APRIL 6, 2020
“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?”
- A passage from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments has approved a special “Mass in the Time of Pandemic” to plead for God’s mercy and gift of strength in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Mass opens with a prayer that God would “look with compassion on the afflicted, grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort to mourners, healing to the sick, peace to the dying, strength to health care workers, wisdom to our leaders and the courage to reach out to all in love.”

Join our live stream 8AM Mass to be a part of this special Mass.
*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.
HOLY WEEK & EASTER MASS SCHEDULE
Holy Week and Easter Masses 

April 9/Holy Thursday: 7PM
April 10/Good Friday: 3PM
April 11/Easter Vigil: 8:30PM
April 12/Easter: 10AM
YOUR INPUT IS NEEDED
How can we be praying for you? How can we help you with any special needs? Click the button below to indicate how we can pray for you or if you are in need of help or resources. We want to support you during this difficult time.
Are you 55+? Are you watching our live stream Mass? Would you be interested in virtual coffee and conversation? We want to know! Click the link below to complete a short survey. **UPDATED! If you are interested, a virtual After Mass Gathering will begin on Mondays. Complete this survey to get added to the zoom gathering.
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
  • The parish office REMAINS CLOSED. 
  • Messages can be left on parish office voicemail or email 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 note that on Good Friday, the church will be open from 9AM-2:30PM.
  • 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 and other pastoral care needs/concerns.
  • There are no baptisms at this time.
  • Next opportunity for confession is: Wednesday, April 8 at 6:30PM (door #11).
  • 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.
SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER
Follow the Sacred Heart of Jesus Convent-Pro Ecclesia Sancta on Facebook! Our dear sisters our doing so much in the way of outreach and prayer!
Keep them in your prayers too and follow along!
The Sisters would also like you to be a part of their Holy Week reflection that happens daily at 3PM. You can subscribe to their YouTube Channel to get alerts or check out the event on their new Facebook page to stay in the loop with our good sisters.
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
Celebrate God’s Gift of Mercy
Divine Mercy Sunday-April 19

This year we will celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday via livestream immediately following the 10am Mass. See the links below to learn more about the devotion of Divine Mercy. Our Lord gave St. Faustina the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and a 9 day Novena to prepare for this devotion. If possible, you should go to confession and pray this Novena of Chaplets beginning on Good Friday and continue for the nine days leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday.

Our Lord told St. Faustina “ By this novena, I will grant every possible grace to souls. Especially at the hour of death ” (Diary 796) (1224) “ Jesus, I Trust in You ” (327) “ I am Love and Mercy itself ”(1074)... Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet (699)... My Mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world (1485).
  
In addition to the links below, pamphlets to pray the Novena can be picked up inside the parish office using door 11 during open church hours.      

RESOURCES
Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl

A big thank you to all individuals and families who are currently engaged with the Rice Bowl program this Lent. The Rice Bowl program ends during Holy Week, on Holy Thursday. The Archdiocesan Center for Mission (CRS office in our archdiocese) manages the Rice Bowl program and will forward all collections to Catholic Relief Services. To make it more convenient than sending in those heavy boxes of collected coins, we have provided contribution options below:

1. Submit a check for the amount collected to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, with the check made out to St. John's and mark "Rice Bowl" in the memo line; we will then send a total collection check to the Center for Mission for Rice Bowl.
2. Mail a check for your collection to Bonnie Curry-Gabel, Center for Mission, 777 Forest Street, St. Paul, MN 55106. Make the check out to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and write “Rice Bowl” in the memo line on the check.
3. If you would like to use a credit card for your contribution, go to the “Contribute” page of the Center for Mission website and click on “Donate.” Be sure to select “Rice Bowl Appeal” in the form drop down menu.   https://centerformission.org/contribute-donation-form/
4. Or go to  www.crsricebowl.org  to offer your contribution by credit card via the "Donate" link on the top of the home page.

Thank you for your continued outreach and almsgiving this Lent!
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 today's daily Mass (4/6).

*Please note, this week is Holy Week.
Daily Mass will only happen on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Please join us. Daily Mass will resume again next week on Monday, April 13 at 8AM.
HOLY THURSDAY MASS
Join us Thurs., April 9 at 7PM for Holy Thursday Live Stream Mass. You can visit the website on Thursday to follow along with the liturgy guide.
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. You can also drop off your envelope during building open hours (M-F from 9AM-6PM) through door #11.
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.