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Parish Update: Returning to Mass
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Dear Parish Family,
This beautiful month of May which is dedicated to our Blessed Mother is approaching its end and the bright and sunny days of the summer are rising above the horizon. So many wonderful things have transpired here at the Parish this past month and I want to just highlight a few. This month we celebrated First Holy Communion, Mother’s Day and the ordination of three new Priests here in our Diocese. Fr. Mike Elias, a Parishioner of St. Joseph was one of the three and celebrated his first Mass here on Sunday the 16th. On the last Sunday in May, Fr. Mac Hill who spent his pastoral year here at St. Joseph will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at noon with a reception to follow. As the remaining days of May pass, I encourage you to continue your prayers to our Lady who is constantly before her Son with our intentions. In particular, offer the rosary for the young people who have received their first Communion and for our newly ordained Priests. The young need the constant strengthening of the Eucharist as they make their way through a world that is rejecting God more and more each day. Our new Priests as well as all Priests need prayers for it is through them that the Eucharist is brought into the world. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian lives, there is nothing more sublime, more beautiful or more Holy than the Eucharist.
Sunday Mass Obligation
Bishop Estevez has reinstituted the obligation for Catholics in the Diocese of St. Augustine to observe the Sunday Mass as well as Holy Days of Obligation. The dispensation is still in effect however for those who have health concerns as well as for those care givers of the ill. We have come through so much darkness over the past year and half and with great joy we truly welcome the Holy Spirit into our Parish this weekend.
Mask Guidelines
Following the most recent CDC guidelines for COVID-19 safety measures fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. Given this new guidance from CDC, effective immediately, Bishop Estevez has approved that at Masses in our parishes and missions we will no longer require the wearing of masks for fully vaccinated persons.
Eucharistic Congress
The Parish is blessed to have been selected to host this year’s Eucharistic Congress which will take place on Saturday, June 5th. For our Parish the Congress will begin with a First Friday Mass on the 4th in the Main Church at 7:00p.m. Following the Mass we will have Eucharistic Adoration on the Main Altar through the night until the Eucharistic Procession Saturday morning at 8:00a.m. I am encouraging all Parishioners to come for the day and to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on our beautiful campus. The schedule of the Eucharistic Congress has been attached to this email and I hope you will pass it along to your friends and family.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Fr. Sebastian
