Dear Parish Community,
The following Flocknotes contains a lot of important information about our Parish and School during the temporary suspension of Mass, Adoration and other activities. Please read thoroughly and share this information with others who are not currently receiving Flocknotes.
A VIDEO MESSAGE FROM FR. DAVE
WORSHIP & PRAYER
- Mass We will begin to live stream Mass weekly on Sundays at 10am beginning this Sunday, 3/22. More information will come on how to access the live stream, but please plan to attend from your homes this coming Sunday and in the weeks to come.
- Weekly, we will provide a link to access readings, the Mass parts and all music in advance to the Mass.
- If you are unable to livestream Mass, there are other options:
- Radio: AM820 is broadcasting Mass daily at 12:05p and 8p weekdays, Saturday at 7p and Sundays at 10:30a.
- TV: The following stations broadcast Mass
- Sunday:
- 6:30 AM on ION TV (AT&T U-verse Channel 195, Dish Network Channel 250, or DirecTV Channel 305)
- 7:30 AM on WWHO-TV (theCW), Channel 53, Columbus
- 10:30 AM on WHIZ-TV, Channel 18, Zanesville
- Sunday:
- Daily Mass:
- 12a, 8a, 7p and 12p on EWTN Spectrum Channel 385, Insight Channel 382, or WOW Channel 378
- Adoration Beginning next Wednesday, 3/25, we will live stream Adoration every Wednesday, 6 - 7p. More info on how to watch from home is to come.
- Reconciliation Beginning this Saturday, 3/21, 1 – 3p, Father will offer Drive-Thru Confessions. This is a safe alternative to in-church confessions where we can all maintain social distancing. Please enter through the 5th Street gate and you’ll be directed by an acolyte. Options are available for both anonymous and face-to-face confession. Additional dates will be announced.
- Parish-Wide Novena Please join us in a parish-wide Novena to combat Coronavirus. This Novena starts Friday, 3/20. Click here to receive daily prayer reminders via email.
- Sacraments We will continue to offer some including weddings, funerals and baptisms. Attendance to these events will be limited to immediate families.
FAITH FORMATION
- Adult Faith Formation Our bible studies, RCIA, baptism preparation and other programs will continue online. We are finalizing details of producing these events through an online meeting platform called Zoom. More details to come.
- Elementary Faith Formation Our Parish School of Religion has created a Facebook page where we’ll post information and resources and give our families an opportunity to engage with each other.
- Youth Ministry We’ll continue communicating opportunities for middle and high school students by their private Flocknote.
- Additional Resources We will provide new resources for prayer and engagement weekly and will archive these resources on our parish website for future access.
DAILY OPERATIONS
- Parish Hours Our parish will model the Columbus Diocese partial shutdown and access to the parish office will be significantly reduced. The office will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays by appointment only. We want to keep everyone safe and this time is to be used for critical work that can only be done onsite and cannot be delayed until after work-at-home has been lifted.
- Staff will continue their other tasks from home, staying engaged in their office work to the greatest extent possible.
- Communications between employees and individuals outside parish offices will be done by phone or e-mail, as appropriate. Our team has established access to video conferencing, as an alternative to face-to-face meetings, which will be done only where absolutely necessary.
- Staff will be checking voicemail messages regularly every day and returning phone calls as promptly as possible.
- Office Visitors All visitors to the parish office, are requested to call in advance to coming in for a visit. In most cases we can assist you by phone or email.
- Activities & Events All in-person activities and events will be evaluated for cancellation on a 3-week rolling basis. Please consult our online calendar for the latest information. Please Note: we will be implementing online video conferencing to continue bible studies, RCIA, baptism preparation and other events where possible. Please stay tuned for details.
- Safety & Offertory We have also become aware of some solicitations via phone, email, and text that have been aimed at soliciting offertory or extra funds for the Church from the faithful. Please be aware that these are scams. Please keep these points in mind:
- We will never ask you to contribute via an online message, text, or email link.
- If in doubt, please verify all solicitations by calling our parish office first.
- For your safety, for those of you that usually donate in-person at the office or at Mass, please do one of the following to limit your exposure to others:
- Mail your envelopes directly to the parish office. Please do not send cash.
- Use bill pay via your bank – this is secure, and a free service offered by most banks.
- Use EFT through the parish. At this time EFT can only be set up by either mailing in an EFT form found under giving on our website or calling the parish office and our Director of Accounting and Development will return your call.
- Should someone representing parish staff or Fr. Dave contact you asking for help especially financial, please call the parish office before acting.
- Finally, we know everyone is facing hardships, please reach out to the parish office if you need emotional, financial, or spiritual assistance.
- A Note Regarding Endowment Planning Recently we sent a letter and a flyer to some of our parishioners regarding our St. Jane Frances de Chantel Giving Society and endowment program. Please know that this mailing was sent two weeks prior to the recent events. We are asking that you please disregard this mailing. Spiritual care for our flock during this time is our primary focus.
- Flocknotes We request that all parishioners sign up for Flocknotes to receive the most up to date information. Text SFDS to 84576 or visit stfrancis.flocknote.com to sign up.
CATHOLIC OUTREACH MINISTRIES
- Support for the Elderly & Homebound We are working on a Buddy System to partner our parishioners who are elderly or immune-compromised and cannot leave their homes with mobile parishioners. Mobile Buddies will be responsible to reaching out their Homebound Buddies by phone to check up on them, fill them in on parish updates per the Flocknote, provide shop and drop for groceries and other needs, prayer and general companionship during this isolating time. To learn more, volunteer or become a Buddy, please contact Deb Shelly (740.334.3147) or our Pastoral Associate Joanne Breitmayer (jbreitmayer@stfrancisparish.net).
- Serving the Poor COM is continuing to provide material and financial assistance to those in need in our community during this time but is employing social distancing to ensure the health and safety of clients and volunteers.
- Parishioner Emergency Financial Assistance For those within our parish family who are in need, help is available. Please reach out confidentially to Shannon Walker, swalker@stfrancisparish.net.
SCHOOLS
- School Operation The school buildings are now closed, but educating our children continues! Online and blended learning is already taking place!
- Regular Messages Mrs. Mummey and Mr. Watson have implemented regular video messages to families to keep them informed (and spirits high).
WE ARE A PEOPLE OF HOPE
In these days of constant change, our God is unchanging, His love unwavering and His mercy never ending. May you be filled with the Spirit of Hope and Peace despite our current circumstances.