04/01/20 BLOG # 12
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Dear Friends,
Let’s hope we can “flatten the curve” by April 15, as the President’s administration is projecting.
FROM SOME PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE THIS BLOG
• From one of our Archdiocesan deacons – “As a Deacon I don’t like sitting on the sidelines. I believe once we can return to our house of worship, it will be like Easter. Tell everyone that He is trying to get our attention. Stop worshipping false gods and turn to the One true God.”
• One of my fellow parishioners told me of someone who said, “I’m no longer taking people and what’s important for granted. … I’m going to try to be in the precious present, for that is where I know that I can find Christ. … This time, now, I believe is a gift from God, to allow us the time and focus to reflect on what is truly important in life, our families and our dear friends.”
• From a Dominican priest in Rome, where there are fewer cards and trucks on the roads lately – “Have you noticed the air we breathe lately contains a sweet purity about it, has significantly fewer breath-taking particulates in it, and is refreshing for our nostrils, our sense of well-being, and even our spirit? We may not be able to be outside of our dwellings much at present, yet it is good to open the windows, take a short stroll outside, or sit outside for a while, as possible, and take in this present gift of fresh air. God provided us with air to breathe and the lungs with which to breathe it. Let us pray that those who are having difficulty breathing because of COVID-19 may be healed and that all of us remember this present gift of fresher air so that we do what is necessary to help keep each other, and mother nature breathing well too.”
• You can read the full text from Pope Francis’ homily for the special March 27 ‘Urbi et Orbi’ homily here – https://www.santasophia.org/text-of-popes-whole-homily-march-27-2020/. Easy to read and very inspirational in this time of crisis.
TO MY FELLOW PARISHIONERS AT ST JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC CHURCH
If you’re like me, I’m learning to do more through the Internet and my smart phone than I ever knew before.
• Weekly bulletin – For those in our parish who may not be aware of it, you can find our weekly bulletin by going to https://stjpiiparish.com/. Then click “Menu” then “Our Parish” then “Bulletins.” You can actually find the bulletins going back to the beginning of the previous month. And they’re usually on the website a few days early.
• SOS Palm Sunday Event – On our parish’s main website page https://stjpiiparish.com/, you can find information on the S.O.S. program (Seeing Our Savior) for Palm Sunday. This involves a blessing with the Monstrance while remaining in the safety of your car in our parking lot outside of the church. (This does not include the Mass.)
• Parish Mass by our Pastor Fr. Peter Do – You can get this each weekend by going to the parish website and clicking the video saved on the right side.
• Parish App – If you’re not signed up for the parish app on your smart phone, you may want to do so. On an Android phone, go to your “Play Store” and search for “myParish – Catholic Life” – Install it; and then check “Messages” regularly to keep up with some of the parish events. I would imagine the procedure is comparable for an iPhone. There is actually all sorts of information available through the app.
• Facebook – If you’re in to Facebook, go to www.Facebook.com and then in the search box, enter @stjpiiparish.
• Online Tithing – If you’re not already set up with online tithing for our parish, you can mail in a regular check, of course. However, another option is to save on postage and do online tithing by going to https://stjpiiparish.weshareonline.org/ and registering to have a regular amount taken out of your checking account every week or every month. (Don’t forget our special collection for the poor, too.)
• Holy Week Live Streamed Services – Go to our Facebook page (described above) and find how to watch the services every day from Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday.
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
• Overheard at the beginning of a radio show that is usually taped before a live audience: “The following program was taped before an audience of no one.”
• They’re expecting a lot of children to be born later this year. And starting in 2033, they’ll be called “quaran-teens.”
• Check out the humor at https://www.boredpanda.com/quarantine-coronavirus-jokes/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic
• “Every disaster movie starts with government ignoring a scientist.”
• “If you needed 144 rolls of toilet paper for a 14-day quarantine you probably should’ve been seeing a doctor long before covid-19.”
• “Journal – Day 2 without sports – Found a young lady sitting on my couch yesterday. Apparently, she’s my wife. She seems nice.”
• “Mexico is considering closing its borders to stop Americans bringing coronavirus into its country.”
• “I washed my hands so much due to covid-19 that my exam notes from 1995 resurfaced!”
• This video is really good – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0ci5EYb9qA
SOME GOOD SCRIPTURE VERSES
• For whenever anyone bears the pain of unjust suffering because of consciousness of God, that is a grace. – 1 Peter 2:19
• … if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. – Romans 14:8
• … when you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials… Accept whatever befalls you … in fire gold is tested … Trust God and he will help you. – Sirach 2:1-6
Dear Lord, please help the world defeat this coronavirus!
Be calm! Stay well! God bless us all!
Chuck
ChuckLynch4782@gmail.com