25th Sunday of Ordinary Time Update

09-20-2020Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard W. Fitzgerald, V. F.

Confirmation/First Holy Communion/RCIA...As many of you know, our schedule this past spring for the celebration of Confirmation and First Holy Communion got upended by the pandemic. We have been able to reschedule celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

It will take place on Tuesday, September 22 at 6:30 pm. All Confirmation students have been notified. If for some reason you did not get a notice, please call the rectory office.

The dates for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion have been set. Children who were in our school and CCD program for these sacraments will receive the Sacraments in three different sessions. First Reconciliation will be held on Tuesday, October 6, Wednesday, October 7, and Thursday, October 8 at 3:30 pm each day in the Upper Church. First Holy Communion Mass will be held on Saturday, October 24 at 9:00 am, 11:00 am, and 1:00 pm. Covid 19 protocols will be maintained. Parents and guardians will be notified by school and CCD administration as to which session each child may attend for each sacrament. Additionally, since the receipt of sacraments for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults could not take place at the Easter Vigil this year, it will take place on Saturday, September 26, at 1:00 pm.

Father Matthew Norwood who for the past two years was a Transitional Deacon here at St. Columbkille’s and was ordained on August 1, will return to our parish on Sunday, September 27 to celebrate the 10:00 am Mass in English and the 12:00 pm Mass in Spanish. All are welcome to attend. We look forward to the return of “Father Matt”.

New windows... We are very grateful to an anonymous donor whose gift enabled us to replace all the windows at the back of the rectory over the past two weeks. The windows were in dire need of replacement, being held in place by brackets and causing a great loss of heat in the winter. Blessings to the donor and to all who contribute to the support of our parish in many different ways.

As has happened over the past several weeks since our reopening, last weekend’s Masses went very well. We had 460 people who came to the Masses and our volunteers, as in previous weekends, were very helpful in coordinating the various safety requirements. We are also grateful for the prayerful and financial support of parishioners who have not yet been able to attend Mass. As we move into the next phases of reopening, you will be informed of any changes to our procedures.