Mass Times

As the pandemic has made it difficult to attend funerals and celebrate our departed loved ones, I hope this day will provide a special opportunity to pray, visit cemeteries, and work through the grief in our hearts.  In addition to our usual daily Masses,

• a Mass will be livestreamed from St. Joseph Cemetery at 10:00am 

• a Mass of Remembrance will be held at St. Thomas at 7:00pm.
  • Please come early as those attending will be invited to publicly name any relatives or friends who have died this year starting at 6:45pm. 
  • This Mass will also be livestreamed beginning at 6:45pm for the sake of those unable to attend.  If you would like to submit someone’s name to be read, please email Shirley, syaich@elcatholics.org.

Let us pray on Tuesday, November 3 for our nation, our leaders and the election.
Our unity is in Jesus Christ!  
Let us be respectful to our new leaders and to each other, honoring Christ in one another.

To assist in your prayers leading up to, on, and following Election Day,
please consider using this one from the Michigan Catholic Conference Focus.
 
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship Prayer
Merciful Father, thank you for inviting each of us to join in your work of building the kingdom of love, justice, and peace. Draw us close to you in prayer as we discern your call in our families and communities. Send us forth to encounter all whom you love: those not yet born, those in poverty, those in need of welcome. Inspire us to respond to the call to faithful citizenship, during election season and beyond. Help us to imitate your charity and compassion and to serve as models of loving dialogue. Teach us to treat others with respect, even when we disagree, and seek to share your love and mercy. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
 

Sunday Mass Times

• St. John : 8am, 10am, Noon, & 7pm 
• St. Thomas : 4:30pm Sat.  |   9:00am & 11am Sunday
   

Weekday Masses

• MONDAY

• TUESDAY

• WEDNESDAY

• THURSDAY

• FRIDAY

• SATURDAY

• Confession Times

  • MONDAY           4:00 PM to 5:00 PM St. Johns
  • TUESDAY          7:30 PM to 8:30 PM  St. John
  • WEDNESDAY    4:00 PM to 5:00 PM  St. John
  • THURSDAY       7:30 PM to 8:30 PM St. John
  • FRIDAY            11:00 AM to12:00 PM St. John
  • SATURDAY       3:00 PM to 4:00 PM St. Thomas
  
  Also available by appointment

• ---

• Adoration Times

  • MONDAY           4:00 PM to 5:00 PM St. John
  • TUESDAY          7:30 PM to 8:30 PM St. John
  • WEDNESDAY    4:00 PM to 5:00 PM St. John
  • THURSDAY       7:30 PM to 8:30 PM St. John
  • FRIDAY              7:00 AM to 3:30 PM St. Thomas (When School in Session)                                                        

Masses will continue to be live-streamed 5 days a week a
www.facebook.com/pg/elcatholics.org/videos  You do not need a Facebook account to watch!
or East Lansing Catholics YouTube Channel
 Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at 9:00am from St. Thomas.
 Fridat at 12:15pm and Sunday at 8:00am from St. John.

Anyone who is vulnerable to the coronavirus because of age or other health issues should not attend public Masses or prayer time.  People who feel sick or have any symptoms of sickness (fever, cough, etc.) should not attend.  Please stay home and stay safe and draw close to Jesus through Spiritual Communion. Go down to Act of Spiritual Communion

The dispensation from your Sunday obligation is in effect until November 28
Consider attending one of the weekday Masses to receive the Eucharist
as those will not be as crowded.

Guidelines for Attending Mass
*Be Patient with One Another

• Wash hands before arriving. 
• We do not recommend using the restrooms.  It is not possible to social distance.
• 6 ft social distancing will be kept at all times for people from different households 
• Everyone attending will wear a mask throughout Mass - only taking it down to receive Communion - and please bring your own hand-sanitizer to use before Communion
• Congregational singing temporarily discontinued
• Hands will not be held during the Our Father between people from different households 
• Holy Communion will be distributed in the hand
• Avoid gathering in church before or after Mass - please take social distanced conversations outside so parish staff can clean and prepare for next Mass 
• Parishioners are asked to leave from the church starting with the back row so that crowding doesn’t happen 
• Please follow all door signs and instructions given during before, during and after Mass

Precautions we’ve taken:

• Hand sanitizer will be available all over church
• Holy Water fonts and Hymnals were removed
• Offertory baskets have been removed – boxes are available in the back of the church. You can drop in your offering or go online to elcatholics.org/giving to donate.
• Every other pew is roped off - please leave these ropes in place
• The floor is marked to keep 6 ft. distance between communicants
• Anyone distributing Holy Communion (including priests) will be required to wear face masks while distributing Communion and use hand-sanitizer if one’s hands become compromised during Communion distribution
• Distribution of the Precious Blood will be discontinued until further notice
• Parish staff will monitor the doors to make sure 25% capacity is not reached
• Sign of peace will be given from the altar, but not between parishioners
• Restroom use is discouraged.  (Social Distancing is not possible in our restrooms)

“The wind blows where it pleases; you can hear its sound,
but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.  
So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8, NJB).

 
As we are not always prepared for or able to receive the Eucharist, it is helpful to make an ‘act of spiritual communion’ by prayerfully asking for the graces of the Blessed Sacrament whenever we are not able to physically receive it.  For the Spirit moves as it pleases and God can grant tremendous blessings whenever and wherever.  (Such prayer is advantageous for those who are not Roman Catholic and do not receive Communion at Mass.  One may always ask God to provide the very same graces spiritually.  This devotional act is well worth trying and is a beautiful way to participate at Mass.)  In this way, we can spiritually commune with God hundreds of times a day if we like.  Here are two common versions of this prayer; however, one may compose one’s own version as needed.  You may even want to structure your own post-Communion prayer based on these humble sentiments of love and trustful surrender.
 

My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament.  I love You above all things, and I long for you in my soul.  Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.  As though You have already come, I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You; never permit me to be separated from You.  Amen.
– St. Alphonsus de Ligouri

For more information, go to Our Catholic Prayers –
devotional information, including a summary of spiritual communion:
ourcatholicprayers.com/spiritual-communion