Volume X | April 4, 2020
Join Us for Holy Week!
Celebrating During These Uncertain Times
The Holy See and our local Archdiocese have provided guidelines for celebrating during these unusual times without an assembly physically present. The services will be stripped down of processions and rituals which involve the assembly. On Palm Sunday, for example, there will be no blessing or distribution of palms. The blessed palms are a sacramental that is linked directly to Palm Sunday, so there is no provision for blessing them outside of Mass. On Holy Thursday, the washing of the feet is omitted, and on Good Friday the presider will be the only one to venerate the cross. This does not mean, however, that the faithful cannot creatively participate in the rich symbols of Holy week! Please  CLICK HERE  for some ideas. The greatest fast for our whole community will be the postponement of the reception of our RCIA elect and candidates at the Easter Vigil, until Pentecost on May 31. Please hold them in prayer as they wait throughout the Easter season to receive the sacraments. The loss of traditions we hold dear during a difficult time such as this can be very hard, but it is important that we remember what these symbols point to – the story of our Lord’s great love demonstrated in His passion, death and resurrection. This is the source of our hope and joy as we journey toward Easter!
Join us for our live-streamed services:
Palm Sunday, April 5, 9 a.m.
Holy Thursday, April 9, 7 p.m.
Good Friday Service, April 10, 7 p.m.
Easter Vigil, April 11, 7 p.m.
Easter Sunday, April 12, 9 a.m.
Share Your Story: How much the world has changed in such a short period of time! We ask you to reflect upon your experience during the COVID-19 pandemic so far, and what effect it's had on your daily life, faith, emotions, activities, etc. You can remain anonymous, if you'd like! If there is a photo you would like to share, please email it to agodby@stcharles-kettering.org . We would like to post these reflections on our website to help strengthen our spiritual communion and serve as a source of hope and encouragement for our St. Charles community.
Homeless Shelter in Desperate Need of Meals
As of today, the St. Vincent de Paul homeless shelter only has one week's worth of food remaining. If you are able, your casseroles and vegetables are greatly needed! No signup required; just pick up the pan this weekend, and drop off food at the church pull-up next weekend.
• Fifty casserole pans are available for pickup in the Gathering Space starting this afternoon. Casserole preparation instructions are included with the aluminum tray.
• Industrial-size canned vegetables are needed (1-gal size), as well as large Ziploc bags filled with cleaned, cut-up carrots and celery, or fresh fruit. You don't have to prepare a casserole to donate vegetables.
• Frozen casseroles and vegetable/fruit donations may be dropped off at the pull-off on the east side of the church on Easter Sunday, from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
**Please do not drop donations off inside the church—no one will be available to process the donation.** Thank you!