St. Basil Catholic Church 

ST. BASIL'S WEEKLY OFFETORY COLLECTION Fund: COVID-19

From Father Kevin D'Souza, March 2020

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St Basil's,

I trust that you are keeping healthy, exercising, and doing your best to keep your chin up. Perhaps our Lent seems to have taken a very different turn this year. You are not alone as all of our brothers and sisters around the world are also restrained as a result of this pandemic emergency. Many are hurting in different ways but Hopefully this is bringing us all together, in a sense, at least virtually for now, as we practice what it is to be homebound. Use this time wisely to be quiet, to listen in silence to the Spirit, and to reflect on what He is trying to say to us specifically at this special time.

Mass: As a real test of our faith, we are currently unable to attend Mass or any public liturgies. It is also prudent as congregating together, even in faith and worship, puts us all at risk. Our Bishop has decreed that all Masses and liturgy services be suspended for the near future. This includes all Holy Week Liturgies - the Easter Triduum and all Easter Sunday Masses.

Donations: Your weekly offertory collections are appreciated and much needed to help keep the Church fires burning. Please drop off your weekly donation envelopes through the drop box / slot in the front office door. You may also donate to St. Basil's online by clicking the red "Donate" button on the right and choosing St. Basil's Parish.

Palms: I have blessed palms and they will be distributed to our parishoners in the near future, IN THE CHURCH, once we are able to begin the public celebration of Mass again.

You may certainly follow the Mass with your famililies via television or the internet. Holy Mass is available everyday on Salt and Light TV, Daily TV Mass, Word on Fire Ministeries, EWTN etc.

Although you now physically cannot receive Holy Communion, you may make a spirtual communion by reciting this beautiful prayer composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori:
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. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself completely to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

Confession: As per the Apostolic Penitentiary (March 20, 2020) regarding the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and further as per Bishop Crosby's directive, be assured that as a penitent, your sincere request for forgiveness, a perfect act of contrition and the firm resolution to confess your sins (even mortal sins) as soon as it is possible (i.e. when the situation gets better), OBTAINS THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS RIGHT NOW. I sincerely hope that this puts you at peace.

I encourage everyone to take this time to pray together as a family. The Rosary is a powerful weapon against the enemy and it brings the family together. Pray the rosary often as a family, especially at this critical time as we ask our Blessed Mother Mary to protect us in her mantle and intercede for us. The Divine Mercy chaplet is another powerful prayer for all times.

Pope Francis has invited all Catholics throughout the world to join him in praying the Lord's Prayer at twelve noon. The bells of the Cathedreal Basilica of Christ the King in Hamilton will ring out each day at 9 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM, and 6 PM as a reminder to pray the "Our Father" for our Health Care workers dealing with this pandemic.

Our Bells at St. Basil's will also ring out in solidarity each day at 12 Noon and 6 PM. Please pray the Lord's Prayer for our brave and dedicated frontline Health Care workers.

Be assured that I am praying for each of you and your intentions as I offer Mass every day, privately, in my Rectory Chapel and also during my daily hour of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.

A good question to ask ourselves and reflect upon now as we take this opportunity to follow the Spirit and listen to Him in silence is: What can we learn from all this? Take care.

Praying for you everyday, 

Father Kevin D'Souza,
Pastor.

All Sunday Masses, Daily Masses, Holy Week Liturgies, Easter Sunday Masses, etc. are suspended until further notice by the Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton. Currently NO ONE is allowed to enter or pray in the church.

Palms: Father has blessed the palms privately on Palm Sunday and they will be distributed to our parishoners, in the church, when we are allowed to celebrate Mass once again.

St Basil's Parish office is temporarly closed to the public as mandated.

For assistance from St Vincent de Paul please call 519-752-0243

Funerals: For funerals please co-ordinate with the Funeral Home and Catholic Cemeteries and leave a message with your name and phone number at the Parish Office by calling 519-752-0361. Father Kevin can do the Committal (Burial) service at the cemetery at this time with only (9+1) immediate family members present. The Funeral Mass may most certainly be celebrated at a later date.

Anointing of the Sick: Priests are currently not permitted to enter hospitals or nursing homes and thus unable to administer the Sacrament of the Sick for now. Please be at peace knowing that you are not abandoned and in God's hands. You may most certainly contact the parish office for an alternate outreach, perhaps by phone.

Parish Phone messages will be checked periodically Tuesday-Friday.

First Communion and Confirmation dates have been postponed until further notice.

Sunday Offertory envelope donations are much appreciated and needed. Kindly drop them off through the parish office front door drop off box / slot. You can also donate online through the red "DONATE" button on the right of this webpage. Thank you. 

All scheduled and new/ongoing Mass intentions will be offered by Father as he celebrates his private Mass each day. You may continue to drop off your Mass intentions and $10 offerings in an envelope through the parish office front door drop off box / slot.

Please visit the Hamilton Diocese website at hamiltondiocese.com for all new Covid-19 directives and updates from Bishop Crosby. Also, follow the Public Health Department's advice and be assured that we will all come through these difficult times much stronger and more united than ever because of our Faith and prayers for each other.

Father Kevin D'Souza,
Pastor