You are also invited to participate in the Sunday Mass online at worcesterdiocese.org

 The following can be prayed alone or with family members in your household.

 In the name of the Father,
and of the Son (+),
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

PENITENTIAL ACT
Brothers and sisters,
let us acknowledge our sins.

A brief pause for silence follows. Then all recite together the formula of general confession:

 I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray.

Graciously hear our supplications, O Lord,
so that we,
who believe that the Savior of the human race
is with you in your glory,
may experience, as he promised,
until the end of the world,
his abiding presence among us.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

READINGS  (click for readings of the day)

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
For the Church, that through her teaching and preaching ministry, she may bring all to the knowledge of the one true God and our Lord Jesus Christ whom He has sent.
We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For all those tasked with the welfare of nations, that they might proceed with wisdom and patience.
We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

Coming Back to Church from James P Moroney on Vimeo.

Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

Welcome back!

These have been and continue to be trying times for all of us.

Following the guidelines set our by the Governor in reopening places of worship and the consequent decree of Bishop McManus on lifting the suspension of public celebrations of the Liturgy in the Diocese of Worcester, St. Anne-St. Patrick Parish will resume public celebration of daily Masses beginning Monday, May 25th, Memorial Day. We will resume public celebration of Sunday Masses beginning the weekend of May 30th and 31st, Solemnity of the Pentecost. We are excited that the day has finally come for us to offer public celebrations of the Mass and the Sacraments.

In order to ensure a smooth and safe reopening, our parish have adapted some guidelines from the directives set out by the State and the Diocese. We are all aware that at first we may find these measures awkward. To be sure, we have to adapt for the time being. However, for us Catholics, the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, go to the heart of our faith. They provide us with the spiritual nourishment we need to foster our relationship with the Lord… to be fed and reconciled on a regular basis. Therefore, we will make every effort to respect these guidelines with the hope that additional opportunities will be presented to us in the near future. These guidelines are posted on our bulletin boards and can be accessed through our Parish website (https://stannestpatrickparish.com), our Facebook account page (St. Anne and St. Patrick Parish (Fiskdale MA) and our Parish Flocknote page (https://stannestpatrick.flocknote.com).

(The attached short video explains the Diocesan Guidelines clearly and succinctly.)

I am excited to welcome all of you once again and say: “Thank God you are here!”

We thank you for your patience, understanding and cooperation.

Sincerely in Christ,
Your pastor, Fr. Alex, AA

 Parishioner Guidelines.pdf

You are invited to participate tomorrow in the Sunday Mass online at worcesterdiocese.org

 The following can be prayed alone or with family members in your household.

 In the name of the Father,
and of the Son (+),
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

PENITENTIAL ACT
Brothers and sisters,
let us acknowledge our sins.

A brief pause for silence follows. Then all recite together the formula of general confession:

 I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

OPENING PRAYER
Constantly shape our minds, we pray, O Lord,
by the practice of good works,
that, trying always for what is better,
we may strive to hold ever fast to the Paschal Mystery. 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. Amen.

READINGS  (click for readings of the day)

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
For the leaders of the Church, that they may speak with one voice and give witness to our unity in Christ.
We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For leaders of first world nations, that they might not abandon those who are less fortunate.
We pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

Fr. Denys Gonthier, esteemed professor of French at Assumption for many years, was fond of quoting Gabriel Marcel, twentieth century French existentialist, to the effect that absence is another form of presence. Fr. Denys was a lover of mystery and paradox, so the effect of this statement, upending our customary way of thinking, accorded well with his playful spirit. The force of the seeming paradox may be less evident for us today, for whom computers and smartphones and other modes of instantaneous communication collapse the distance that separates us from one another both in space and time. I betray my age and perhaps my nostalgia in wondering whether something has been lost in no longer waiting for a return letter from a friend or a loved one.

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