Dear Celina Cluster Parishioner,
Please note the following message from the Catholic Bishops of Ohio
After serious consideration of the grave health risk involved in public gatherings and in order to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, the bishops of Ohio have decided, effective immediately, to suspend temporarily all publicly celebrated Masses/liturgies, at least through the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter. The bishops of Ohio dispense the Catholic faithful who reside in their respective dioceses and all other Catholics currently in Ohio from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass through Easter Sunday.
This decision is not taken lightly and, as your bishops, causes us great sadness. However, after consultation with the governor and health officials we are convinced that this is the most prudent and necessary action.
Science has proven that participation in public gatherings significantly increases the risk of contagion. This poses a serious danger to those especially most vulnerable.
As Catholics, in every Sunday Mass we celebrate the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord. The Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. In this moment, we are experiencing in a unique way the passion of our Lord as this pandemic prevents us from gathering for the Sunday Eucharist. In this very difficult time, we encourage the faithful to turn to the Church’s treasury of prayer. Sunday remains a holy day, and we encourage the faithful to pray using the rich resources of our faith, including praying as a family or individually the rosary, divine mercy chaplet, the Liturgy of the Hours, stations of the cross, etc. We also urge you to participate in prayer by way of radio broadcast or televised or live-streamed Mass and make a spiritual communion.
Please join us in praying for all who are suffering from illness or disease of any kind, for all health care workers, and for an easing of the anxiety and tension caused by this situation. Relying on the Motherly care of Our Lady, we unite our sufferings to those of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our healing and our hope.
The following are provided to assist parishioners in prayer and worship:
- IC Church will be open for private prayer 9:00 AM to 7 PM Mon-Fri, Sat. 7:30 AM to 4 PM, Sunday 7 AM to 7 PM. OLG is open daily from 7 AM to 7 PM. Teresa will be open Wed. 9 AM to 5 PM, Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM. As you visit church, please be mindful of good hygiene practices for you and for others, possibly wiping surfaces and objects you touch with disinfecting wipes.
- There will be a closed-door 5 PM Saturday Mass at IC broadcast on Live Stream that can be viewed live or any time after. Click on https://celina-ic.org/ and then the “Live Stream” on the top right corner of the IC webpage and follow prompts to the Mass.
- Mass readings and daily prayers can be found via links at the bottom of the IC website to the US Bishops Conference and
- There will be a closed-door 8:00 AM Masses Mon-Fri at IC broadcast on Live Stream that can be viewed live or any time after.
- Live Stream closed-doors Masses also available at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral Mon-Sat, 8am; Sun, 11am. Click on https://www.stpeterinchainscathedral.org/ scroll down to and click on “Live-streamed Mass Schedule.”
- Spiritual Communion
Since you are unable to receive Holy Communion during this time, you can make this prayer of Spiritual Communion, a source of grace in the midst of difficulty:
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.
- Stations of the Cross booklets and pamphlets will be available in church
- Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals are still possible, but only with immediate family and designated guests. Please know that your prayers for these families and their loved ones are still felt and appreciated.
- Individual Sacrament of Reconciliation
- IC – Wednesday, March 18th 1:00 PM
- IC – Thursdays, March 26th and April 2nd at 7 PM & Saturdays at 11 AM
- OLG – March 18th & April 1st 6:30 PM, April 3rd 9:00 AM & Saturdays at 6:15 PM
- Teresa – March 25th & April 8th 6:30 PM (Church open 6:30 to 7:30 PM)
- Each Parish Office in the Cluster will maintain usual office hours, unless directed otherwise.
- Bulletins will be available online and in each church and parish office
- Your continued financial support is critical to each of our parishes even in this time of crisis. Offertory envelopes can be dropped off or sent to our respective parish offices or online contributions can be made to each of the parishes at https://celina-ic.weshareonline.org/index.aspx
- We will continue to provide updates on our parish websites https://celina-ic.org/ https://ourladyofg.org/ https://stteresa-rockford.org/ via email and social media.
If you know a fellow parishioner without email or internet access, please pass this information along to them.
In this time of crisis, when it is easy to let our fears and worries overwhelm us, it is important to remember that God is always with us, helping us and leading us, that Jesus has walked this earth before us and knows intimately the depth of any pain, sorrow or concern we may bear; and that the Holy Spirit guiding us and protecting us. Know that we and all the Cluster staff continue to be here to serve you and pray for you and all affected. Fr. Ken & Fr. Tim
A Prayer of Pope Francis to the Blessed Virgin Mary
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father’s will and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
Prayer of USCCB President, Most. Rev. Jose Gomez
Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas. We fly to you today as your beloved children. We ask you to intercede for us with your Son, as you did at the wedding in Cana. Pray for us, loving Mother, and gain for our nation and world, and for all our families and loved ones, the protection of your holy angels, that we may be spared the worst of this illness.
For those already afflicted, we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance. Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful, wipe away their tears and help them to trust. In this time of trial and testing, teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind. Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.
We come to you with confidence, knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother, health of the sick and cause of our joy. Shelter us under the mantle of your protection, keep us in the embrace of your arms, help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
