Update Letter From Father Joe

Dear Parishioner,

The coronavirus, and the preparations being put in place to limit its spread in our community, present our parish with both challenges and opportunities. Our first priority is to care for you our families and to minister to you in every way we can.

As you know, we have suspended public celebration of Mass along with other parishes in the diocese and across the country. But we are eagerly moving forward with new ways to minister to our parish families during this strange time. Those strategies include:

1. We’re ramping up our parish’s presence on Facebook and Instagram and I encourage you to visit us there for the latest parish news, photos, and other great resources we’ll be providing for you our families.

2. We are livestreaming our daily Masses and on Sunday 11:00 a.m. Again, we’ll be providing updates and links to our own livestream or diocesan broadcast links through our parish Facebook page.

3. We’re putting together new initiatives such as virtual prayer teams and phone calls to many of our families who may be at risk. We have the capability through an app called Zoom to have some virtual group meetings and classes. Please contact the office to find out more about how to set up meetings using this technology.

I am so grateful for the tireless work of our staff and parish volunteers who are thinking up creative new ways for us to practice our faith during this time of social distancing.

Please know that while this is a challenging time, we are committed to making the most of it. And we’re excited by this opportunity to try new things and help draw families closer to Christ through this experience. In times of crisis, when you need your Faith the most, Holy Family is always here for you.

There are four things that I’m asking you to do right now, today:

1. Pray. Please pray for those suffering from this illness, and all who are affected. Please also pray for our parish, for Father Anthony and me, and for the world. And know that you are in our prayers.

2. Follow us on Facebook. Just go to Facebook and search for Holy Family Catholic Church Brentwood and you’ll find us. Then just click to “follow” us and “like” our page and turn on notifications under the “following” dropdown menu. That will make sure you see our posts going forward and see information about how to attend our Masses online. Click here to go to our Facebook now.

3. Provide us with an email address. We can add you to our Flocknotes account so that you are getting our emails that might be communicating important information.

4. Continue to support our parish – online. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the continued financial support of you, our parishioners, and friends during this time. Since Masses with a congregation are suspended for the near future, I’m asking those who are able, to provide their financial support online. You can of course drop off or mail in your envelopes if this is easier for you. If you need assistance, please contact Alice Burns at the parish office. Your financial gifts are as important now as they have ever been. They will be used to provide for our ministries and to continue to pay our expenses. God bless you for your generosity.

I will continue to provide updates, primarily through our parish social media and occasionally through email if I have your email on file. You are in my prayers. Please be assured of my prayers and my whole-hearted support.

Sincerely,

Father Joe