Weekly Update August 2nd Dear Friends in Christ: August is the month of Brother André, (Saint André Bessette) our parish patron. On Sunday, August 9, the 175th anniversary of the birth of the humble founder of the Oratory, a special Mass in French presided over at 11 a.m. by rector Father Claude Grou, CSC, will be offered to you. The Mass will also be broadcast live from the Basilica on the Oratory's Facebook page for those who cannot attend in person.  Over the next several weeks we will celebrate First Communion with the children who have had to delay receiving due to the COVID pandemic. During this time children from St. Bernard’s and St. Rose will receive the Eucharist for the first time during Sunday Mass.   Please remember these children in your prayers: August 2:    Kaleigh Flemming, Liam Hannay,  Ava MacGuinness August 9:    Ellie Knowles, Emmett MacInnis, Norah Stead, Kieran vanWageningen August 16:  Breton MacDonald, Isla MacFarlane, Cassidy Peters August 23:  Easton Kristianson, Chayse MacAloney, Alex and Zachory Nichol, August 30:  Hunter Miller, Sophie Murphy, William Nolter, Kaitlyn Zivkovic September 6:  Ace Wadden, Marah Downey Aubrey Kickham will celebrate with her family on P.E.I. this month and there is one child who will be making First Communion next year. Some space will be set aside for family but the regulations from the Nova Scotia Health Authority still apply. Mass times: Saturday   4:00 pm - Holy Cross Sunday   9:00 am - St. Bernard 11:00 am - St. Rose of Lima Sacrament of Reconciliation:  Holy Cross:   As needed upon request                                                                                     St. Bernard:   1st Saturday of the month: 9:30 am to 10:30 am.                                        (location: outside of present Confessional room) St. Rose: 2nd Saturday of the month: 9:30 am to 10:30 am.                                  (location: room outside the bathrooms, i.e. the crying room) Sacrament of the Sick: The Sacrament of the Sick will be made available upon request for individuals, following procedures to ensure the safety of the priest and individual to be anointed. Communion to the Homebound/Sick is not permitted at this time.  Requests for viaticum (Communion for the dying) should be made to Fr. Michael. MORE ON GOING TO MASS:  We continue to request that at the churches in Enfield and Fall River people register to indicate their wish to attend mass in person. Once you register, your name will remain on the list until you request its removal.  Please indicate how many people you are registering when you contact us.  You will be notified only if there is not room for you the following weekend.  Names will be accepted for the following weekend up until 10:00 am the Thursday before the weekend. If you wish to attend mass at St. Rose please contact Linda at 902-860-0475 or strose@eastlink.ca If you wish to attend mass at St. Bernard please contact Claire at 902-883-2660 or stbernardsenfield@gmail.com. Numbers at Holy Cross are limited to 24 and are sufficient for that church. Our weekly recorded mass is recorded Saturday and made available on Facebook Sunday morning.  To find the broadcast mass look on Facebook for St. André Bessette Parish or go to our parish website strosefallriver.com and click on the live mass link/box.  The mass may be watched anytime after 10:00 am Sunday morning. We hope to livestream the mass soon and will inform you when the change from recorded mass to live mass takes place. MASKS:  Please be advised that wearing a mask is now required for all indoor gatherings.  I have included the diocesan protocol for masks in my email and the FAQ from the Health Authority is attached.  Please read them before asking any questions. The following is a reminder of procedures to be observed.  Please arrive 20 minutes before mass to give adequate time for everyone to be seated.  When you arrive you will be greeted, your name checked off on the list  (or recorded at Holy Cross) and asked to use hand sanitizer.  Then you will shown by an usher to a seat for mass. During mass you are invited to participate in all the responses.  You are invited to respond verbally when the parts are spoken and to listen prayerfully when music is included in the liturgy.  Congregational singing is not permitted at this time.  PRACTICES AROUND RECEIVING COMMUNION: I would like to remind you of the practice around receiving communion that I mentioned last weekend.  When you come forward, you should lower your mask when you reach the marked spot behind the person receiving communion. (Please touch only the strings on the side, not the mask itself.)  Before you move forward, the communion minister will show you the host and say: “The Body of Christ.”  You reply: “Amen.”  Then you put your hands together, extend them and move forward to receive communion.  After receiving you return to your seat by a designated route.  You may be seated after returning to your seat. You will be given directions about how to leave the church.  When you leave at the end of mass you are invited to place your offering in the basket by the door marked for receiving it.  Please observe all the provincial health guidelines when leaving the church. It is indeed a blessing that we can gather in person for the Eucharist, especially to celebrate with the children who are receiving this great gift for the first time.   This is a time for us to reflect on the great gift of the Eucharist.  Each week in August there will be an item on the Eucharist.  This week I have included an “Order of Mass” and a “List of Items” we use at mass.   During this time of pandemic let us continue to pray for one another, find ways to care for one another, and do the best we can during the current COVID-19 pandemic.   Yours in Christ, Fr. Michael J. P. Walsh, Pastor  ============= ORDER OF MASS (from usccb.org)  Introductory Rites Entrance Greeting Penitential Act Glory to God Collect Liturgy of the Word First Reading Responsorial Psalm Second Reading (on Sundays and solemnities) Gospel Acclamation Gospel Homily Profession of Faith (on Sundays, solemnities, and special occasions) Universal Prayer Liturgy of the Eucharist Presentation of the Gifts and Preparation of the Altar Prayer over the Offerings Eucharistic Prayer Preface Holy, Holy, Holy First half of prayer, including Consecration Mystery of Faith Second half of prayer, ending with Doxology The Lord's Prayer Sign of Peace Lamb of God Communion Prayer after Communion Concluding Rites Optional announcements Greeting and Blessing Dismissal Items used at Mass: (from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee website,archmil.org, amended) Books: Book of Gospels - contains only the Gospel readings; used on solemn occasions and is carried by the deacon, or in his absence, the reader. Hymnal/Missalette - contains all parts of the Mass for a specific season in the liturgical year, including instructions on when to stand, sit, or kneel. Lectionary - contains the scripture readings for Mass. Roman Missal - contains the collect, prayer over the gifts, prayer after communion, and solemn blessings, Eucharistic prayers and prefaces for all of the Masses, including special occasions. Objects: Chalice (CHAL-is) - the large cup used to hold the wine that becomes the Blood of Christ. Paten (PAT-en) - a saucer-like disk that holds the bread that becomes the Body of Christ. Ciborium (si-BORE-ee-um) - a vessel used to hold the Hosts which will be used for communion; some are cup-like and others are bowl/plate like; they are also used to reserve the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. Decanter or Flagon (FLAG-un) - the bottle- or pitcher-like vessel used to hold the wine which will be consecrated at Mass for the communion of the people; it is brought forth with the gifts. Communion Cups - chalice-like vessels used at communion when the people receive from the cup; they are kept on the Credence Table and brought to the Altar at communion time. Pall (PAHL) - the stiff, square, white cover that is placed over the paten when it is on the chalice. Purificator - a white cloth used to cleanse the chalice. Vestments Alb - a long, white garment that can be used by all liturgical ministers; it is a reminder of the baptismal garment worn when the new Christian "puts on Christ." Cincture (SINGK-sure) - a long cord used for fastening some albs at the waist; it holds the loose-fitting type of alb in place and is used to adjust it to the proper length; it is usually white, although the liturgical colour of the day may be used. Stole - a long, cloth scarf; according to the manner in which it is work, it is the mark of the Office of the priest or deacon. A priest wears it around the neck, letting it hang down in front. A deacon wears it over his left shoulder, fastening it at his right side. Chasuble (CHAZ-uh-buhl) - the sleeveless outer garment, slipped over the head, hanging down from the shoulder covering the alb and stole of the priest; it is the proper Mass vestment for the main celebrant and its colour varies according to the feast. Green - worn during "Ordinary Time." Ordinary does not mean ordinary in the sense of common or normal. Ordinary means counting, as in the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time.  Red - worn on Passion (Palm) Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, and on the Feast Days of Martyrs, including the Apostles and Evangelists.  White - worn during the Christmas and Easter seasons and celebration of Mary, the Angels, the Saints who were not martyrs, All Saints, Birth of John the Baptist, Chair of Peter, Conversion of Paul, and St. John the Evangelist.  Violet - worn during Advent and Lent  Rose - worn on the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) and the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday). Dalmatic (dahl-MAT-ik) - a loose-fitting robe with open sides and wide sleeves worn by a deacon on more solemn feasts; it takes its colour from the liturgical feast as listed above. Cope (KOPE) - a cape-like garment that is put over the shoulders and hangs to the ankles; it is open in the front and worn by a priest or deacon in processions at Benediction and in other services. MEMO TO: All Pastors, Priests and Parish Staff FROM: Anne James, Human Resources Advisor DATE: July 29, 2020 RE: COVID-19 Safe Practices On July 24, 2020, the Province of Nova Scotia introduced new requirements to prevent the spread of COVID-19, to prevent a second wave and in an effort to set the groundwork to open the economy further. These requirements were clarified in a meeting with Dr. Strang on July 28, 2020 and a subsequent email on July 29, 2020. Up until now, we have been encouraged to wear a mask.  Effective July 31, 2020, non-medical masks are mandatory in indoor public spaces.  This is in accordance with the most recent Public Health order https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/docs/health-protection-act-order-by-the-medical-officer-of-health.pdf   The exemption to this is “a performer or officiant (priest/pastor/minister/rabbi etc as well as someone else who is singing/chanting as part of a faith service/gathering)  in the course of performing activities requiring vocalization, such as talking or singing, at an event or activity as described in section 5.4.” Specifically, Section 5.4 (d) addresses weddings and funerals, and other faith gatherings. What does this mean for you  effective July 31, 2020? While in the church, all participants must wear a mask with the above stated exemptions.   Masks should be worn to cover the mouth and nose Face shields are not considered to be a substitute for a mask Hand sanitizing and physical distancing are still required Exemptions for masks include those under the age of two (2) and to those who claim a medical exemption  If someone claims a medical exemption, please note it on the attendance sheet.   You are not permitted to ask the specifics of the exemption as medical information is confidential When receiving communion, the mask may be removed.  Once you have consumed communion, the mask must be replaced.   During wedding ceremonies, the bride and groom may remove their masks for their vows and wedding photos There should be no procession for the bride and groom. Music ministry remains limited to a cantor provided they are able to appropriately distance (at a minimum of 10 ft/3 metres).  The playing of wind instruments requires similar distancing. When you are meeting with someone other than a staff member, you must wear a mask.  Your visitor(s) are also required to be masked.  When there are no outside visitors, a mask is not required in the office or hall.   To assist with this, ensure you have a supply of disposable masks available for use Continue to provide hand sanitizer in an easily accessible place Maintain appropriate physical distancing where possible Masks are required for activities in the church hall such as church/community suppers or bingo except when eating Churches and church halls must be cleaned after each activity following the previously announced cleaning protocols.  -- Rev. Michael J. P. Walsh