See "NJ's COVID Quarantine List Biggest Yet; NY, PA Travel Discouraged" for the latest update on travel restrictions and recommendations.  Governor Murphy has recommended much smaller Thanksgiving gatherings.  I think that will apply to Christmas as well.

     Several parishioners have recommended that I watch a homily recorded down in Maryland.  I did.  The pastor seems to love his parishioners very much and may even know every single one personally.  Our parish is much bigger, and our bishop has recommended a slightly different approach to the election.  He has urged us priests to preach on the issues but not to name names.  Bishop O'Connell now invites us to pray A Novena for the USA from October 26th through November 3rd.

     It looks like we're entering the Funeral Mass season.  An increasing number of people are racing to see Jesus face to face.  Please pray for them and their families and friends.  I've noticed that the pandemic has caused more than a few people to go bonkers.  As such, we're going to try to make things even simpler.  Starting now, we won't allow any Words of Remembrance (aka eulogy) before the Funeral Mass begins.  A eulogy could be done at the viewing or luncheon.  Inside the church we will do a shorter and simpler Funeral Mass.  We're trying to keep people safe as we worship God and pray for the deceased.

     Bishop O'Connell issued Christmas directives a couple weeks ago.  He just sent us priests another e-mail answering questions that he has received.  Two recommendations stand out for me.  First, he does not expect priests to multiply the number of Masses beyond their reasonable ability.  He also recommended that we communicate Christmas plans to the parish.

     In light of the bishop's counsel and brainstorming we've been doing the last couple weeks, I'm more inclined to offer the following Mass schedule for Christmas:

Thursday, 12/24 at 2 PM, 4 PM, and 6 PM

Friday, 12/25 at 8 AM, 10 AM, and 12 Noon

     We're going to install outdoor speakers so that people could listen to Mass outside in the parking lot.  We're also going to get an FM transmitter so that you can listen on your FM radios.  We already broadcast via GoToMeeting so that you can listen on your phones.  And we livestream via YouTube.

     Around December 14th, we will begin to accept reservations for Christmas Masses, especially the 2 PM and 4 PM on Christmas Eve.  We won't start sooner because of the changing coronavirus situation.

     Early in December, we will send a mailing to all households letting them know about our Christmas schedule.

     I keep forgetting to tell you that we have continued publishing a weekly bulletin even though we can't hand them out.  You can view all our bulletins going back to December 1, 2019 at https://www.stjohnlakehurst.com/bulletins.

     We have published our annual financial report in next Sunday's bulletin.  You can read the October 25th bulletin here.

     You receive the latest updates in these Flocknote messages.  For the parish calendar and other information, visit our website:   https://www.stjohnlakehurst.com/

God love you,

Fr. Jim