St. Andrew’s of Norwood St. Patrick’s of Brasher Falls

Parish of the Visitation-St. Raymond’s of Norfolk

March 27, 2020 Dear Parishioners,

I miss seeing you! For the last 10 days, I have been celebrating Mass without your physical

presence; although unseen, I know that spiritually, we are united at the Altar. I am so grateful that folks typically sit in the same places in church; it has helped me to visualize you in your pews as I celebrate Mass daily. As I mentioned in my last letter, there are several options for Mass either on TV or online: EWTN, channel 35, every day at 8:00 am, 12 noon and 7:00 pm; Sunday, the 8:00am Mass at our Cathedral is on https://www.rcdony.org/livemass Bishop Robert Barron has daily Mass and the Stations of the Cross at https://www.wordonfire.org/daily-mass https://stations.wordonfire.org

The practice of ‘Spiritual Communion’ is being encouraged for all unable to participate in Mass. In spiritual communion, we welcome Our Lord as if we had actually received him in the Eucharist. Here is a four-step method for making a Spiritual Communion:

First, pray an Act of Faith [see below]. The main point is to express to Our Lord your firm belief in his goodness and mercy and in his Real Presence in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Second, pray an Act of Love [see below]. The prayer expresses our love for the Lord Jesus.

Third, express your desire to receive the Lord Jesus into your heart and soul. Fourth, invite the Lord Jesus to come into your heart, mind and soul spiritually.

Act of Faith O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen.

Act of Love O Lord God, I love you above all things and I love my neighbor for your sake because you are the highest, infinite and perfect good, worthy of all my love. In this love I intend to live and die. Amen. I want to thank those parishioners who have mailed in or dropped off their offertory envelopes; your support is greatly appreciated. Please be aware that the Food Pantries and the Gabriel Projects are all fully operational in our three parishes. If we can help you, please call the parish offices. Be assured of the daily support of my prayer.

Yours sincerely, Father Garry B. Giroux

Private Mass Intentions offered by Fathers Giroux and Amyot this week

Saturday, March 28 Earl and Mae Peterson by Robert and Joan Reagan

Sunday, March 29 Fifth Sunday of Lent The People of the Parishes Marion Bond by Lee and Ellen Farrington

Monday, March 30 Lenten Weekday Hugh Miller by Rodney and Luva McDonald Mike Fiacco by T.J. Fiacco Construction

Tuesday, March 31 Lenten Weekday Paul Paige, Jr., by Natalie Todd and Family Joseph Dissottle by Bill and Kathleen Demo

Wednesday, April 1 Lenten Weekday Jean Amyot by Loretta Regan Dorothy Grady by Denny and Janie Byrne

Thursday, April 2 St. Francis of Paola Sr. Eileen Chambers by the family The Deceased Members of the L.M. Murphy Family by Rita Murphy

Friday, April 3 Lenten Weekday Paul Cutler by The Cutler Family Marion Buckley by her grandchildren

Saturday, April 4 The People of the Parishes

Sunday, April 5 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Deceased members of the McGraw Family by Joe McGraw Laura Lavigne by PVSR SA

SANCTUARY LAMP The Sanctuary Lamp burned this week at

The Church of the Visitation for Nancy Richards by Duane Richards & Family.

And at St. Andrew’s Church it burns this week for Stan Hunter by Anne & Doreen.

You can memorialize the sanctuary candle for an offering of $10.00. Please contact the parish office.

NHN Fundraiser Raffle Thank you everyone for your support of our NHN Fundraiser Raffle. Thank you to all those who helped sell tickets and a huge thank you to all those who purchased tickets! Through your generosity, help, and support, NHN raised $1,500 with this fundraiser. Wow! You are incredible! Thank you! And, the winners are . . .

· Vintage child’s tractor – Ruth Digiovanna · $100 worth of lottery tickets – David Wellings · Diptych landscape painting – Tom Scott

Congratulations!

PVSR PRAYER LINE – LET US PRAY

Please remember in your prayers all of our parish family and friends who suffer emotionally, spiritually, or physically especially for; Leo Bond, Azlynne Williams, Howard LaClair, and Mandy Boyd. If you wish to have someone listed for one month, please contact the Parish office at 315-384-4242.

Anyone from Our Catholic Parishes may request to have a person included in the bulletin for prayers. We will adhere to the practice of including a name for one month before removing it. Prayer can always be requested again at any time.

ST. ANDREW’S PRAYER LINE

Members of our Parish who would like a member of their family or a close friend put on our Prayer Line are asked to call either Doreen Valade @ 315-212-5729 or Ann Miller @ 315-353-2950. Please be sure the person we will be praying for agrees to this before you call. Everything you share with us is kept confidential.

The Sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation

The Forgiveness of Sins During this Pandemic. Given the current precautions for minimizing community spread of the virus, receiving the Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation is not currently recommended. We are reminded of the Church’s teaching in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Where the individual faithful find themselves in the painful impossibility of receiving sacramental absolution, it should be remembered that *perfect contrition, coming from the love of God, expressed by a sincere request for forgiveness and accompanied by the firm resolution to have recourse, as soon as possible, to sacramental confession, obtains forgiveness of sins, even mortal ones (cf. CCC, 1452).”

*Perfect Contrition consists of: 1. Love of God 2. The sincere desire for forgiveness 3. The commitment to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation when available.

Due to the Coronavirus local food pantries and CLPK are dealing with unprecedented increases in the numbers we serve. This month the Norfolk Raymondville Food Pantry has seen its numbers double. CLPK has added six new families in just three days. (CLPK now serves over 80 families with well over 200 children!) The Norwood Food Pantry is also seeing increases!

Here are some different ways you can assist us in helping our neighbors:

Norfolk Raymondville Food Pantry Non perishable food items can be dropped off on the Parish Office Porch Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9:00-12:00 Checks can be made out to: Norfolk Raymondville Food Pantry Checks can be mailed to: Norfolk Raymondville Food Pantry

9 W. Main Street P.O. Box 452 Norfolk, New York. 13667

*Note- Norfolk Raymondville Food Pantry serves families from Norwood, as well as Norfolk and Raymondville

Community Lunch Program for Kids Non-perishable Food items can be dropped off on the Parish Office Porch Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9:00-12:00. Checks can be made out to: CLPK Checks can be mailed to: CLPK

42 S. Main Street P.O. Box 225 Norwood, New York 13668

*Note- CLPK provides food to children in the tri-town area of Norwood, Norfolk, and Raymondville.

Norwood Food Pantry Non-perishable food can be dropped off at John & Marcia Murray's house at 50 Spring Street, Norwood. Checks can be made out to: Norwood Norfolk Raymondville Outreach with a note on memo line: Food Pantry Checks can be sent to: Norwood Norfolk Raymondville Outreach

10 Maple Street Norfolk, New York. 13668 Attn: Kelly Lustyk

Please note - this is a new address for Norwood Norfolk Raymondville Outreach donations.