Dear Parishioners of St. Joseph and Corpus Christi:

1. Extension of Precautions -- Yesterday, Bishop Kopacz announced the extension of Mass and parish activities through April 30, 2020. There are also a few additional measures concerning Holy Week.

2. Office Hours -- We are reducing our open office hours from 10 AM-2 PM Monday through Thursday, and Friday from 10 AM-Noon -- We encourage you to conduct business with us by phone or email.

3. RCIA -- The Diocese has also announced that we would be able to offer the sacraments of initiation to our candidates and catechumens as soon as we come back to Mass. 

4. Live Masses -- We are still looking into the possibility of live-streaming Mass from St. Joseph this Sunday. If we are not able to do so, Here are some options for Live Masses you can access online from your home:

Bishop Barron https://www.wordonfire.org/daily-mass/

Variety: http://www.catholictv.org/masses/catholictv-mass

Salt & Light Media: https://saltandlighttv.org/live/?muid=1

EWTN: https://www.ewtn.com/tv/watch-live

Fr. Burke Masters:  https://frburke23.wordpress.com/

Fr. Mike Schmitz:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVdGX3N-WIJ5nUvklBTNhAw

5. Act of Spiritual Communion -- When you're unable to receive Holy Communion, you can make an Act of Spiritual Communion. At Communion  at Mass we really enter into Communion with the Real Presence of Jesus Christ. When we make an Act of Spiritual Communion, we ask to enter this Communion even if it only spiritually, because, for whatever reason, we are not able to physically at this moment. 

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.

Today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. At a very dark and broken point of human history, the angel Gabriel came to announce a message to the Blessed Virgin Mary, that she "will conceive in her womb and bear a son, and he shall be called Jesus." The Word of God was made known to Mary so clearly, the Word took on flesh in her womb, and she was told, "He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”

God would be present among us and He would offer us His salvation.

Let us hold tightly to the Word of God and the joy, healing, and comfort that it provides to us. And like Mary, may we have the grace to surrender completely to that glorious Word.

Peace,

Fr. Jason