From Fr. Joe

F rom Fr Joe:

Ongoing altering of scheduling and known regularities combined with increased viral infections in surrounding communities keeps us conscious and vigilant in discouraging seniors, persons with pre existing conditions and travelers from gathering for mass. All the while our expenses continue.

Realizing the rippling emotional affects and possible discontent of some worshippers please know we simply continue to closely follow directives to assist in prevention of a local uptic in Covid 19 transmission and your possible infection. As we all continue to sacrifice daily and weekly our routines and life disciplines cause us to feel disconnected and isolated. Six months into this pandemic we are tired, weary and worn from it. Discouragement and depression have begun to set in. we are all coping with 2020 and its affects.
Gathering in groups and numbers remains unwise.
 
We continue to seek your input and expressions of attitude and concern. Thus far you all have gone with the flow so very well. We have only had one (1) active parishioner speak of discontent with our approach and limited scheduling. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, Please call,  617-523-4342  or email  office@stjosephboston.org  or write 68 William Cardinal O’Connell Way. Let us know your thoughts and conversations about how we’ve been addressing directives and what may or may not seem most understandable with how we are practicing now and toward the second and third quarters of 2021. We of course are so very, very grateful to all who are prayerfully and financially supporting our on going needs. We are praying for you do please pray for us.
 
There have been upwards of 1 million deaths worldwide, 200,000 deaths in the US, over 9,000 in Massachusetts and here in Boston nearly 800 have died. Weddings, funerals and church gatherings have been seen as significant activities of transmission of the illness. The World Health Organization warns the very serious situation and second wave of infection & transmission. Schools and school systems open, close and restructure. 
 
We face additional challenges with the colder season of Autumn and closing windows and resuming fueled heat. There are necessities of building the air flow quality and circulation. How we function over future weeks and months remains uncertain. We continue to navigate uncharted and unprecedented, fragile and challenging times.
 
Mindful that any and all sacramental and parish gatherings are limited, have specific guidelines and require time and financial sanitizing efforts we strive for some balance. Certainly live streaming and remote participation is the number one prevention solution. One probability of scheduling is to implement an afternoon mass beginning in October and accommodate an alternative to our Sunday 9:00 am liturgy. Consideration and practical implementation will have us celebrating a  Sunday 4:00 pm
liturgy. With these two masses on Sunday we hope to keep our gathering numbers at 40% of church capacity while still maintaining expected physical distancing. Your health and protection and your spiritual needs are our top priorities. 
We will continue to improve audio and visual live-streaming of our masseson our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/stjosephwestend.Remember too, our masses are also always available anytime on our website,  stjosephboston.org.  We are most very grateful to an anonymous donor for these equipment upgrades. Not unlike school systems and health and educational institutions we seek to assist you with technological access. Please, simply contact the office for these and any or technological assistance needs.
 
Another probability will be Wednesday and  Friday 12:10  mass. This too is an attempt to provide and increase daily spiritual practice all the while maintaining necessary sanitization and physical distancing. Beginning the first  Friday, October 2 nd, we will celebrate Wednesday and Friday unless and or until we experience any reason(s)to discontinue. This year of the Eucharist, adoration time will be provided for one hour prior to each Wednesday and  Friday beginning 11:00 am. 
 
November 9 th is the 158 Anniversary of our beloved Saint Joseph Church, dedication by Archbishop Williams on this day in 1862. This year we are asking you to consider our church's anniversary as a “Day of Giving”. During the season of Thanksgiving, we acknowledge all we are thankful for here, whether we celebrate or are restricted from celebrating the Eucharist (Eucharist which means and is thanksgiving). Please consider a contribution this November 9 th. It’s been 158 years of faith and resiliency here at St Joseph’s. Please consider how best you help support and ensure our future.  November 9 th Anniversary day of giving or our grand annual are two fine options for financial contributions. On line giving greatly asssists offsetting our week to week operational expenses. Our weekly income has decreased $2,000 - 3000 leaving us with $10,000-15,000 less each month. We have sadly decreased expenses accordingly and now make significant sacrifices. We must still, however, assist the neediest amongst us. Our outreach efforts have shifted and we are grateful to city, state and private donors. Please consider if and how you can contribute for November 9 th and/or to our to our Grand Annual.  Your gifts are needed to cover heat, utilities, insurance, Fr Joe’s salary and health insurance, and for the routine cleaning and sanitizing of the church. Thank you.
 
Be good to yourself as well as others.
Peace & Good things,