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Connect �Office Hours �@St. Mary’s Rectory
159 Church Street
Cheshire, MA 01225
413.743.2110
THE OFFICE IS CURRENTLY
CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19
saintmaryscatholic.org
@saintmaryscatholic
@stmaryscheshire
@stmaryscheshire
@stmaryo!he0039
Masses & Confession �St. Mary of the Assumption
Masses and confession
are currently cancelled due
to the covid-19 pandemic
Father Steve Montesanti
PASTOR
Father B ill Cyr
Ret ired Pr iest
Deacon Bob Hitter
Michelle Francesconi
Bus iness Manager
Ann Cain
music Director
Steve Berti
Director of Religious Education
Tim B is sa illon
Maintenance
APRIL 5, 2020
Our Giving
Mass Intentions�
PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED MASS INTENTIONS WILL BE
HONORED AT A LATER DATE. ONCE WE KNOW MORE
ABOUT WHEN MASSES WILL RESUME, WE WILL LOOK
TO RESCHEDULE INTENTIONS AND GIFTS.
PLEASE KNOW THAT OUR PRIESTS CONTINUE TO KEEP
YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES IN THEIR PRAYERS
DURING THIS TIME. GOD BLESS!!!
Online Giving
Diocesan Update
Our online giving system is easy to use and may be
accessed via our website or via the link below. The
online giving system utilizes “Stripe” a payment
processing interface used by thousands of businesses
including Google, Amazon, and more! The interface
links with our online parish database, so gifts made to
the parish may be tracked on your online account.
1. Visit stmarys.breezechms.com/give/online
2. Next, enter the dollar amount you would like to give.
3. Choose to give via credit card or bank transfer (ACH)
4. Enter your information.
5. Choose if you would like your give to be one time,
weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or yearly.
6. Click “Donate Now” and your payment will process.
Please call or email the office with any questions.
We have had several questions regarding our
collection. During this time of closure, we are still
accepting donations and offertory envelopes to help
sustain the parish. The parish mail is checked
frequently and all donations will be secured. For those
of you who are interested in online giving, please see
below. Thank you all for your continued support
through this very difficult and uncertain time!
From Bishop Rozanski (March 27, 2020):
Blessings to all during this uncertain time. Please know that you remain in
my thoughts and prayers.
So much seems to change by the day and sometimes by the hour. This
requires us to all be patient and understanding when our directives must
constantly change or be modified.
Most important is that we must heed the advice and directives of
government and healthcare officials, and undertake no action which might
undermine their efforts to contain this terrible virus.
With that in mind, here are some updates.
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
After further discussion and review, I am rescinding my
previous directive and temporarily suspending the Anointing of
the Sick in all instances.
CHRISM MASS
We will postpone the Chrism Mass until after the crisis passes.
Should you run out of either the Oil of the Sick or Oil of the
Catechumen, you may bless these oils to replenish your stock.
PALM SUNDAY
In light of the Governor's latest restrictions, it is no longer
appropriate to hand out blessed palms. Please hold onto them
for when we resume public Masses.
HOLY WEEK / EASTER
As of now, we will not resume public Masses in time for Easter.
This includes "parking lot" Masses. Catholic Communications
has acquired time slots for special Chalice of Salvation
broadcasts Holy Thursday and Good Friday mornings. In the
Berkshires these will air on WTEN at 10am each day. Elsewhere
in the diocese these special programs will air on WWLP at 11am.
These are in addition to the normal Sunday broadcasts for Palm
Sunday and Easter. Priests may celebrate the Triduum privately.
PARISH DONATIONS
In order to help parishes with the drop off in their offertory
income, our diocesan finance office has set-up a parish donation
portal. It is posted prominently on www.diospringfield.org.
Please note St. Mary’s own instructions located on the left
side of this page. Donations made via our parish online
giving portal are deposited directly into our general
operating account.
CONFESSIONS
I have taken a number of suggestions under advisement. The
New England Province is working on a single policy- more to
come.
DIOCESAN OFFICES
Again, in light of the Governor's directives and the extension of
school closings, I am extending our office closure until further
notice.
Thank--you and God bless you!
Holy Week Masses - online
Holy Week and Easter Masses will stream live from
St. Agnes Church in Dalton.
The Triduum will be concelebrated with Fr. Steve.
To view the Masses, visit our website and click on the
“St. Agnes Live” button on the home page. If you miss
the live Mass, links to the recorded versions are available.
saintmaryscatholic.org
Palm Sunday Saturday - 4:00 p.m. & Sunday - 10:00 a.m.
Holy Thursday 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday 3:00 & 7:00 p.m.
Holy Saturday 7:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday 10:00 a.m.
Greetings Everyone! While this message was originally directed to our Parish Leadership, I now feel it is
important to share it with all our parish members as it reflects my most sincere sentiments at this time.
Thank you for taking the time. Peace. Peace. Peace.
We are all bobbing up and down in uncharted waters. Bobbing is good. It means we are all still here
together. Thanks be to God!
As I write to you, I’m watching our Holy Father ascending the large staircase leading to St. Peter’s without
any people gathered together. It is a stark contrast to the cheering throngs we are used to seeing. But it is
symbolic of the current global situation.
What can we say of this unprecedented ongoing event in our lifetime? What tools do we have to contend with
such isolation? With such uncertainty? With such distressing anxiety?
We have our faith in God.
We have our faith in His Son.
We have faith in the Presence of the Indwelling Spirit of God.
As the Holy Father now repeats the words of Jesus at the calming of the storm on the Sea of Galilee, “Why
are you afraid?”. We are reminded that we are NEVER alone. Such is the gift of faith. The experience of
belonging to God. Both here on Earth and in the life to come in Heaven.
Perhaps we are being given this time to WAKE UP! To become MORE alive to the gifts of God in our lives.
Beginning with the members of our families. To appreciate everything on a new level. To explore new
dimensions of the Spirit at work within us.
Jean Paul Sartre said; “If you are lonely when you are alone, you are in bad company.” I love that quote!
Could this be a time of grace to get to know ourselves better and love the gift of our own company? I would
say, ABSOLUTELY!
In becoming better friends with our own selves, we become better friends to our families, friends, and the
whole world. To the Earth itself! All is God’s gift!
The Holy Father is now blessing the whole of humanity and the world we live in, bidding us to cast all our
anxieties onto God. And so we shall!
Together, we will address the needs and concerns of the Parish Family in the weeks ahead. For now, we
must approach this Global Contagion, that has no cure at this time, with utmost seriousness. It is NOT the
time to grow bored or irresponsible. People's very lives are at risk. We must give good example by following
the mandates and recommendations of the scientists, doctors, and specialists, that GOD HIMSELF has
given to us, to steer us to safe shores! To do anything less would be grievous.
Let us utilize this time for deep thinking, reflection, mediation, and prayer about what life is really all about
to us. What is sacred, precious, and important. And what is not. As we call upon the Holy Spirit of God to
enlighten us, I look forward to the day when we will all share our stories. Lessons learned. Graces received.
Blessings bestowed. Love experienced. AMEN.
Thank you for all your faith, hope, and love. God bless and protect you and everyone you love. AMEN.
As I watch now the Holy Father praying before the Blessed Sacrament, I’m reminded of a lesson Bishop Leo
O'Neil taught me many years ago when I complained to him that a church I liked to pray in was closed. He
asked me; “Steven, where is this church located? Point to it.” I pointed. Bishop O'Neil turned his whole
body in the direction I pointed. He paused. He lowered his head. He closed his eyes. He remained silent for
several minutes. Then, standing straight again, he opened his eyes and turned to me saying: “Steven, I just
went before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Locked doors are no barrier between Jesus and those who love
Him. They will not be a barrier to you.”
And they never have. They never have.
Love your friend, Fr. Steve XO
A Letter from our Pastor, Fr. Steve
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