WELCOME BACK TO THE CELELBRATION OF MASS AT ST. JOHN FISHER PARISH

 MASS SCHEDULE

            Sunday Vigil Mass:  Saturday 4:00 p.m.

            Sunday Masses: 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m.

            Weekdays (Mon-Fri): 7:30 a.m. in the Church

GENERAL POINTS:  As of August 15, 2021, the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation was reinstated by the Archbishop of Philadelphia. 

            As always, if you or anyone in your household is sick, or if your health is compromised, putting you at higher risk of severe illness, or if you have several anxiety about being part of large groups at this time, you are dispensed from attending Mass.  Dispensation also applies to those who care for peopel who cannot attend Mass in person.    

            The Saturday Vigil Mass will continue to be available via live-stream for you to view from home. View it on our website home page (stjohnfisherchurch.com), or on the parish Facebook page (Saint John Fisher).   

MASKS: Masks are Optional according to personal preference.

RECONCILIATION:  Saturday confessions will be heard between 3:00 -3:45 p.m.

ENTRANCES – Please use any entrance to the church.  Hand sanitizer is available for your use at every entrance.

SEATING – Seating is open in all pews and in the Church Hall.  People in the same household are encouraged to sit together.  Whenever possible, we encourage you to leave a bit of space between families and individuals who are unrelated.  

OFFERTORY – Ushers will use basket to take up one collection each week. Place all envelopes and cash in the basket (Sunday, Maintenance, Special 2nd Collection).  

COMMUNION – Clergy and lay Eucharistic ministers will use hand sanitizer before they distribute Holy Communion.

BULLETINS - Bulletins will be on tables after Mass in the church foyers. Please pick one up to take home.

CLEANING OF CHURCH -The Church and bathrooms will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected weekly in preparation for Sunday Masses.

BAPTISM – Baptism must be scheduled in advance. Please call the Parish Business Office to schedule.

FUNERALS - Funeral Masses will follow the same guidelines as Sunday and daily Masses. Viewings and eulogies are allowed in church. Live-streaming is available upon request.

• The Chapel will be open for prayer between 8:30am-noon (Monday-Thursday). Please enter through the Parish Center.
• Wedding arrangements must be made six months in advance. Please contact Father McDermott  
• Holy Communion for the homebound has resumed.  Call the office (extension 6) to schedule a Communion visit.  
• A Priest will always be available for a visit to administer the Last Rites and Viaticum to those in danger of death.      
• Aid for Friends meals are still being delivered from the parish, and the need for these will continue.  Pick up supplies in the Parish Center and drop off meals to the Freezer in the kitchen.                                                                                                                                   
• The Parish Business Office has resumed normal operating hours.
• The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has added a special page about its response to the COVID19 outbreak.  Click Archdiocese of Philadelphia COVID19  to keep updated on statements from the Archbishop and other divisions and activities of the Archdiocese.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

The best way to receive Christ is in Holy Communion at Mass. If you are unable to attend Mass, you can still reach out to Him by making a Spiritual Communion in prayer!

St. Thomas Aquinas once defined a Spiritual Communion as “an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embracing Him as if we had actually received Him.”

You can make a Spiritual Communion whenever and wherever you'd like, using the prayer given below, or your own heartfelt thoughts. You can receive Jesus in your heart from anywhere you might happen to be, at any time, day or night!  You just need to approach Him with sincerity, humility and a desire to follow in His footsteps in acts of faith and charity. And He’s delighted when we do so! The Baltimore Catechism notes that a Spiritual Communion “is an act of devotion, and one very pleasing to God.”

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament.

I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.

Purify it. Sanctify it. Render it like unto Your own. I embrace you now as if you were already there. 

Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.  

If two or more of your family members wish to pray together, here is a printable document with prayers for when you can't go to Mass. 

Prayers for When you Can't go to Mass

MASSES ON TELEVISION AND ON LINE AND OTHER SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES

• • Daily Mass
    • EWTN Weekly TV Schedule
    • CatholicTV Daily Mass
    • Saint Mary Magdalen Parish Daily Mass (Media)
    • The Miraculous Medal Shrine Monday Novena and Mass (Philadelphia)
    • Mass From Bishop Barron’s Chapel (Word on Fire)

• • Sunday Mass
    • “The Sunday Mass” airs every Sunday at 5:30 a.m. locally on WPVI-TV Channel 6 ABC
    • Saint Mary Magdalen Parish Sunday Mass (Media)

• Prayers and Daily Bible Readings
  

   

  • Pope Francis’ Prayer to Virgin Mary for Protection
  • Today’s Readings
  • Daily Audio Readings from the New American Bible
  • Guide to the Rosary
  • Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe During Coronavirus Pandemic
  • USCCB: Holy Virgin of Mary Prayer Card

RESOURCES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT THE CORONA VIRUS:

U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Pennsylvania Department of Health 

The parish website, stjohnfisherchurch.com is the primary means of communication with you, and will be updated when necessary. The weekly bulletin can be found at the bottom of the home page. Thank you for your understanding!