that we are never beyond the reach of God.  Let’s light up the world! Share your pictures on social media and use the hashtag: #EasterLightsKY

A Lent like no Other

I had to remind myself yesterday that we are still in the season of lent and Palm Sunday is just a week away. The 2020 season of lent will certainly be a lent like no other because we will recall how we could not gather together as a community. We will reminisce how we missed some blessings of the season; the communal penance services, the stations of the cross, opportunities to serve in soup kitchens and in our communities. It might even be difficult for many to focus on their Lenten resolutions of fasting and almsgiving because our situations in life have changed in ways we never imagined.

In the first reading from the book of Ezekiel 37, the Prophet Ezekiel had a vision where everything around him was old, dead, dry and lifeless. Of course, in a situation like that, there is no place for hope. The idea of life or newness seemed like a fantasy. I bet Ezekiel was terrified maybe wishing to wake back from such terror-filled nightmare. But all of a sudden, God asked the Prophet a question: “son of man, can these dry bones come back to life?” It sounds ridiculous to think dry and fleshless bones can have life. But the prophet answered: “Lord, you alone know that.” Then, God offered words of hope to the Prophet and he spoke: 

O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and have you rise from them O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; Thus, you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord (Ezekiel 37:12-14).

May be the people in the time of the Prophet Ezekiel felt shut-in themselves. Maybe they felt some life is out of them. Maybe they felt buried in their world. The vision of the dry bones may represent our world today. The reality of a pandemic makes us recognize how fragile we are as humans. The reality of a shutdown reminds us how quickly our daily lifestyles can change. It reminds us that our world is a very small place and we are all connected with one another in some way. We may feel suffocated, we may feel dried up or maybe even lifeless. We may ask: when will things be normal again? When will we get our lives back?

God speaks to us as he spoke to the people of Israel who may have felt bound up like us. God promises life. God promises normalcy. God promises healing and restoration. Surely, our doors will be open again and we will rise back to work. Our doors will be open again and we will rise back to worship as a community. God will refresh our faith life, our family relationships, our governments and social structures. God breathes his Spirit into us his children. There is hope. Let us remember that churches are not being closed; buildings are. You and your families are the domestic church.  Remain open and God will continue to make a dwelling. God will renew his blessings in your families and in our world.

For an end to the pandemic

Let us pray, dearly beloved, for a swift end

to the coronavirus pandemic that afflicts our world,

that our God and Father will heal the sick,

strengthen those who care for them,

and help us all to persevere in faith.

(Prayer in silence)

Almighty and merciful God,

source of all life, health and healing,

look with compassion on our world, brought low by disease;

protect us in the midst of the grave challenges that assail us

and in your fatherly providence

grant recovery to the stricken,

strength to those who care for them,

and success to those working to eradicate this scourge.

Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Dearest Parishioners,

I miss you all! Praying you are staying safe!

As the nation continues to fight the spread of this pandemic, Bishop Medley has issued that:

·         The public celebration of Masses has been suspended until further notice. This includes the public celebration of Palm Sunday, and Easter services.

·         The celebration of Chrism Mass has been postponed to a later date to be announced by the Bishop.

For our parish as regards Palm Sunday,

·         the palms will be blessed privately and will be set on a table by the entrance of the church. You can drive by any time from 10am -6pm to pick up some blessed palms or pray in the church. We will store up what is left for any future need.

·         As we approach Holy week, some resources will be sent out as a prayer guide for families on how to celebrate the Easter services at home.

·         I have included a prayer for an end to this pandemic. It is from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Please join with millions of Catholics as we turn to God for healing and remedy.

·         I encourage you to please continue to check your email for more updates, resources or information for our parish.

We are all in this together! I pray for you each day at daily Masses. Please remember that our church is not closed but the buildings are. Let us continue to stay united in mind and heart with our Holy Father and our brothers and sisters all over the world as we journey through this crisis. May God bless you all!

I can be reached by mail Emmanuel.udoh@pastoral.org or by phone 270.799.8449.

love,

Fr. Emmanuel, Pastor