COVID-19 Updates

Public Masses at Annunziata will begin on Thursday, May 28th.
Monday thru Saturday:  Mass at 7 a.m.
Saturday Vigil Mass at 5p.m.; Sundays, 7a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m.

Dispensation of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass continues until further notice.

Streaming of all Masses at Annunziata will begin with 5 p.m. Mass on May 30th.
(Simply go to our website Annunziata.org and click on the picture of the altar.)

I’m hoping that everyone will think about, reflect on, and pray for wisdom regarding the question:  “Shall I go to Mass, or not?”

Anyone over 60 years-old and those with underlying health complications are encouraged to

participate in Masses via live-stream.  (Those wishing to receive Holy Communion outside of Mass time are encouraged to call the rectory to arrange for this.)

Please take your temperature at home before determining if you should attend Mass, and do not come if your temperature is elevated or if are not feeling well.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

EVERYONE over 2 years of age is obligated to wear a mask the entire time you are on Parish property, except for the brief moment of receiving Holy Communion.  There are no exceptions to this requirement. 

The Church will be cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized after every Mass.

Everyone must enter through the east (handicapped) door and follow the directives for

seating.  The pews have been marked to maximize the number of people who can safely attend each Mass while following the state mandate that everyone stay at least six feet from people not in their household. 

Because of this, the number of people able to attend Mass is greatly reduced.  Once capacity has been reached, no one else will be able to enter the church. 

Please plan to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before Mass time.  (You will not be able to get in

earlier because the cleaning crew needs time to do its work between masses, yet it will take a bit of time to be sure all are seated according to the plan that allows as many people as possible to attend each Mass.)

I continue to pray for you.

Come Holy Spirit,
Father John Leykam

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May 1, 2020 is the First Friday of a special month in the Catholic Church dedicated to Our Lady.  Every year, the Church seeks the special intercession of the Mother of God during the month of May.

This year, the Bishops of the United States invite all of us to join in reconsecrating our Nation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, seeking the assistance of Our Lady as we face together the effects of the global pandemic.

In this Easter Season we continue to journey with our Risen Lord that among the Graces of this time may be healing and strength, especially for all who are burdened by the many effects of the Covid-19.

Please pray the Rosary this First Friday for all our Doctors, Nurses, and Medical personnel.  Pray the Rosary for everyone who is so generous in providing police and fire-protection, and all the necessities of daily living.  Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!

Praying for You and Your Family,
Father John Leykam

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Your Church is open for prayer Monday thru Friday from 6:45 to 4 p.m.; Saturdays from 6:45 to 5 p.m.; and Sundays from 6:45 to Noon.

The Sacrament of Confession is offered on Saturdays from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

The Archdiocese has seen an uptick in priests’ email identities being used to spam parishioners.  Please remember that messages from your Pastor are placed on the website.

In addition, the weekly Sunday bulletin is usually on our website by Saturdays at Noon.

May I ask your prayers for the Priests and staff at Regina Cleri.  As of April 21st, there are 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Each day, you and your family are prayed for at private Mass.

Christ’s Peace,
Father John Leykam

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As we begin the 50 days of our 2020 Easter Season, let’s turn to Scripture:

Above all, like you, we have faith in the One who ultimately guides our earthly pilgrimage, the One of whom St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

I received an ad for a Church banner that read:  “We will get through this together!”  Easter tells us that Christ died and Rose from the dead for us all.  Our Heavenly Father desires that all humanity become a part of the Body of Christ.  In St. Paul’s teaching, in the Body of Christ whatever one person does affects the whole, whether building it up or tearing it down.  One of God’s gifts to God’s beloved Daughters and Sons is the gift of resiliency.  Resiliency is the ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like.  Resiliency is the God given power to return to the original form, position, etc, after being bent, compressed, or stretched.

A man named Steve Maraboli said, “Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.” Nelson Mandela taught, “Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again by the Grace of God.”

Richard Young, a licensed therapist, gave this reflection, “Our God given human spirit will not be fettered. During this pandemic, we witness daily the way that so many rise up to bring comfort, sustenance, treatment, and Grace to a world in crisis.  So, while indeed this is no ordinary Easter, maybe it is offering us a striking reminder of the faithful forces; of the natural, the human and the divine, that ultimately nurture, guide, and sustain us.”

Please check our website for our Sunday bulletin.

Please pray for our First Holy Communion Class and for our Confirmation Class,  whose original celebration dates will need to be re-scheduled.

The Sacrament of God’s Mercy and Forgiveness is offered on Saturdays from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m.

God Bless You,
Father John Leykam

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Blessed Easter and Peace to you and your families! The greatest privilege of any priest is to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I offer the Eucharist for you and your intentions on this Easter Sunday and every day as I celebrate Mass in private until we are able to celebrate together again.

EASTER HOPE

St. John Paul II continually taught that the evil present in the world could only be defeated by imitating Jesus’ love and sacrifice on the cross. The Pope states, “anything else would inevitably fall short.”

It was a belief that he held until the very end of his life, offering his numerous physical sufferings as a sacrifice of love for the world.

To help enter the Easter Season of 50 days, here are five quotes from John Paul II that highlight the power hidden within love and sacrifice.

1. “Genuine love... is demanding. But its beauty lies precisely in the demands it makes. Only those able to make demands on themselves in the name of love can then demand love from others.”
2. “The question about the value of life, about the meaning of life, forms part of the singular treasure of youth. Still more so, when youth is tested by personal suffering, or is profoundly aware of the suffering of others; when it comes face to face with the mystery of sin, of human iniquity, Christ’s reply is this: ‘Only God is good; only God is love.’”
3. “Darkness can only be scattered by light, and hatred can only be conquered by love.”
4. “Yours is the gigantic task of overcoming all evil with good, always trying amidst the problems of life to place your trust in God, knowing that his grace supplies strength to human weakness. You must oppose every form of hatred with the invincible power of Christ’s love.”
5. “Prayer joined to sacrifice constitutes the most powerful force in human history.”

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We are about to enter the most Sacred Days of the Church Year: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. This Lent and Holy Week, Catholics across the world are experiencing an unexpected and unfortunate fast from Holy Communion, which comes in the wake of the coronavirus. In many ways, the inability to receive the Risen Christ has become an unimaginable Lenten penance.

Priests across the Archdiocese, and here at Annunziata, are offering a private daily Mass without a congregation. However, all the Priests in your Archdiocese offer the Eucharistic Sacrifice for your good and your personal intentions.

It is important to recall that, although our obligation to attend Sunday Mass is extended to at least the end of April, we are never dispensed from honoring the Third Commandment to “keep holy the Sabbath."

As I mentioned on our website several weeks ago, when you cannot physically participate in Mass, you can watch and pray on television or live stream the Mass on your computer. These Mass offerings are found on archstl.org/coronavirus

We can make a Spiritual Communion - a practice of expressing to the Lord our longing for Him and our desire for Christ to enter our hearts. While there is no formula prescribed by the Church to make an act of spiritual communion, one of the more popular acts of spiritual communion comes from St. Alphonsus Liguori: “My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You.”

We pray for all the Doctors, Nurses, and Medical Personnel who minister to those who are sick with the virus. Further, may God protect our police, firefighters, EMTs, grocery workers, pharmacy staff, and countless others who work in areas that are essential for our community.

• OUR CHURCH IS OPEN FOR PRAYER: (Please enter by east side)
• HOLY THURSDAY - 6:45 to 8:00 p.m. (Please note that this extended time is to Praise God for Holy Communion)
• GOOD FRIDAY - 6:45 a.m.to 4:00 p.m.
• HOLY SATURDAY - 6:45 to 1:00 p.m.
• EASTER SUNDAY - 6:45 to Noon

THE SACRAMENT OF DIVINE MERCY IS OFFERED:

• GOOD FRIDAY - 10:30 a.m. to Noon
• HOLY SATURDAY - 10:30 a.m. to Noon

Please pray for our Second Grade First Holy Communion Class whose May 2nd First Communion Mass is Postponed. Also, pray for this year’s Confirmation Class whose May 13th, Confirmation Mass is also Postponed.

MAY CHRIST’S RESURRECTION RENEW HOPE IN OUR HEARTS!

With Love and Prayers,
Father John Leykam

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Your Annunziata St. Vincent de Paul Society had their regular monthly meeting using the Zoom meeting platform. I wanted you to know that our parish mission of reaching out to help those in need continues! Our fellow parishioners are amazing with their innovative ways of getting needed food and health and household essentials to those who desperately need them. St. Vincent de Paul wants to say “Thank You” for your ongoing support.

Our Church remains open for prayer during this Holy Week:

• Palm Sunday from 6:45 a.m. to Noon (Blessed Palms are available)
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of Holy Week - 6:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Holy Thursday - 6:45 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Good Friday - 6:45 to 4:00 p.m.
• Holy Saturday - 6:45 to 1:00 p.m.
• Easter Sunday - 6:45 to Noon

Confessions, the Sacrament of Penance, is offered:

• Saturday, April 4th - 3:30 to 4:45
• Palm Sunday, April 5 - 10:30 to Noon
• Good Friday, April 10 - 10:30 to Noon
• Holy Saturday, April 11 - 10:30 to Noon

Our Parish First Holy Communion is postponed. Please pray for all our second grade girls and boys, and their families, who have been preparing to receive the Risen Christ for the first time. When we are able to re-schedule, it will be as beautiful as ever.

Special thanks to our Rosary Group who pray for us every day. Also, please know that you and all your loved ones are remembered at private Mass each and every day.

Blessed Holy Week to You
Father John Leykam

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Tomorrow, Friday, March 27th, Pope Francis invites everyone around the world to join in prayer for deliverance from this coronavirus. Yes, frequently washing your hands, shelter in place, and social distancing of at least 6 feet is critically important. More important, we need to PRAY daily for those who are sick, those who have been exposed, for all our Doctors, Nurses, Health Care givers, for all those also on the front lines such as our police, fire-fighters, EMTs, those who are providing food, and so many essential services.

Beginning at Noon, St. Louis time, the Holy Father will lead the prayer service and conclude with the “Urbi et Orbi Blessing” (Blessing to the City of Rome and to the World”). All who receive this Blessing in the state of Grace are granted a plenary indulgence. (Simply go to your search engine “Pope Francis Urbi et Orbi Blessing” or refer to EWTN. In addition, if there are children in your home, you might have them do a search for the meaning of a plenary indulgence, a teachable moment to better understand the gift of their Catholic Faith.)

Grateful for You,
Father John Leykam

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On this our Parish Feast Day, many of us were able to be spiritually connected with Christians around the world as we prayed the Lord’s Prayer at Noon today with Pope Francis for deliverance from this pandemic.

On this our Parish Feast Day, everyone can pray the rosary, that through the intercession of our Lady, those who are sick may recover, the Doctors, Nurses, and Health Care Workers may be protected, and that all will heed the sound medical guidelines that come from our Medical Professionals.

On this our Parish Feast Day, I offer private Mass for you and your families!

Pope Francis

Friday, March 27th, Our Holy Father has invited everyone to participate spiritually, through all means of communication, in prayer for the whole world affected by the coronavirus. The ceremony will consist of readings from the Bible, prayers, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; and will conclude with Pope Francis giving the Urbi et orbi Blessing, with the possibility of gaining a plenary indulgence for all those who listen to it live. This blessing “to the City of Rome and to the World” is normally only given on Christmas and Easter. This prayer at St. Peter’s in Rome begins at 6 p.m. Rome time. (Simply go to your search engine “Pope Francis Urbi et Orbi Blessing” or refer to EWTN.)

Casseroles for St. Patrick Center

A reminder that the First Friday of April, is next week. For those who make casseroles for the hungry and homeless cared for by St. Patrick’s Center, please leave your frozen casseroles on the table by the front door of the rectory. As we are reminded, “Hunger never takes a vacation." Thank You!

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Tomorrow, March 25, is our Parish Feastday! Catholics and many Christians are celebrating the Annunciation, the day Gabriel visited Our Lady and thus the feast of the Lord becoming flesh within the womb of the Virgin Mary.

Pope Francis has invited all Christians around the globe to unite on March 25th at noon to pray the Our Father together - so that as the entire world is suffering from the pandemic, so the Lord might hear all of Christendom united in prayer.

In order to honor Our Blessed Mother, please pray the Rosary as a family, for God’s protection for all our Doctors, Nurses, Health Care Professionals, EMTs, Police Officers, and Firefighters. Through the intercession of Mary, we pray for those who have the virus, those who have been exposed, that God grant them healing.

At daily private Mass, you and your Families are prayed for!

God Protect You,
Father John Leykam

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I am happy to hear that many of you have used the information to watch and pray along with Masses on TV and at various sites on the internet which have been included on our website.

We have many e-mail addresses so we are able to send our Sunday bulletin electronically. Of course, the bulletin is still posted on our website. (If you wish to receive the bulletin via e-mail, please let Dodie Nelke know at: dodie@annunziata.org)

SLIconnect is the education resource of St. Luke Institute. SLIconnect.org offers resources for Catholic clergy, religious, and lay leadership by experts in psychological and spiritual health. While they offer courses and conferences for which they charge, they also offer free resources such as an excellent video called, “Resiliency in Times of Crisis.”

As you might have seen on the news, all public liturgies for Holy Week are suspended in order to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.  Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, the Chrism Mass, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Good Friday Passion of the Lord, the Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday, will be live-streamed with Archbishop Carlson from the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. Specific times and more information will come later.

While it is not possible to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion at this time, there are still opportunities to draw close to Christ and unite with the Church during these difficult times. In the posting on our Parish Website: www.Annunziata.org last Wednesday, March 18th, and repeated in last Sunday’s bulletin, there is an explanation of Spiritual Communion and a prayer for that. In addition, for a handout on Spiritual Communion or other Liturgical Resources please visit the St. Louis Archdiocesan website: https://www.archstl.org/sacred-worship/spiritual-resources

You and your Family are remembered at private Mass,
Fr. John Leykam

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With all public Masses suspended, I hope that all are able to find daily Mass on the multiple sites and channels I have put in this weekend’s Sunday bulletin, posted online, and also the other websites I included on the parish website posts during this past week.     If you go to the website:  StPaulCenter.com/hub there is a new section called, “Quarantined Catholic Hub” that offers opportunities for real spiritual growth.

Each day I offer a private Mass.  Please know you and your family are prayed for daily.

In Christ’s Love,  Father John Leykam

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As of Tuesday, March 17th, the Archbishop suspended all public Masses in the Archdiocese of St. Louis in order to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. This pastoral decision will be maintained through April 5, 2020, pending further updates.

Annunziata Church will be open, as will all Catholic Churches, to individuals for personal prayer, devoons, and the Sacrament of Confession at the regular me on each Saturday from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Church of the Annunziata opens Monday thru Friday from 6:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturdays from 6:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sundays from 6:45 a.m. unl Noon.

While there are no public Masses, Mass is live streamed from the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis at http://cathedralstl.org/live/ (Sunday at 10 a.m. and Monday thru Saturday at 8 a.m. Mass is televised on EWTN (Sundays at 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. and Monday thru Saturday at 7 a.m., 11 a.m., and 6 p.m.

Please note that this weekend’s Parish bullen should be on line later on this Friday aernoon, with hard copies available at Church beginning this weekend. In the bullen, please find addional informaon on Masses that you can live-stream.

I miss YOU!  Father John Leykam

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Today, March 19th, is the Feast of St. Joseph, Protector of Families.  During this challenging time, let us reach out in prayer for our family, friends, and community—and in a special way, for the sick, suffering, and those who are caring for them.

Pope Francis has asked everyone to pray a rosary in honor of St. Joseph for an end to this pandemic.  

God Bless You,
Father John Leykam

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In celebrating daily private Mass, I want you to know I pray for you, your families, and your special intentions.

Yesterday I suggested watching and praying with the daily Mass on EWTN. Also, there is a daily u tube video of “Mass from Bishop Barron’s Chapel”.  You can pray along with the Mass whenever you plan to watch it on your computer. Simply google, “Word on Fire Daily Mass”.

Receiving the Blessed Sacrament in the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Catholic Faith, but during these unprecedented times and to ensure the health and safety of all people, it is not possible to receive the Sacrament during this time.  However, there are still opportunities to draw close to Christ and unite with the Church during these difficult times.

The great theologian, St. Thomas Aquinas, teaches that Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace Him. Here is a beautiful example:

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With the suspension of all public Masses in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, I encourage you to watch or record and pray with the daily Mass on EWTN. You may google “Word on Fire Daily Mass”.   Bishop Robert Barron or his associate, Father Steve Grumow, offer daily Mass from Bishop Barron’s Chapel. You can tune in to that U tube video and pray any time of the day.

I offer a daily private Mass and want to assure you that you and your dear family are remembered at the Altar.  This morning, Archbishop Gomez, the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, offered the following reflection and prayer for our Nation:

“With the worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus, we are confronted once more with the fragility of our lives, and again we are reminded of our common humanity—that the peoples of this world are our brothers and sisters, that we are all one family under God.

God does not abandon us, God goes with us even now in this time of trial and testing. In this moment, it is important for us to anchor our hearts in the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. Now is the time to intensify our prayers and sacrifices for the love of God and the love of our neighbor. Let us draw closer to one another in our love for Christ, and rediscover the things that truly matter in our lives.

United with our Holy Father Pope Francis, let us pray in solidarity for our brothers and sisters here and around the world who are sick. Let us pray for those who have lost loved ones to this virus. May God console them and grant them peace.

We pray also for doctors, nurses, and caregivers, for public health officials and all civic leaders. May God grant them courage and prudence as they seek to respond to this emergency with compassion and in service to the common good.”

May God Bless You and your loved Ones,
Fr. John Leykam

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This afternoon, March 16th, at 4:30 I received an e-mail from Archbishop Robert Carlson. The Archbishop states that “in order to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community, I am mandating the suspension of all public Masses in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Pending updates and guidance from local and state government and health officials, we have preliminary plans to resume Masses beginning April 6th; however, we will re-evaluate at a later date.”

Please know our Church will be open for individuals to come for personal prayer and devotions from 6:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. during weekdays, from 6:45 to 5:00 on Saturdays, and from 6:45 to Noon on Sundays. Confessions will be held at the usual time on Saturdays from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Our Eucharistic Chapel, next to Faris Hall, will be closed until Masses resume. Our Lenten Benediction on Wednesday evenings, Stations of the Cross on Fridays, and our Parish Lenten Mission are cancelled.

Our St. Vincent de Paul Hotline remains in operation to help those in need. The number is 314-993-8133 ext. 225. We will continue to publish a Sunday bulletin which will be online. In addition, please continue to consult this website for updated information concerning our parish.

This is a strange and challenging time, but right now, the most important thing to remember is that we are all in this together. We focus on Christ, our Savior, and pray for an end to this pandemic, through the intercession of Mary, our Blessed Mother, we pray for all who are sick, for our Doctors, Nurses, Health Care Givers, and for wisdom and trust in the power of Almighty God. (The Prayer composed by the Bishops of our Church is included on our website.)

Yes, there is actually a St. Corona whose remains are in Northern Italy. In the ninth century, at the age of 16, St. Corona gave her life to comfort a fellow Christian. Ironically, St. Corona is considered as one of the patron saints of pandemics. Let us pray through her intercession that this pandemic subsides.

God Bless you!
Fr. John Leykam

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