JMJ
News for the Pews
My Dear Friends in Christ,
I am writing this letter to inform and to keep you up to date on what is happening here at the Parish. By now you know that Churches are open and we are back to our regular Sunday Schedule. However, with social distancing requirements we can fit 90 individuals or about 130 families (since individuals sit apart and families can sit together). We have been having 50-80 at the various masses. Masks are recommended but not required! As a community of believers united in Christ, we are one in Christ and therefore do not shame people for the choice they make. Between masses we have volunteers who sanitize the pews and doors. However, some are still uncomfortable being out or are in the vulnerable category and so the bishop continues to lift the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday. But remember it should still be kept holy. To that end we continue to livestream through Facebook daily masses at 8am and the 10am Sunday Mass for those not able or ready to join us in church.
I want to thank all of you for your continued financial support to the offertory in person, by mail or online giving. Your generosity has been a true blessing for us in this difficult time. I am grateful to all, especially those who donated their stimulus check to the parish. As our offertory has remained healthy, all is not financially exciting news. BINGO, our principal fund raiser (brings in $20,000 a year) has been closed since the shut down and it's doubtful it will return until the fall at the earliest or maybe even January. This presents a challenge. But with the Knights of Columbus and the Parish Council we are looking into other possibilities to raise monies toward the deficit.
Lastly, Miriam Melfy, our Director of Religious Education for the past 9 years, has decided to retire. We are grateful for her commitment, joy, creativity and dedication to St Anthony, but also to her 40 year commitment to the Church both in Florida and in Pennsylvania. It is sad to see her go, but we pray she will enjoy her well-deserved retirement. I am happy to announce Lois MacFarland will be taking over as the Coordinator of Religious Education for K-6 grades and we are still in search of a Coordinator for grades 7-12. Important to note: Religious Education will no longer be on Wednesday evenings!! When the new religious education year begins classes will be on Sundays @ 8:30-9:45 am. This will allow you to attend the 10 am Mass after classes. We are looking for volunteer catechists and aides. If you are interested call Lois.
Sacraments
First Holy Communion will be July 12, 2020 @10 AM Mass
Confirmation will be July 19, 2020 @ 10 AM Mass
Oremus Pro Invicem!
Fr. Pecchie
Our parish now provides "Online Giving"
When you participate, your gift will be securely transferred directly into the parish bank account.
Saturday, July 11th
4:00 p.m. David & Linda Strmensky (D)
Sunday, July 12th
8:00 a.m. Living and Deceased Members of St. Anthony the Abbot Parish.
10:30 a.m. Ellsworth W. & Bruce Thomas (D)
Monday, July 13th
8:00 a.m. For Faith Filled Marriages
Tuesday, July 14th
8:00 a.m. Sue FitzGerald (L)
Wednesday, July 15th
8:00 a.m. Ed Bellnier (D)
Thursday, July 16th
8:00 a.m. Jennie Pecchie (D)
Friday, July 17th
8:00 a.m. Jim & Marilyn Fitzpatrick & Children (L)
Saturday, July 18th
8:00 a.m. Vocation to the Priesthood & Religious Life
4:00 p.m. Donna Strmensky (D)
Sunday, July 19th
8:00 a.m. Living and Deceased Members of St. Anthony the Abbot Parish.
10:30 a.m. Mary Ann Connolly (D)
Every Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
Every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
Dear St. Anthony The Abbot Parishioner,
In an effort to keep us all spiritually close while we are physically apart, we are livestreaming Mass with Fr. Pecchie from St. Anthony The Abbot, daily at 8:00 a.m. EDT, and every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. EDT.
Please visit our Facebook events page to RSVP to upcoming livestream Masses, or visit our YouTube channel, to watch replays, which will be made available by 2 p.m. on the day the Mass is held.
Click Here to Access our YouTube Channel and don't forget to Subscribe!
JMJ
My Dear Friends in Christ,
This is why faithful Christians are always courageous defenders of peace, in all its forms: since Christ has established His own peace in their hearts, they are able to become peacemakers for others. Take St. Genevieve, for example. She lived in France, in the 400s. Paganism was still strong at that time, and so when her bishop allowed her to follow her vocation to become a consecrated virgin, she stirred up a storm of opposition. Calumny, slander, and abuse accompanied her on her many charitable journeys. At one point her enemies even plotted to drown her. She persevered by uniting her sufferings to Christ's - by taking His yoke upon her, she found rest for her soul.
She spent most of her time doing for others what Christ had done for her: bringing them the peace that comes from experiencing the power of God's unconditional love. For example, when Frankish warrior tribes (they were barbarians) laid siege to Paris, Genevieve risked her life by leading secret excursions out of the city at night in order to gather provisions for the starving Parisians. When Paris eventually fell, it was Genevieve who courageously persuaded the pagan conqueror to release his prisoners and newly enslaved Christians.
Later, when Attila the Hun and his devastating army were approaching Paris, the people and city leaders panicked with fear. It was St. Genevieve who rallied the populace, encouraged the Christians to pray for deliverance, and arranged for a prayer vigil in the Cathedral. For no apparent reason, Attila changed his course and the city was spared. Six hundred years after her death, her relics were carried in procession through Paris as the city prayed for an end to an outbreak of the plague - and the plague ended. It's no wonder she is the Church's official patron saint for disasters. Good to ask her intercession during this Corona virus disaster. When we are filled with Christ, like St. Genevieve, we overflow with His peace to everyone around us.
In St. Genevieve we see a woman of faith, trust, and humility. We are all vulnerable to the sin of pride in our actions and our intellect. Arrogant judgmentalism is just as common at the barbershop and the truck stop as it is in the ivory tower of academia. And the older we get, the more likely we are to put everything the Church teaches, and everything everyone else says, on trial, with our limited and prejudiced intelligence as the sole judge. But whenever we do that, we are following in the footsteps of the Pharisees, cutting ourselves off from God's light and wisdom, turning off our "childlike" wonder.
So how can we avoid falling into this temptation? Besides staying close to Christ through personal prayer and the sacraments, we need to adopt the Sherlock Holmes Policy. Sherlock Holmes was a great detective because he never rested until he discovered the full meaning of every clue.
We should do the same with our faith. The things God has revealed to us, that we profess in the Creed and read in the Catechism, are not meant to be the end of our search for understanding; they are meant to be its beginning!
The wonders and beauty of God are inexhaustible; there is always more to discover about God and His Creation. And so, it's easy to keep our childlike wonder alive and well, if we just act like Sherlock Holmes, constantly, actively delving into all the truths of faith and nature.
The gift of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the lives of the Saints we can read. The great blessing of the FORMED.org platform in which you can find videos of Bible Studies, books to e-read, inspirational movies, and Church teaching videos. This platform is a true use of the internet for the good and growing in spiritual knowledge and grace. And the best news is that it is free for you using the code:
FORMED.org/register
Enter Parish Code: 4KR96N (Case sensitive)
God is a mystery Who wants to be solved, a lover Who wants to be known. Today, let's stir up our sense of childlike wonder and curiosity, and commit ourselves anew to knowing God better every day, so we can love Him with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind.
Oremus Pro Invicem!
Fr. Pecchie
EVERY TUESDAYDoors open at 8:30 AM
Early Bird starts at 10:30 AM
BINGO follows
Looking for the perfect place to host a special event?
Call our office for more information
352-796-2096
DIOCESE OF ST. PETERSBURG
Office of the Bishop
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Sunday is the Lord’s Day, but for over two months, we have been observing this holy day at home to be safe and to protect human life, especially the most vulnerable among us.
After prayer and consultation with government and public health officials and our priests, I have decided to grant permission to pastors throughout the Diocese of St. Petersburg, at their discretion, to resume the public celebration of Sunday Masses as early as the weekend of May 30-31, 2020.
We are called to be good stewards of our health and to take practical steps to avoid spreading illness. Therefore, restrictions will be in place since we are still in the midst of a pandemic. For now, we will need to limit the number of people at church for social distancing and to continue the practice of frequent sanitizing.
However, since the risk of coming into contact with coronavirus remains, individuals and families should take personal responsibility to protect themselves.
Please know that all Catholics remain dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass until further notice. Therefore, if you are at greater risk due to age, illness, or other health conditions, please do not come to Mass. For those who are able to attend Mass, I urge you to follow CDC guidelines and parish procedures. Also, let us show charity, patience and kindness as processes and plans are developed.
Pastors and parish staff may face challenges because of the health and/or age of priests, deacons, staff members and volunteers. This means that every parish may do things a little differently and some parishes might require additional time to safely resume Sunday Masses with the public.
May 30th and 31st will indeed be days to rejoice! Not only will public Masses on Sunday resume, but we also celebrate Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and graced them with gifts to courageously live the Gospel.
This same Spirit lives in us! We have been given the gifts of fortitude, wisdom and understanding. Let us rely on the Spirit for guidance and knowledge.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love.
May God bless and protect you and your loved ones!
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Gregory Parkes
Bishop of St. Petersburg
EASTER SUNDAY
MOTHER'S DAY
Fellowship with friends
The cooks with Fr. Pecchie
Blackjack with friends
The games were a hit
Gumbo
Fr. Pecchie
Deacon Manny
A touch of the Irish stood out at our annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner. Lots of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots were had by all...with cake & ice cream for dessert.
St. Anthony the Abbot's Altar Server of the Year
