November 13: Message From Fr. Hottovy

“To be near God is my happiness, to place my hope in God the Lord.”  +Psalm 73 [Communion Antiphon for this Sunday]

Dear Parishioners,

It is so wonderful to see more and more people taking advantage of our extended times of Exposition!  More often than not when I pop into church to make a visit at different time of the day there may be upwards of seven or eight people.  Come and be near God and let Him be your happiness and your hope.

Exposition continues: Sat: 9 am – 4 pm, Sun: 1 pm – 9 pm, Mon, Tues, Wed: 9 am – 9 pm.

As there have been new directed health measures outlined for our city and our state, they don’t impact our current guidelines during Mass.  Churches may be filled up to 50% capacity (which is what we currently follow), to practice social distancing, wearing of masks, etc.  We ask that you please try to social distance by household when you come up for Communion.  The option of receiving on the tongue is allowed. We continue to disinfect the pews and church between Masses.

Our current Mass and Confession schedule remains the same.  On Sundays our 8 am and 10 am Masses are at the point of overflow.  For these Masses once we reach capacity, Mass will be able to be viewed on the big screen downstairs in Kaczmarek Hall.  At Communion time those in K Hall may come upstairs for Communion.

I cannot adequately express what a joy it is to have Bishop Conley back as our bishop!  Bishop Conley is doing well and he’s eager to continue leading our diocese.  Very special thanks to Archbishop Lucas who had the unenviable task of taking care of our diocese along with his.  He was a wise and insightful leader for us during the past eleven months.

Continue to pray and trust in the Lord in all things.

He will see us through no matter what the future holds.

Continue to pray, fast and sacrifice for our country and the healing of our divisions.

In the peace of Christ,

Fr. Hottovy

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Handy Links:

  1. Eucharistic Adoration Sign-Up
  2. Parish Website
  3. Parish Facebook Page
  4. Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House Schedule

Attachments:

2019/2020 Parish Financial Report

November 15th Bulletin

Bulletin Advertisers

Calvary Catholic Cemetery Remembrance Tree

Remembering All Souls Flyer

:: NEW & UPDATED PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS ::

19/20 Fiscal Year End Report: Please find attached the fiscal year-end report for June 30, 2020.

Parish Council Thank you to those who stepped up to fill these important leadership positions on the parish council!  If you are interested in assisting these leaders in their ministry to the parish please let them know.

  • Education: John Freeh
  • Evangelization: Karen Taubenheim
  • Spiritual Life: Nikki Shasserre

ST TERESA SCHOOL is hiring a school office Administrative Assistant, for approximately 30 hours per week, who works well with adults and children and who possesses communication and organizational skills, the ability to work with technology, and a welcoming personality.  Duties include: answering phones and greeting visitors, managing accounts and performing bookkeeping, completing and filing reports, completing and processing orders, writing and editing documents, keeping records, and communicating with staff and school families. Knowledge of Spanish and/or Vietnamese would be helpful. If interested, please contact Sister Mary Ruth at sr.mary-ruth@cdolinc.net or 402-477-3358.

Updated: The Bishop’s Appeal for Vocations! Thank you to all who so generously donated in support of our seminarians.  We have reached our parish goal of $23,770.

 Seminarian of the Week

John McDonald is the son of Bob & Mary Kay McDonald from St. Patrick Parish in Lincoln. He is studying Theology 2 at Mount St. Mary Seminary.  Remember to pray for John and for his formation!

The Thrift Shop Needs YOU!  Please call Karen Restau 402-309-9769 or Ann Reinke 402-560-4114 if you are able to join a great group of people who volunteer in the Thrift Shop.

Paper Needed:  The school has a need for recycled paper – any 8 ½” x 11” paper that is blank on one side and free of wrinkles and staples.

School Announcements

  • We are now offering free school breakfast (7:15-7:40 am daily) and free school lunch to our students.
  • Coming soon: our annual Christmas Wish List for St. Teresa School.
  • Please remember to stay safe, wear a mask and social distance – this makes all the difference on allowing us to remain open for in-person learning. We need to work together to keep our students in school! Thank you.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of former St. Teresa parishioner, Don Gammill.

(Updated Relic/Saint-Descriptions) +November is the Month of All Souls+

Those who wish for their departed loved ones to be remembered at Masses during the month of November should write the names on the special envelopes (from the packet) which will be kept on the altar during November. Any monetary offerings included in the envelopes will be used for Masses for the Faithful Departed.

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Plenary Indulgence Guidelines for November 2020

In order to avoid crowds coming together and to allow participation for those staying at home, changes have been made to how one might receive a

Plenary Indulgence in November 2020.

  • These three conditions are the same: one must make a confession, receive communion, and pray for the Holy Father’s Intentions.
  • Throughout the month of Nov (the days are not limited this year), one should visit a cemetery and pray for the dead OR visit a church and recite an Our Father and the Creed there. Again, these things may be done at any time during Nov.
  • Lastly, the elderly, the sick, and all those who, for serious reasons, cannot leave their homes, will be able to obtain the Plenary Indulgence as they join spiritually with the Faithful, completely detached from sin and with the intention of complying as soon as possible with the three usual conditions (confession, communion, and praying for the Holy Father’s intentions) before an image of Jesus or Mary, recite prayers for the deceased (a rosary or chaplet, for example), or perform a work of mercy by offering to God the sorrows and hardships of their own lives.

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These relics will be placed on the side-altars during November:

St. John Mary Vianney — St. Frances Xavier Cabrini — Together in one reliquary: Holy Cross, Holy Crib, St. Philip Neri, Pope St. Gregory the Great, St. Aureus, and St. Diodisus — True Cross — St. Benedict Joseph Labre — St. Lucy

Philip Neri (1515-1595) was a sign of contradiction, combining popularity with piety.  He played an important role in the reform of the church.  At an early age, Philip abandoned the chance to become a businessman, and devoted his life to God. At the urging of his confessor, Philip was ordained a priest and soon became an outstanding confessor himself, gifted with the knack of piercing the pretenses and illusions of others, though always in a charitable manner and often with a joke. He is one of the influential figures of the Counter-Reformation, mainly for converting to personal holiness many of the influential people within the Church itself. His characteristic virtues were humility and joy. Many people wrongly feel that such an attractive and jocular personality as Philip’s cannot be combined with an intense spirituality. Philip’s life melts that view away. Philip always wanted his followers to become not less but more human through their striving for holiness.

Pope Saint Gregory the Great (540-604)  was the prefect of Rome before he was 30. After five years in office he resigned, founded six monasteries on his Sicilian estate, and became a Benedictine monk in his own home at Rome. At the age of 50 he was elected pope by the clergy and people of Rome.  Gregory was direct and firm. He removed unworthy priests from office, forbade taking money for many services, emptied the papal treasury to ransom prisoners of the Lombards and to care for persecuted Jews and the victims of plague and famine. He was very concerned about the conversion of England, sending 40 monks from his own monastery. He introduced liturgical reforms and Gregorian chant.  He sacrificed his own preferences, especially when  called to be Bishop of Rome.

Excerpts from Franciscanmedia.org

:: REPEAT PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS (for your convenience) ::

Updated times: Confessions will be heard a 1/2 hour before daily Masses on Mon, Thu, and Fri, and on Sat from 3-4 and 4:45-5:15.

Altar Society Prayer Line

An Altar Society Prayer Line has been established to lift up our prayers to God as a community. Leva Orationes Deo is Latin for lift up prayers to God. Requests can be made by e-mailing levaorationesdeo@yahoo.com or calling the first caller for the phone prayer line: Mary Pat McBride at 402-314-1296. All intentions will be sent by e-mail to the Altar Society e-mail list. If you want to participate in the phone prayer line, please contact Mary Pat.

BE ALERT!

Thefts-from-cars have recently taken place during Masses at other parishes. Conceal your belongings and be aware.

Urgent Repeat: Ushers Are Greatly Needed!

Health restrictions have changed many things—including how we are seated when we come to Mass. We need two men for each weekend Mass who are able and willing to help people sit according to social distancing, and to sanitize surfaces after Masses.

Regular Ushers: please return to duty!

Men: can you make yourself available—even temporarily—to help our parish in this time of need?

Please call Will Varicak at 402-438-3616

Grand Group: Because there were no other planned events that we could safely enjoy during the COVID pandemic, we will not be having an event in November. I want to take this opportunity to wish each of you  the best Thanksgiving possible while observing COVID safety restrictions. Hopefully we can all be together again in January!

Mario Herrera Memorial Scholarship

Thanks to generous benefactors and family friends who wished to honor the memory of Officer Mario Herrera, a new scholarship at Pius X has been established that will forever benefit students. The Mario Herrera Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a Pius X student who is the child of a police officer, first responder, or military service member. The annual distribution will be $1,205: Officer Herrera’s badge number. To donate to this scholarship, visit https://go.piusx.net/Herrera

St. Teresa Thrift Shop

  • Thanks also to those who shopped with us! We made just over $1800 this past weekend.
  • Hours for business and donations are Fridays 4-8 and Saturdays 9-3
  • Guidelines:
  • Masks must be worn.
  • Children wearing masks are welcome, but please: no infants, toddlers, or strollers.
  • The number of shoppers may be limited.
  • Please donate only during store hours.
  • The Thrift Shop always needs volunteers! For more information, call Karen Restau: 402-309-9769 or Ann Reinke 402-560-4114

We are NOT planning a parish bazaar for 2020 (due to health concerns and restrictions).

:: NEW DIOCESE-wide ANNOUNCEMENTS ::

MASS with Prayers for HEALING.  December 13, 2020.  Cathedral of the Risen Christ, 35th & Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE. Please join together to pray for healing for yourself, your family, friends, for our Church and our Nation.

Remembering our loved ones.  Please join us at Calvary Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum in Lincoln for our annual Advent Remembrance Tree Blessing and Lighting Ceremony at 5:30 P.M. on December 5, 2020.  Christmas tree ornaments are available in the cemetery office to take home and decorate for the Remembrance Tree.  Please bring the ornaments back to the cemetery office by December 1, 2020  Flyer attached

Job Opportunity: Saint Mary's Church in Lincoln is looking for a Director of Grounds/Maintenance. Responsibilities include some janitorial duties, minor maintenance and repair of equipment and furnishings, upkeep of grounds (including lawn mowing and snow removal), and maintaining of heating/cooling systems in the parish buildings.If interested or to apply, please contact Father Dietrich at 402-435-2125.

Christmas Cookie Fundraiser-St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1145 South St. Sat Dec 5 Noon-2pm. Help us raise money for the historical St. Francis of Assisi Church by joining us for a Christmas Cookie bake sale.  Order cookies, muffins and breads in advance, or come browse our selection on December 5th.  Pre-order cookies At: https://forms.gle/dFgi6VBjow7R8QFh6  Pre-ordering closes Nov. 27th, 1 doz minimum.  Pre-order pick up on Dec. 5th in the church basement.

Register now for the following in-person or online winter classes with The Emmaus Institute for Biblical Studies, running November 30-February 18: Studying Ecclesiastes: A Journey Toward a Meaningful Life, The Historical Books (Joshua-Maccabees), Heaven Help the Home: Recapturing a Biblical Vision of Marriage and Family, and Encountering Jesus in The Gospel of Luke. Learn more and register now at www.emmausinstitute.net

 

:: REPEAT DIOCESE-wide ANNOUNCEMENTS ::

Catholic Social Services provides cash assistance to those struggling to pay rent, utilities, car repairs, and more. Requests taken every Monday morning. Call (402) 327-6211, the line opens at 9am. Contact our Emergency Services Coordinator, Marilu Cazares at (402) 327-6222 or mcazares@cssisus.org with questions.

Open Position:  Business Manager, Saint Peters Catholic Church and School, Lincoln

St. Peter’s is seeking a full-time Business Manager to assist the church and school in the stewardship of parish finances.

Principal Duties Include: Accounting and banking of Sunday collections and other revenues.  Prepare all accounting, budgetary, fiscal and statistical records including reports for the diocese and government. Prepare quarterly reports for the Finance Council.  Manage all revenue and expense accounting into our accounting system and produce monthly financial reports. Provide payroll and human resources for the parish and school.  This is a full time position and eligible for all benefits, including health and dental insurance, free tuition in our grade school for your children.  You must be a practicing Catholic. Please send cover letter and resume to:   nancy-allder@cdolinc.net

Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska is hiring a full-time Senior Case Manager for our Refugee Resettlement Department. This position is responsible for delivering core resettlement services and offering guidance to eligible refugee and immigrant populations on their path to achieving self-sufficiency. See more at www.cssisus.org/who_we_are/careers.html.

Calvary Cemetery has a new Burial Space Hold Policy.  If you believe you placed space(s) on hold prior to the new policy which was started in 2019, please contact the cemetery at 402-476-8787 to complete the proper paperwork or to purchase the space(s).  If you do not contact the office and complete the new form or purchase the space(s) by December 15th, 2020, your hold will be removed from the record so the space(s) can be released back into inventory for other individuals or families to purchase. Call 402-476-8787 for questions or more information. Thank You!