We celebrate our first Car Mass.

A big thank you to all who helped out with the Parking Lot Mass this

morning. Also thank you to all who attended for cooperating with

directions. Except for a small hiccup with the FM transmitter,

everything went about as smoothly as we could ever have expected it too,

and even with that the speaker system was great.

I think we are looking at one more week, at least before we will be

allowed to have anything public in the Church. We will try to do this

again next week on Saturday May 30. Hopefully the weather will

cooperate as it did this morning, because we will not be able to flip it

to Sunday that time, due to a diocesan committment I have in the

afternoon.

So weather permitting Saturday May 30 @ 5:00PM. Live-Stream will be

Sunday @ 10:00AM. Daily Masses continue to be live-streamed everyday on

facebook.com/olgcwesttrenton

Thank you again,

Fr. Mike

All set up and ready to go.

Volunteers direct parishioners to their spot.

Smooth as silk our volunteers knew exactly what to do.

Cars lined up ready for Mass to begin.

Lots of cars.

From my vantage point sixth row back. In front of me each row had ten cars. Mass begins!

The center of our faith, the Eucharist.

Be with us Lord.

Everyone is parked our volunteers join the congregation for Mass.

Collection by faithful volunteers.

Collection by faithful volunteers.

Fr. Mike distributes the Eucharist on the left side of driveway.

Deacon Steve Szmutko helps distribute Communion on the right side of driveway

Volunteers helping direct made everything run smoothly.

Mass is dismissed, Eucharist is distributed, finally our volunteers come to receive the Eucharist.

Thank you to all our volunteers that made this first attempt at a car Mass flow without a hitch. It was wonderful to be with our fellow parishioners and our Pastor, Fr. Mike and Deacon Steve. Stay safe, be careful and be well.

EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS FROM FR. MIKE.

Please read and share with parishioners who do not have email addresses. We still can reach each other by phone. If you have an email and did not receive these notes from Father Mike please send us your email address to: rectoryoffice@olgcc.net.

Fr. Mike 5/08/2020	Fr. Mike Email to Parish MAY 22, 2020 UPDATE FOR CAR MASS
Fr. Mike 5/13/2020	Fr. Mike Email to Parish MAY 23, 2020 OPENING OF CHURCHES IMPORTANT NOTE
Fr. Mike 5/13/2020-opening of church guidelines	Interim Guidance for Administrators and Leaders of Community- and Faith-Based Organizations to Plan, Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Fr. Mike LATEST Email to Parish-CAR MASS
Deacon Steve Szmutko Adult Faith Formation Program CHECK OUT THE ADULT FAITH FORMATION PAGE FROM THE TOP MENU FOR A NEW PROGRAM STARTING MAY 21, LINK TO ZOOM IN AT 6:55!⇑

Phase One Reopening Our Lady of Good Counsel Church

It is our hope, that all who intend to visit our Churches will abide by the guidelines listed that are in compliance with the Diocesan Task Force on Reopening.

First, what is “private prayer”? Private prayer means to pray alone. This is considered very important to Christians, as it is a time when they can personally connect with God. There will be no public Masses or other group liturgical/devotional celebrations until further notice. Praying the rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Stations of the Cross etc are not to be prayed together. You may pray these alone but not in a group in the Church. During this COVID-19 crisis and until further notice, Holy Communion can only be distributed to the faithful as Viaticum for the dying in the Diocese of Trenton.

North Side (Elevator/Rectory Side) Doors are the only Doors that will be opened for entrance.
Church open: Mon-Sat 9am-7:00pm, Sunday: 11:00am-7:00pm
Hand Sanitizer will be Provided in Church, but Visitors are Encouraged to Bring their own Sanitizer and Wipes
Mask are required
Limited seating (in marked pews only-to help in the daily maintenance)
All Bathrooms are Closed and off limits
Barriers in place to restrict movement & contact
No more than 10 people at a time CDC/NJ Gov. Regulations
Social Distancing of 6 Feet required
No Prayer Rail use at Statutes & all other objects all off limits, all worship aides, pamphlets, books and paper from church pews, vestibules, tables etc. have been removed. Please do not leave any material like this in the church. There will be no bulletins. You can read the news on our web page on the bulletin page.
No Holy Water
No Public Sacraments/Mass/Public Worship (church will be closed during live streaming of Masses)
Private Prayer Only
Restrictions will be in place to June 6th per NJ Governor, so far.
There are many precautions that must be considered in order to ensure the health and safety of the faithful as we reopen churches. It is our hope that we will all follow the guideline and encourage our fellow parishioners to do the same. We still have a long way to go but the “step by step” approach as mentioned will work to our advantage. We look forward to seeing you in the weeks ahead as we prepare for the next phases to fully have our people celebrate together.

Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go intoheaven.” Acts 1:11.

ONLINE LIVE STREAMING OF

OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL MASSES

WITH OUR PASTOR, FATHER MIKE

Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.,

Saturday 8:00 a.m.

SUNDAY LITURGY 10:00 a.m.

Continue to join us for Live Streaming of the Daily and Sunday Masses through our Face Book Page.

Click the Face Book Icon above.

WATCH MASS FROM YOUR HOME!

You can view Mass live at the times listed or view the recording any time afterwards.

Prayer of Spiritual Communion

by St. Alphonsus Liguori:

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

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

Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,

come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.

Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

All liturgical celebrations and all parish events and meetings are cancelled until further notice. The parish office is also closed but open for phone and emergency calls. Most of what would need to be done can be handled over the phone, including Mass Cards and Certificates of Eligibility.

Fr. Mike’s Office # is (609) 882-3277 x. 3. Rectory Office # is (609) 882-3277 x. 4.

You can also email us at rectoryoffice@olgcc.net or FrMike@olgcc.net

Stay safe and healthy and know our prayers are with you. Fr. Mike

From our Bishop,

David O’Connell

Bishop’s Corner

Bishop O’Connell announces approval of ‘in car’ Masses, distribution of Eucharist

In a new statement issued May 15, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., announced his approval of a set of directives that give permission for outdoor “in car” Masses according to good pastoral judgement of parish pastors.

Diocese

A call to advocacy for Catholic school inclusion in HEROES ACT funding

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., shared the following message May 14 to all members of the diocesan community:

Today, the Bishops of NJ and I learned that the House Democrats released The Heroes Act, H.R. 6800, the fourth phase of economic stimulus relief or CARES 4.

H.R.6800 includes several provisions that would protect, and even expand, funding for programs that Congress established in the last CARES Act, such as an extension of unemployment benefits until January 31, 2021, expansion of the SBA payroll protection program loans to include all nonprofits regardless of size, and increased funding for the Supplemental Nutrition assistance program. However, unlike the previous CARES Act, H.R.6800 WOULD PROHIBIT NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS INCLUDING OUR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE DIOCESE OF TRENTON FROM ACCESSING ANY PORTION OF THE PROPOSED $200 BILLION INCLUDED IN THE LEGISLATION FOR EDUCATION.

Our Catholic schools struggle to stay open as it is, and the pandemic will impact them negatively as our neighboring dioceses in New Jersey have revealed. Please visit njcatholic.org/faith-in-action or click here to contact our New Jersey Senators and Congressmen using the message template there. We need to work quickly to ask their support. Thank you and God bless you in these stressful days.

Respectfully yours in the Lord, Bishop O’Connell

Bishop O’Connell calls for prayers for frontline workers on Fatima feast day

On the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., drew parallels between the Blessed Mother’s call for prayers 100 years ago and those needed today in a pandemic-stricken world.

Solemnity of the Ascension moved to May 24; Bishop to celebrate livestream Mass

The date of the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord has been moved this year from May 21 to May 24 in the five (arch)dioceses across New Jersey. Traditionally celebrated on the Sixth Thursday of Easter, the Solemnity had been transferred in many other provinces to the Seventh Sunday of Easter over recent years.

Church

Pope joins interreligious prayer, begging God to end pandemic

At a time of global “tragedy and suffering” because of the coronavirus, and in view of the long-term impact it will have, believers of every religion should beg mercy from the one God and father of all, Pope Francis said.

Parishes

Pastors, parishioners thankful for return to private prayer in church

Suzy Colon woke up the morning of May 13 grateful in knowing she had somewhere special to be that day.

World & Nation

National shrine in Washington celebrates two 100-year milestones this year

May 16, the Basilica in Washington marks the 100th anniversary of the blessing of the land on which it was built.

ISSUES & ADVOCACY

Recognizing the needs of others can curb the urge to over-consume

A lack of toilet paper. Select quantities of meat. Ravaged grocery store shelves.

In these trying times of social distancing and forced closed proximity with family members, tensions can rise in our relationships that are destructive to the marriage and the family. This is a time for us to remember the importance of four important virtues in our life: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance. The absence of these is detrimental to any relationship. To the extent that we practice them we build up our relationships within the family and beyond.

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