KEEPING OUR EYES ON THE HORIZON | MAY 15, 2020
A Message from Fr. Peter
Dear Friends,
Going out on ministry in Jesus’ time was two by two, and so it is for us today. Fr. Sam and I will be going to Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, California, to engage in a new experience of ministry beginning July 1, 2020. I will be actively retired, and Fr. Sam will be an associate in the parish church. Leaving Our Lady of the Angels at the Casa is bittersweet for us because of the loving and caring relationships we have shared. Fr. Daniel Barica, OFM and Fr. Vincent Nguyen, OFM will be arriving to minister with this community on or about the same time. In keeping with the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare, let us continue to share in God’s abundant Blessings.
—Fr. Peter Kirwin, OFM
Moving Forward with Precautions and Patience
This week, while following guidelines from the Diocese of Phoenix and state and federal health agencies, the Our Lady of the Angels Church began offering public daily Masses with safety precautions. As we balance the spiritual needs of the community with concern for everyone’s physical well-being, progress will be gradual, and patience will be needed. For your benefit, as well as the common good, below is a reminder of the current offerings and the restrictions and precautions that allow us to move forward.
- Masses continue to be livestreamed on YouTube. The most recent livestreamed Mass can also be found on our website at the bottom of our homepage. Daily Mass is livestreamed Monday through Saturday at 8 am; Sunday Mass is livestreamed on Saturday at 5 pm and Sunday at 9:15 am. The General Dispensation releasing Catholics from their Sunday obligation remains in place, giving you the freedom to participate online. Communion will be offered for one hour immediately following the livestream of the 5 pm Mass on Saturday and 9:15 am Mass on Sunday, with safety precautions in place. Worship aids are available with every livestream—scroll down past the video and click "show more" for the link.
- Visit our bulletin webpage for digital Sunday bulletins produced by our bulletin publisher, J.S. Paluch Company, Inc. Included are readings, prayers and reflections for the week.
- Public Sunday Masses planned to begin Saturday, May 30 at 5 pm and Sunday, May 31 at 9:15 am, with limited seating and the safety precautions required for daily Mass. More information will be provided in future communications.
- All other public gatherings on campus remain suspended until further notice.
Thank you for participating in your own care and safety
by following the above safety measures. We are cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, yet to come here is not without risk, as we are not a medically sterile facility. Please carefully consider your own health and risk status as you decide if coming to Mass or to receive communion is right for you at this time. If you are sick, at risk, or caring for someone who is, we ask that you stay safe and continue to enjoy livestream Masses.
Click here
for a message from Bishop Olmsted.
You support is a testament that our community remains strong and undeterred.
We are in this together and appreciate all who can continue Sunday giving, most conveniently
online
and through ACH payments
.
For ACH payments,
please
click here
for the form. The most secure ways for us to receive the completed form would be to personally drop it off at the Casa or call our Resource Development Director, Michael Stephan, at 480.306.4589 with your information.
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Faith in Action at the Casa
Memorial Day Prayers.
On Memorial Day, May 25, let us be mindful and prayerful of the cost paid for our liberty by those who served. In remembrance of those who have died, the Casa Veterans Ministry and Rosary Group will be collecting the names of deceased veterans who will be prayed for on Monday, May 25 at 6 pm.
If you would like to submit the name of a deceased veteran,
please email the name, rank (if known) and branch of service (if known, e.g., Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force or Coast Guard) to
casaveteransministry@thecasa.org
. Example: Please pray for Corporal Henry Smith, US Army. Please send in your memorial by Sunday, May 24, 2020.
Where to participate:
You are invited to join the
Virtual Rosary on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th at 6:00 pm
where these prayers will be read. To join on your computer, click
here
(if it asks for a meeting ID, enter: jgpeck). To join by phone, call 425.436.6340; access code 450642#.
The Casa Veterans ministry also shares a unique opportunity from the
Institute of Healing of Memories
—North America
.
Veterans and non-veterans are invited to connect with others in a supportive, safe environment. These gatherings are facilitated by certified Healing of Memories facilitators and are free for all participants.
Click here
for virtual meeting times and registration.
Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home.
The end of May marks the 5
th
Anniversary of the release of Pope Francis’ encyclical,
Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home.
It was released in 2015 to magnify the issue of climate change and galvanize all people of good will around the planet to work for meaningful change. Today more than ever, we need to heed the message in the encyclical. So, the members of the Care for Creation Ministry are presenting a few ways for people to look again at this important document
.
- Register for and attend the Re-Introduction to Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home session on Wednesday, May 27 at 4:00 pm (Zoom). Fr Joe, Fr. Sam, and members of the Care for Creation Ministry will give an overview and personal reflection on the main themes in the document. Interspersed between the presenters will be time for small group discussion. Register here by May 26.
- Unite in prayer at noon local time on 24 May (from wherever you are) to lift up the gift of our faith to the world. We’ll create a worldwide wave of prayer, as people in each time zone around the globe pray together. Click here for the Laudato Si’ Anniversary prayer.
- Pledge to take action to protect our common home.
- Take the Faith Climate Voter pledge from Arizona Interfaith Power and Light. https://www.azipl.org/pledge-to-be-a-faith-climate-voter/
- Take the St. Francis Pledge from Catholic Climate Covenant and pledge to take on various types of environmental issues. https://catholicclimatecovenant.org/program/st-francis-pledge.
"Build-A-Home" at Home.
A reminder from the Casa Habitat ministry to send in photos, or very short videos, of you and family members “building” (creating, coloring, etc.) a home, at home by May 31! For submissions or questions, please email
thecasahabitat@gmail.com.
Family Faith Formation News
Are you a parent or grandparent of a youth under the age of 18? If so, you might be interested in joining our
Family Faith Formation Facebook Group!
In this private group, members and families are encouraged to share their faith journey, ask questions, and stay connected to current events and activities being hosted by the Family Faith Formation Department. You’ll find the Group on
facebook.com/TheCasaFRC/
.
This Sunday, we’ll have a May Crowning liturgy as part of our virtual end-of-year celebration.
Click here
for this week’s Family News & Updates.
This Week's Franciscan School of Theology Offerings
Thank You for Your Support!
As you know, we are not just a church, but also a renewal center. A big part of our revenues come from other religious and non-profit organizations that book our facilities for their retreats and meetings. Because of the pandemic, all those groups have cancelled or postponed their events, leaving us with zero income from hosted meetings and retreats. We are relying on you to help us continue our mission, acknowledging that some of you might need to prioritize the well-being of your family first. That is why we are extremely grateful for you who have been able to still send donations to us during this time.
We continue working, preparing, and praying to welcome you home. Until then, be well and stay connected with us at TheCasaFRC on
Facebook
and
YouTube.
Peace and good,
The Casa friars and staff
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