Community Corner
Letter to Our Lady of Assumption Parish from Pastor
Rev. Christopher Ford wrote to his congregation on March 25.
This letter from Rev. Christopher Ford was posted in the online church bulletin and is dated March 25, 2020.
Dear Parishioners,
I am writing to you in the midst of the great health crisis that we are all facing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. It’s been over a week since we’ve not been able to gather for parish activities and the Celebration of the Mass. Last Sunday was the Fourth Sunday of Lent, referred to as Laetare Sunday, in reference to the Entrance Antiphon, “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all you who were in mourning.” As I celebrated Mass privately the antiphon was a poignant reminder during this sad and surreal time that we always have reason to rejoice because “God is with us” through it all. At the same time, it is hard to accept that to contain the virus lay Catholics here and elsewhere are not able to receive our Eucharistic Lord to strengthen, comfort and sustain them. As I celebrate Holy Mass privately every day and continue to be nourished the Body and Blood of Christ, my heart goes out to so many of you who acutely feel the loss of this nourishment. Please be assured that I’m not only remembering and praying for you but, along with many other priests, practicing additional penances for our people who are separated from
the Sacraments.
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As your pastor, in addition to my primary responsibility for the spiritual welfare of the parish community, I’m also responsible for the temporal welfare of the parish. As I’m sure you can imagine, our parish revenue has dropped from close to $7,000.00 a couple of weeks ago to just a couple hundred dollars this past Sunday. That being the case, I ask that, to the extent that you are not adversely affected materially by the pandemic, you not forget the needs of your parish as we continue to fulfill our obligations. I ask you to consider mailing or dropping off your offering at 81 Center Road or utilizing our recently initiated ONLINE GIVING by going to: assumptionchurch.com and clicking the link for “online giving.”
This is not the Lent that we had planned. But once again we are reminded by Saint Paul not to “receive the grace of God in vain.” God will bring about some good through this experience. Hopefully, we will come through the crisis with a renewed faith in Jesus, who taught us to “fear is useless; what is needed is trust.” Let us pray for each other, and pray also for those who are affected by the virus in any way and for those in government and especially those in the medical profession working so hard and selflessly.
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Our Lady of the Assumption, our dear Patroness, pray for us.
In Christ Jesus,
Reverend Christopher M. Ford
From the church bulletin:
Our Parish now offers Online Giving
With so much uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 virus and increasing recommendations to avoid crowds and take proper safety precautions, we wanted to remind you that we have options in place now that you can use today. This option is an ideal way to support the parish and our mission.
Online Giving is available for you to make contributions to the church. This option makes use of current technology and security standards and allows you to easily setup recurring contributions. It also enables our church to take advantage of new tools to become more efficient.
Online Giving Parishioner Benefits:
•Secure and confidential. No need to share payment information with the church office.
•Efficient. Set up direct withdrawals from your checking, savings account or a credit card.
•Simple. Start, stop and change your contributions at any time.
•Convenient. No need to write a check or have cash available.
•Remote flexibility. You can give from virtually anywhere anytime.
Online Giving is intended to be a convenient tool for you to use, and we strongly support both Online Giving and Offering Envelopes for contributions to the parish. Online Giving is the electronic way to participate in weekly offertory.
Start giving online today!
1. Visit our church website at assumptionchurch.com and click on the online giving link.
2. Create an account.
3. Schedule your recurring gifts.
Please prayerfully consider giving online. If you have any questions, contact the parish office at 203-387-7119.
Online Giving is provided by Our Sunday Visitor, a Catholic not-for-profit organization serving parishes for more than 100 years.
While public Mass is suspended through out the Archdiocese, it’s important to stay connected through our website, our Facebook page, and emails.
We’re asking parishioners if they would send in pictures of themselves to be posted in the church or you can put them in the church where you usually sit. You can also email them to: parishsecretaryoloa@gmail.com. We want to stay connected.
The Center Road Church is opened daily from “dawn to dusk ” for private prayer… ..take a photo!
Please know that we are posting to the website and to our Facebook page daily. Please visit our website at: assumptionchurch.com
