March 30, 2020
Dear Parishioners,

Fr. Barsness and I will be blessing palms for you to have in your homes for Palm Sunday. These will be available for parishioner pick-up on Saturday, April 4 from 12-6PM.

Please use the church drive through located between doors 10 and 11 on 125th Street. There will be several bunches set out. Please make your pick-up quick and continue to practice social distancing guidelines.

In Christ,

Fr. Ben Little
Fr. Michael Barsness
Reminder: Perpetual Adoration is closed until further notice.
 
Church hours (for prayer only) through Friday, April 10:
Monday-Saturday: 9AM-6PM
Sunday: 12-6PM
Please enter through door #11
 
CDC and MDH guidelines:
No more than 10 people in the church at anyone time; please be mindful of this
Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from other people
Do not leave anything in the pews
Wash your hands and cover your cough
If you are in a high-risk group, please stay home
If you are ill or exhibiting symptoms of cold or flu, please stay home
If you have cared for or have been exposed to someone who is sick, please stay home
*please note daily updates will be published each afternoon M-F by 5PM; if you know someone not receiving the email please send a note to communications @stjohns-savage with their name and email address to be added to the list.

**our website will continue to host the most up-to-date information for your easy reference.
RESOURCES FOR ENTERING HOLY WEEK
Bishop DeGrood will be live on Real Presence Radio tomorrow morning with Mass at 9AM followed by a live interview. His message will be about how we can enter more deeply into Holy Week while not physically being present at liturgies.
The week-long retreat–planned and organized by Bishop Andrew Cozzens–begins Palm Sunday (April 5) with Mass from the Saint Paul Seminary and culminates with the Easter Vigil Mass from the Cathedral of Saint Paul April 11. Each day has two parts: Mass or prayer at 9AM followed by directed Lectio Divina. The evening session will begin at 7PM and consist of conferences from Archbishop Bernard Hebda, Bishop Cozzens, Father Charles Lachowitzer and Father John Ubel. All of the events will be live streamed or recorded and available on the Archdiocese’s website for all who would like to participate.
EASTER FLOWERS
Once again, this year you have the opportunity to contribute donations for flowers in honor of a loved one. These names will be printed in our Easter bulletin on April 12 (and posted on our website). In order to have the name of your loved one printed, we must receive your donation by Monday, April 6 . Please use the link below to easily donate and submit names for Easter flowers or use an envelope to mail them to:

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
c/o Easter Flowers
4625 West 125th Street
Savage, MN 55378
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
Given the Stay at HomeMN order, please note the following:
 
  • The parish office REMAINS CLOSED. Messages left on the parish office voicemail will be checked but email communication will be answered quickest. Staff listing found HERE. The parish office email is welcome@stjohns-savage.org
  • Door #11 is open daily from 9AM-6PM Monday-Saturday and noon-6PM on Sunday to allow entrance for those wishing to pray only. Please continue to follow the CDC and MDH guidelines, referenced above.
  • The school office/building IS CLOSED.
  • The church atrium is CLOSED.
  • Adoration is CLOSED.
  • Please contact Beth Prendi (bprendi@stjohns-savage.org) with regard to funerals.
  • There are no baptisms at this time.
  • Confessions will be offered (as indicated above through door #11).
  • Next opportunity for confessions is Wednesday, April 1 at 6:30PM.
  • All events previously scheduled through April 30, per the national order, will not occur as scheduled. Events that have the potential of being rescheduled will have details communicated at a later date or as information becomes clear. (Updates 3/30)
HOW TO HELP
It is in our nature to want to care for others during this time. That being said, with the church being closed, we cannot help to facilitate some of the charitable giving such as food shelf collection at this time. If you would live to continue giving to local food shelves, please use the link below to learn more about where to go and what kind of items are needed.
Be sure to call or check on the website for any agencies you might be trying to reach out to or drop off donations as there are a lot of closings. Here was some info we received from a few outlets in Dakota County.

Temporary Program Closings
  • Mission Outpost: The Prince of Peace campus will be closed, the dental clinic is closed but the food shelf is open via drive-through model
  • Guild Housing Access Resource Team referrals have been suspended at this time.
  • CAP Agency: Thrift store closed but other programs available with accommodations
  • Bridging is closed and not accepting referrals
  • Hastings Family Service-Just Friends Transportation Program is suspended and so is vouchers to River Town Treasures Thrift Store, other services still available
  • Neighbors Inc.-Thrift store closed, other programs still available
Consider sending mail during this time and make someone's day with a personal, handwritten card. Today, Hallmark Cards is offering the first 2 million people who sign up a free 3-card pack. Hurry and register to get yours TODAY! USE THIS LINK.
HOLY WEEK & EASTER MASS SCHEDULE
Holy Week and Easter Masses 

April 5/Palm Sunday: 10AM
April 9/Holy Thursday: 7PM
April 10/Good Friday: 3PM
April 11/Easter Vigil: 8:30PM
April 12/Easter: 10AM
INSPIRATION
DAILY MASS
We are pleased to be able to bring St. John's daily Mass into your homes. Each day our viewership is increasing, so feel free to share the link and invite others to join us for Mass. Shown here was todays daily Mass (3/30). **please note that these recordings begin 5 minutes before the live time; today's Mass experienced some technical sound difficulties and begins around (10:47).

 We've also linked the Sunday Mass (3/29) below for your reference as well. If you watched one of these Masses and have a moment to complete a short survey, please do so HERE .
WAYS TO GIVE
Envelopes:  
If you currently use envelopes provided by St. John’s, those can be mailed to the church. Contributions can be mailed in any manner even if you do not have the envelopes we provide.
On-line giving:  
A special thank you to all who currently give electronically. eGiving is faster, more secure and provides much needed donation consistency. If you’d like to register to give in this manner (either with an on-going contribution or one time gift), or make a change to your existing gift, please click   here .
Text to give:  
Electronic and traditional givers accustomed to texting can now give through text giving as well. Make one-time or recurring offerings by simply texting the amount you wish to give to our secure account at 833-351-0063. It's a convenient solution when you can't attend services or don't have cash or checks with you. *A minimum $5.00 donation is needed.