Dear Saint Teresa Parishioners,
As we celebrate our great country’s independence this weekend may we courageously be the light that our nation needs so much right now.
With restrictions continuing to be lifted in Lincoln, our parish’s guidelines are also changing. Parish activities are gradually opening up.
The dispensation from Sunday Mass attendance is still in place. People who do not attend Mass in person are encouraged to participate by viewing an online or televised Mass. Our parish continues to live-stream its Saturday 4pm Mass. This can be viewed live or watched later.
Those who attend Mass in person should follow these guidelines:
- We will continue to use every-other pew. There are signs on the pews to guide us. Please keep households together, and distanced from other households.
- People should give one another a 6-foot space.
- The pews, doorknobs, and other surfaces are being sanitized regularly.
- We are encouraged to wear masks or face coverings when we are at Mass, according to the advice of in-parish medical professionals. The vast majority are wearing masks and with people following this precaution, I invite you to please join us for Mass.
- The Mass parts will not be sung, and additional music will be instrumental or sung only by a cantor or family choir.
- The plexi-glass shields are no longer in use, but we will still receive communion in the center aisle and on-the-hand.
- The Ushers will not pass baskets for the collection, nor pass out bulletins. Baskets are at the exits (and are emptied after each Mass), as are printed bulletins.
- Please take a missalette from the vestibule to keep and use (do not return it to the box nor leave it in church).
Our current public Mass Schedule remains the same:
- Monday – Friday: 8:15am and 5:30pm
- Saturday: 8:15am and 4pm Vigil Mass (Vigil Mass is live streamed)
- Sunday: 8am, 10am, and Noon Masses
Confessions are available on Saturdays from 1:30-3pm and on Fridays a half-hour before the two daily Masses.
It is so important that we continue to pray for each other in these unsettling and challenging times. I hope the issues of the day do not divide us, discourage us, or dampen our faith and hope. It’s good for us to be reminded that we are Catholic and Christ has already won the battle. If you desire peace and calm in your life try shutting the TV and all social media off for at least a week. I assure you it will do you good. I think many people are anxious, angry, frustrated, and confused. Television and social media just add to this mix of emotions.
I find it necessary to ask you once again to continue to support Saint Teresa parish through stewardship for our ongoing financial needs for ordinary operating expenses. If you have not sent in your envelope for church support, would you consider doing so? The decrease in Mass attendance has resulted in smaller collections. Whatever you can do is greatly appreciated.
May the Lord bless you and your household as we celebrate the independence of our great country this weekend! In God we trust. God bless America.
In Christ our Redeemer,
Fr. Hottovy
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Parish Announcements:
In-parish Job Openings
- Facilities Manager: St. Teresa Catholic Church and School is seeking a Facilities and Maintenance Manager. This includes overall maintenance and grounds for the church, school, rectory, convent, and rental house. Responsibilities include keeping the buildings and grounds safe, clean, and in good repair. General knowledge of electrical, HVAC, and plumbing systems is helpful. The job includes custodial duties in the school as well as general maintenance and repair of the entire campus. Must be able to work independently and manage a team. Pay is commensurate with experience. Health and dental insurance and a retirement plan are available. 3-5 years’ previous experience preferred. Please contact the Parish Office with questions: 402-477-3979.
- Custodian: St. Teresa Catholic Church and School is seeking a Custodian. This includes general cleaning—keeping the facilities clean and orderly—and upkeep of the parish, school, and grounds, sanitizing surfaces at school and public areas of the church and rectory, mowing and grounds maintenance, snow removal and ice-melt application, and occasional light maintenance and minor repairs. High school diploma or GED is required. For more information, contact the Parish Office: 402-477-3979.
ALL IN | Youth Bible Study
High Schoolers and College Students: come join us for a weekly Bible Study. It will be a great chance to grow in your faith and in a relationship with others from the diocese. The time is now to be ALL IN for the Faith. Meetings will be Wednesdays from 7:30-9:30pm starting July 8th. The first location is St. Teresa’s school parking lot.
Please see the attachment for details.
Grand Group
Great news! We’re finally going to get together in July, the first time since our planning meeting in early March! On Fri July 24th, the fourth Friday of the month, we’ll meet at KC hall at 1:00 for Bingo. We will play in the large fish fry room so we can practice social distancing and the tables and the Bingo cards will be sanitized. Wear your mask and bring your own hand sanitizer as well as one gently used item to donate as a prize. Let Phyllis know by Tue July 21st if you will attend (402-488-9177).
Due to current restrictions, there will not be an official welcoming reception for Fr. Kipper. You are encouraged to welcome him with cards dropped off at, or sent to, the rectory.
There will NOT be a Eucharistic Procession this weekend (July 4th) nor next weekend (July 11th). The next procession is planned for July 18th.
A small number of printed bulletins will be available at the exits of church.
Missalettes for June 7-Nov 28 are available in the vestibule. Please take a missalette but do not return it—keep it for personal use.
Fireworks!
Knights of Columbus plan to sell fireworks July 3rd and 4th in the HyVee Parking Lot. They need both customers and volunteers. Please see the attached flyer for details. Hours are 8am-11pm (today) Friday July 3rd and 8am-11:59pm on July 4th. They may close early if business is very slow.
Charity and Stewardship Appeal (formerly DDP)
The deadline for turn-in of donations to the CSA campaign has been extended to June 30th. At the time of this message, we have not yet met our parish goal. Our parish has pledged $72,646.20. This appeal also provides necessary income for our parish and school. If you have not yet made your pledge or gift, please turn in your card or pledge online (and in the case of online pledges and gifts, do not mail the card). If you received a card in the mail but donated online, you may ignore it.
Our parish is in need of Ushers for 8am and Noon Masses to assist parishioners with sitting accommodations, etc. If you are currently an Usher, or if you would like to volunteer to become an Usher, please contact Will Varicak at willvaricak@gmail.com or 402-416-1070.
The Fatima Project
Flyers are in the church which detail the Fatima Project. Please pick one up, learn, and participate! Details were also posted on the parish’s Facebook page, which is HERE.
Thrift Shop: St. Teresa Thrift Shop will be open for business on these dates and times: Saturday, July 11th, Saturday, July 18th, and Saturday July 25th from 9-3. There will be NO Friday hours in July. Donations can also be made on these dates at the back door of the store. All volunteers and shoppers must wear masks, which they provide. We may limit the number of shoppers in the store at one time to adhere to the social distancing guidelines. No children will be admitted to the store so please plan accordingly. Thank you for supporting St. Teresa Thrift Shop!
Construction Update | Gymnasium: The old gym steam heaters with associated asbestos coverings have been removed. The old, disintegrating surface of the ceiling has been completely resurfaced with new impact resistant acoustical panels and fresh paint. Lines and brackets for the new gym heat/AC system have been installed. Ceiling lights and speakers have been installed, and the old windows and accompanying asbestos have been removed.
Pray for Life
Please come to pray on public sidewalks at Planned Parenthood of Lincoln (5631 South 48th Street) from 7am until 5pm on Tuesdays. Many thanks to those who have been faithfully praying at the abortion facility, especially during this time of quarantine.
The Pink Sisters’ Chapel will remain closed to the public indefinitely.
Mass Intentions
There are many dates and times available for those who wish to have Mass said for their intention(s). A $10 stipend is requested for each Mass. Dates are available beginning now, through the end of 2021. You may call the parish office or e-mail aubrey-potter@cdolinc.net with questions or to reserve Masses.
Congratulations to our newly baptized: Leonidas Paul Schlabach, son of Brian & Meggan, and Penelope Jean Wondercheck, daughter of Eliot and Sada (Hotovy). Welcome!
Congratulations to our newly married couples: Andrew & Alexandra (Hewitt) Kaiser and Jakob and Ellie (Beiermann) Andreasen.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of +Jean Keller, long-time parishioner.
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Diocesan Announcements
Marriage Encounter
Marriage Encounter is going virtual with live-streaming to accommodate our times with the virus. A complete weekend will be presented Aug 28-30, enhancing couple communication and intimacy. Contact Pat & Janelle Benson for more information: Pat (308) 940-0670 or Janell3 (308) 940-1105
The Diocesan Canoe Trip will be held July 5-7 or 7-9. $100 covers registration and food. Due to current health conditions, we can only take a limited number of students, and will not be providing transportation, so it will be important to register soon Go to https://www.lincolndiocese.org/camps/diocesan-canoe-trip to register.
Moms of Young Children
Join Fr. Ben Holdren on July 11th at the Good Counsel Retreat house for a one-day retreat specifically for moms of young children. Babies are welcome and rooms are available for Pack & Plays, etc. More information at https://lincolndiocese.regfox.com/ymretreat Questions?
Contact marilyn-klein@cdolinc.net
Retrouvaille
In marriage, communication is more than just talking. At some point, did you stop sharing about the things that were important to you? Did your spouse? Improving a marriage takes time and a conscious effort to learn about your spouse. Growing closer in a marriage does not happen automatically. Retrouvaille is a marriage program dedicated to helping couples grow closer and develop a stronger bond. For more information about a Retrouvaille Weekend Program Aug. 21-23 or to register, call 1-800-470-2230 or www.helpourmarriage.org, www.retrouvaille.org.
Sign up by August 1!