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From the Desk of Fr. Barry: My heart is broken over what is transpiring as of late. When I was ordained, I took my responsibilities very seriously, bringing the Sacraments to each of you is not only my responsibility but is also my passion and brings me much joy. With what has been man- dated by the State and also reiterated by Bishop Callahan, I wanted each of you to know what will transpire over the next few months and how we are responding here at Christ the King. With the closure of all schools, restaurant dining rooms, bars and gatherings of over 10 people, we have had to suspend Masses until further notice. At this point we don’t know how long that will be, but we are expecting further out than May. So here is what to expect at Christ the King in the coming months:
Fr. Barry Televised Mass Broadcast Schedule
Currently, the Televised Mass is broadcast on the following channels:
Pope Francis announced on March 18 a call to join with an initiative of the Italian bishops, to pray the Rosary all together at 9 pm Rome time, on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19.
People from many countries joined in, making this Rosary a worldwide plea for the end of the pandemic. Italy on March 19 surpassed the number of deaths reported in China. Before praying the Rosary, which was live-streamed from the Vatican, the Holy Father offered this message, and prayer: Read More... From the desk of Fr. Barry:
Before we get into the readings from this weekend, First, thank you! I wanted to give you a quick update on the sale of the current rectory. It did indeed sell and we have closed on the property netting $72,227! With the $50,000 from the Knights of Columbus, donations of $46,675 ... these total $168,902. We will use the $80,000 from our diocese savings account to cover the remaining balance ($48,000 has already been pledged to replenish this over the next 3 years). This leaves us being able to pay for the rectory/office/maintenance shop in full. This does not include appliances, office furniture for the secretary (my office furniture has been donated by a parishioner from St. John’s), window treatments, pavement for the walkway and driveway, permits, gas and electric hook-up fees, or landscaping. I am amazed and blessed by the generous hearts of those of you who have given so graciously and for the sacrifices you have made in making this a reality. We are also blessed for all the prayers from those who were not able to give. Without those prayers we would not be where we are today. We have not reached our goal of 200 families yet, but I am confident that with those donations we will reach 100% of our goal to cover the remaining costs by the time construction is completed. Those of us of a certain age ... and maybe some younger people who enjoy musical theater, will remember the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific, from the 1950s, based on a book by James Michener. It’s about U.S. troops stationed on an island during World War II. As with all musicals there are many songs throughout the play and/or film ... some romantic ballads, some upbeat numbers, a silly song or two ... the usual assortment. But one song really stands out as best expressing the heart of the story. It is called “You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught.” In this song, a soldier struggling with feelings for a native girl, sings about prejudice ... and how we often grow up to have the same attitudes as the people most important to us ... especially our parents. It’s a touching and painful song, but it reveals some deep truths about why we often think the way we think. Could someone’s sin make another person blind? You bet. But God is NOT responsible for it. He is not the cause of it. We are. We take our own harmful attitudes, our own sinful thoughts, our own hatred and bitterness and cynicism and greed and dishonesty and we pass it on to others. To sons and daughters. To spouses. To siblings. To friends. To neighbors. To co-workers. Maybe not always intentionally. Maybe without us even being aware that we are doing it. But many of us ... sadly ... do it nonetheless. Maybe all of us to one degree or another. And the cycle continues. Our own blindness becomes someone else’s blindness. And so, as we travel through Lent, as we take a deep look within ourselves, as we strive to name and root out our sin ... let’s be sure to see our “blindness” as something that needs to be healed also ... see our “blindness” as something that doesn’t just harm ourselves but harms others. In other words, let’s sincerely acknowledge our lack of sight ... our harmful thoughts and attitudes and prejudices ... and ask God to help us see more clearly ... ask our loving God to put clay on our eyes, so that we can see and think and act more like him. And in doing so, may we start carefully teaching others by word and deed ... helping them see more clearly too. The truth is ... if we can pass on blindness to one another, we certainly can pass on sight too. Be careful ... we might just change some hearts and thereby change the world. Now to our Gospel passage, where John gives us an account of the man born blind. The question is asked “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” The answer of course from Jesus is neither sinned to cause this. Blessings during your Lenten journey my friends! Fr. Barry Catholic broadcasting networks such as EWTN and Catholic TV make it possible to watch Mass on a daily basis through their YouTube channels. This allows the homebound and sick, or even non-Catholics curious about the Mass, to participate in the Holy Sacrifice from anywhere in the world. They can view it from their computer, TV, or phone, and engage spirituality in the Mass being celebrated elsewhere. You can also view a pre-recorded video of one on the diocesan YouTube channel, or broadcasted on TV at the following times:
The Pope Video for March presents Pope Francis’ monthly intention: The Christian community in China, where the Church “looks to the future with hope.”
The Holy Father’s intention, announced to his Worldwide Prayer Network a year ago, prays that the Catholics in that country “may persevere in faithfulness to the Gospel and grow in unity.” Read More... Adventure Camp June 21st-26th, 2020
Adventure Camp offers rock climbing, rappelling, canoeing, mountain bike riding, a ropes course, adventure trails, hiking, music, adoration, Mass, confession, and reflection on God’s marvelous creation. The cost is $380 for students currently in grades 6 to 12. The cost for chaperones is a free-will donation. A non-refundable $100 deposit is due by March 31st. Balance is due June 5th. A submitted deposit reserves your spot, 45 student spots available, 7 chaperones needed. Please contact David Alcott at teachdisciples@gmail.com or visit http://www.stjohnsmarshfield.org/adventure-camp.html From the Parochial Administrators Desk: In this weekend’s Gospel story from Matthew we see Jesus being transfigured before Peter, James, and John. This, of course, wasn’t their first meeting. They had been following him and listening to him and wondering about him for some time. And that meant that they did know him at some level, did have a few pieces of the puzzle, did have some understanding of who Jesus was. But they didn’t have the whole picture. And Jesus, evidently, felt that the time was right to show them another side of himself, give them a more complete picture, challenge them to accept the deepest realities about him. This is somewhat the same as what we are going through here at Christ the King. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not comparing myself to Jesus in any stretch of the imagination. What I’m referring to is I’ve been with you now since July of 2018, (mostly as your associate pastor) so you have each gotten to know me at some level. But as my new assignment started January 28, 2020 more is being revealed of my duties here at Christ the King. And upon my arrival as the parochial administrator, new challenges have presented themselves. The first being where will I live and where will I work out of. The majority have agreed we need to move forward as a parish and build a rectory with office space. Builders have been contacted, plans have been drawn up and at the time of this writing, both councils will have been presented the bids, and a builder will be selected. Our hope is that this spring we will begin the building project. So where are we? To date, 152 families have made pledges for phase 1 (new rectory) or toward phase 2 (rebuilding of our savings account), or both. This total is $68,000 for phase 1 and $ 51,000 for phase 2. With the money on-hand and the sale of the current office/rectory we are able to secure the builder and begin construction, which the diocese has approved. That does not leave much money for the remainder of what will be done after the house is complete. Lawn, sidewalks, window dressings, etc.. I was asked by a parishioner why I am only counting on 200 parishioners (in my initial letter) to help with this project. The reality is that not everyone will be in agreement with the project, others are simply not able to give, but instead offer prayers which are so desperately needed, and others simply don’t feel it necessary. My hope and prayer is that we can reach that 200 family goal and make this project a total success for our Christ the King faith community. We have asked that all money for phase 1 be received by March 12th so we can place the proper deposits down. If you need longer, but feel called to give to phase 1, please just note that on the pledge card, we in turn will note that on the spreadsheet. My friends, as we continue to reflect on our readings from this weekend, we see that our relationship with Christ is in constant discovery. We get to know Him, we grow in union with Him, and this develops over time, sometimes a lifetime. But as we get to know him, we discover that trust of Him, that love with Him, and that feeling we are never alone. But every time we go a little deeper, every time we begin to understand a little more, we are enriched, we are transformed, we are drawn deeper into a life of real and lasting meaning and purpose and joy. To know God, in the fullest sense of that word, is to commune with the Divine ... and thereby open up the possibility of entering into a loving relationship with the One who is Love. These past few months I have seen that love He has for this parish, things have fallen in place, doors have opened, hearts have opened, and we are growing this parish together. If this was not meant to be, none of this would be happening. My prayers during this process has remained the same, “Father, if this is your will, if this is what is suppose to happen, please make it so.” With your continued help, Christ the King will continue to grow and that love will continue to flourish among us. Blessings for an enriched Lent, Fr Barry Mfld. Deanery * Lenten Penance Services * The following dates and times have been set for penance services. There will be 5 or 6 priests available to hear confessions. St. Andrew * Rozellville * Sunday March 8 @ 2 pm St. Joseph * Stratford * Sunday March 15 @ 2 pm Our Lady of Peace / Mfld. * Sunday-March 29 @ 3pm St. John / Mfld. Thursday-April 2 @ 6 pm |
MASS SCHEDULE
Tuesday - Friday: 8:00 AM Saturday: 4:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM RECONCILIATION
Saturday: 3:15 - 3:45 PM OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Friday: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM Stay Connected with Our ParishWelcome from Our PastorWelcome to Christ the King Catholic Church! Ever since 1938 this parish has been assisting souls in their quest for deeper union with God. Our mission statement is essentially found in the stained glass window above the main altar: “For Christ our King.” Insofar as God made us and we belong to Him, we have come to... Read More
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