Because of the current health situation Bishop Peter Christensen has decided to suspend all public Masses in the Diocese of Boise from March 21
st through to, and including, Palm Sunday, April 5
th, and has dispensed all the faithful from the “Sunday obligation.” Of course, We will graciously comply with the Bishop’s directive.
Additional information for you:
St. Agnes Church will be opened daily from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for private visits and prayer. Please do not gather in “large” groups.
I encourage all members and families of the Parish to make each Sunday, in some manner, truly “the Lord’s Day.” Individuals or families could read and reflect on the Sunday Scripture readings, offer petitionary prayers, pray the “Our Father,” and sing hymns.
I encourage prayer and reflection with the daily scripture readings—a great gift available to us as Catholics. Many have personal missals or publications (i.e. Magnificat or Today’s Word) which provide the daily Scripture readings. The daily readings can also be found on our parish website http://catholicweiser.org. Printed copies of the daily Scripture readings will also be available to you in the entrance of St. Agnes Church.
EWTN and possibly other Catholic networks televise celebration of the Mass. The celebration of the Mass is available on our parish website (above) and Diocese is making preparations to offer Sunday Mass live streamed through its website.https://Catholicidaho.org
Adoration on Tuesdays is cancelled.
The Friday Stations of the Cross are cancelled. You are welcome to pray the Stations in the Church; again, please do not gather in large groups.
Confession: The Lenten Liturgies of Reconciliation are cancelled. Confession will be available to you in St. Agnes Church on the following days and hours:
Tuesdays: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesdays 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Saturdays 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Please avoid gathering in “large crowds” for confession.
Daily praying the Rosary, alone or with family, is encouraged. Please remember in your prayers those who are sick, our health care professionals and workers, those who care for the elderly, and that our trust in the Lord’s providence and our hope in eternal life may be strengthened.
Please be attentive to your neighbors, especially the elderly. You may wish to contact them and inquire if they need some assistance: grocery shopping, yard work, a meal, or a short daily visit or a phone call. When you do this, please observe all the precautions being recommended to us by health care professionals.
The Parish Office will maintain its usual office schedule.
Please contact me or the parish office if someone needs the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
This suspension of public Masses will continue to and include Palm Sunday, April 5th. If the suspense needs to be extended, the Bishop will so direct in due time. At this point let us assume that liturgies and events already scheduled at St. Agnes, Holy Rosary, and St. Jude for after April 5th—i.e. Holy Week, Easter, First Communion, Graduation Mass, etc.—will take place. We will make adjustments as we need to and as the situation develops.
Let us keep one another in prayer. I offer you one of my favorite passages from Scripture, “Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer” (Romans 12:12).
Sincerely in the Lord,
Fr. Jerry
Fr. Gerald J. Funke