Church of St. Mary

LENTEN FAST AND ABSTINENCE: During the Season of Lent, the Church urges the faithful to a spirit of penance in their daily lives through performing acts of fasting and abstinence. Jesus Christ set the example of fasting.  He commanded it for His disciples in His Sermon on the Mount.  His Apostles followed His example as seen from the Book of Acts of the Apostles.  All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence.  Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of both fast and abstinence.  Observing days of fast and abstinence are grave matter according to Church law.  Therefore, to knowingly and willingly violate them without a dispensation or reasonable excuse is a mortal sin.

Fasting means limiting one’s eating of food.  On Fast days, only one full meal a day may be eaten.  Two smaller meals can be eaten to maintain physical strength, but together the two meals should not equal the full meal in quantity.  There have been two acceptable ways to determine the quantity of food. The absolute norm, according to American custom, is that there is no limitation to the quantity of food that may be eaten at the full meal.  However, the natural law of temperance must be observed to avoid gluttony.  Also, this meal should not be prolonged for more than 2 hours.  Meanwhile, the morning meal would not exceed 2 ounces and the evening meal would not exceed 8 ounces. The relative norm was adopted by the Bishops of the United States in 1952.  It is relative to the person’s particular needs (physiology, size, health, work, etc.).  The relative norm means a person may eat a sufficient amount at the morning and evening meal so as to be able to perform his daily tasks without too great an inconvenience, but in such wise that that he or she eats less than usual and that these two smaller meals do not equal together the one full meal of this particular individual.  For example, if your full meal is 24 ounces, your morning meal might be 6 ounces and evening meal 12 ounces. On fast days, snacking between meals is not permitted.  The fast is not broken by liquids as long as the liquids are not too nourishing.  For example, water, soda, tea, coffee, even with milk and sugar, milk, fruit juices, wine, and beer are allowed between meals as well as at meals.  But, soup, cream, a thick shake, or smoothie, etc. are forbidden between meals. Catholics ages 18-59 are obligated to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  Catholics are encouraged to fast on other days of Lent even when there is no obligation.  Those with serious health problems and those whose work would seriously be affected are dispensed from the fast.  Of course, those taking advantage of these mitigations should compensate by prayer, more frequent reception of the sacraments, prayer, almsgiving, spiritual reading, etc.  In doubt, a priest should be consulted.  Those who are younger than 18 or older than 59, while not obligated to fast, are encouraged to join in the discipline of fasting to the extent that they are able.

Abstinence forbids the eating of meat which comes from warm-blooded land animals.  [Snails, frogs, and snakes may be eaten.]  Soups made from meat are forbidden, but Church law allows condiments, even those made from the fat of animals, such as lard and drippings from fat.  Milk and cheese are permitted.  Catholics 14 years old and older are obligated to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent, including Good Friday unless a dispensation has been granted or a grave reason allows the consumption of meal.  Catholics should consult a priest if they have a doubt on this matter.  In the United States, those under 14 years of age are encouraged to abstain from meet on days of abstinence since nutritious vegetarian meals are not hard to find.

EASTER DUTY The time for fulfilling our Easter Duty by  a sincere confession and worthy reception of Holy Communion in the state of sanctifying grace extends from the First Sunday of Lent (Feb. 21) to Holy Trinity Sunday (May 30).

In August of 2020, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese stated that "the Church trusts her faithful to make very cautious and prudential judgements about obeying any of the requirements of God, all the while being careful that it is not going to be potentially dangerous to their health. At the beginning of the quarantine, we directed the people that they should be completely free of any guilt if they decided that they couldn’t attend Mass. When all the Masses were canceled, it wasn’t possible for them to attend anyway. Once we are given assurances by medical professionals that there are no longer crowd limitations at our churches, there will be the catechetical opportunity to offer a reminder that it will then be possible for any number of people to congregate safely. We don’t anticipate this coming for a while. When it does happen, we understand that, if anyone is in compromised health (priest and people alike), the Church understands if one decides on a given Sunday not to attend Mass." 
Therefore, those who are at a greater risk of COVID-19 (those older than 65 or who have underlying health conditions) are cautioned that it may be more prudent not to come to church for Mass on Sunday until a future date.  

If one judges it is not safe for oneself to attend Mass, it is still necessary to mark Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation by refraining from unnecessary work and spending some time in prayer.  
Of course, personal prayer can never equal personal presence at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  (Watching Holy Mass on TV might be compared to watching a video of a of your mother or father rather than being with her or him.  However, if you or your mother or father were at great risk for a serious illness by a visit, it would be understandable.)   However, one should spend time in personal prayer.  Moreover, one might feel safer to attend Holy Mass on a weekday when there a fewer people present in the Church.

Please note the following for those who will attend Mass:
“The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there is a 20% to 50% chance that those infected do not show symptoms. Yet even those asymptomatic people may be just as capable of transmitting the disease as other infected people who eventually become sick.” (LA Times, May 26, 2020)
Nevertheless, Doctors say that evidence shows Mass is safe when guidelines are followed (click here). (Catholic New Agency, August 27, 2020)

Current Saftey Precuations include the following:
• Churches are limited to 50% capacity by New York State.  Our capacity is 602, so theoretically we can have 300 people.  But, with the 6ft social distancing rule for those who are not accustomed to be in each other's close company, we may not be able to accomodate that many.  For example, in teunlikely event that only individuals who were not of the same household were to come we have a socially distanced seating for only 118.
• Carefully read the signs as you enter. If you have a fever, cough, sore throat, trouble breathing, loss of taste or smell, or other flu like symptoms, do not enter.
• You MUST wear a MASK that covers your mouth and nose.
• You are strongly encouraged to use hand sanitizer as you enter. You may also want to bring your own so you can use it immediately before Holy Communion if you intend to receive in he hand.
• There is no Holy Water in the fonts.  But you can take Holy Water away in a personal bottle using the font near the pulpit.
• When possible, church windows will be open to allow fresh air to circulate, air conditioning usage will be limited.  Some studies have shown that air conditioning can blow the virus from person to person at a greater distance than six feet.  
• The bathroom IS NOT available. For proper safety it would need to be cleaned after EVERY USE. 
• All books and missalettes are removed as directed by the Archdiocese.  
• Pews will be blocked off so that everyone (except close family who live together) is six feet apart.
•  Please, depart soon after the end of Mass so that they church can be locked and cleaned before the next Mass.  
• Holy Mass has infinite value a prayer. It is the same Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross now offered in an unbloodymanner. Holy Communion is the fullest participation in Mass for a soul that is in the state of grace and disposed by prayer and fasting to receive our Lord. While there is no obligation to receive Holy Communion at every Mass, for those who are prepared to do so, our Lord’s Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity will be administered at the usual time.

• There will be one or two ministers administering Holy Communion.  They will have washed their hands before Mass and sanitize their hands with hand sanitizer immediately before offering holy communion.
• The 3 usual conditions apply to receive Holy Communion: (1) one must be in the state of grace, not conscious of having committed a mortal sin since one's last good confession, (2) have fasted for one hour from food and drink unless medicial condition exempts, and (3) have prepared oneself by prayer. 
• The Church in the United States allows two ways of receiving Holy Communion, on the tongue or in a clean hand.  (The Sacred Host cannot be placed in a hand wearing a glove.) 
• Directions will be announced at each Mass for the flow of Communion.  Wearing your mask, approach by the side aisles.  Return to your seats through the center aisle. 
• Keep 6 feet of separation from the person in front of you in line. Tape on the Church floor will mark the distance.
• Be patient during Communion and do not leave your pew until there is 6 feet of space from the next parishioner.  It is recommended that you bring your own hand sanitizer and use it at this time if you plan to receive in the hand.  
• When you arrive at the minister who says, “The Body of Christ.” Say “Amen.” Before you remove your mask.  Then, remove your facemask when directly in front of the Minister.
• Open your mouth or extend both hands as much as possible without moving. 
• Consume the Blessed Sacrament, check your hands for particles which must be consumed, and then replace your Mask over your face before moving to return to your pew.
• If the minister touches your hand or tongue, he will purify his fingers in the ablution bowl and the sanitize his fingers with alcohol before continuing to administer the Blessed Sacrament. 

 
BAPTISMS
Those who have scheduled baptisms will soon be contacted to arrange the date.  Those who are willing to have baptisms on days other than Saturday and Sunday will likely have a sooner baptism.  
 
FUNERALS/MEMORIAL MASS
Those who have had burials of loved ones here during the lockdown are invited to call the Rectory to schedule a Memorial Mass.

CONFESSIONS
Saturday 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm - in CHAPEL
Your priest is available to hear your confessions by appointment outside scheduled times.  Please, call the emergency number 845-797-1064 to coordinate with Father the place and time. 
 In all cases, physical distancing will be practiced.  It will be necessary to keep at least a 6 foot distance as a precaution between you and the priest in case one of us is an asymptomatic carrier of covid.   You must also wear a mask.
Please, let Father know beforehand if you are feeling sick.     
 

SUPPORT FOR YOUR PARISH

Dear Parishioners, 

Thank you for continuing to support St. Mary's by mailing and dropping off your offertory envelopes! 

Thank you to those who give electronically!
 
Giving electronically, through WeShare, is the easiest and "lockdown-friendly" way to do so. 
Even if you give   through parish envelopes, you might want to consider temporarily giving electronically.  You can always revert back to using envelopes after this pandemic over - -Lod may it be soon!  

For information on how to give electronically, click here or call 1-800-950-9952.

Whatever you decide, thank you, for your generosity and dedication to you parish church.
 - Fr. Daniel
 

Angelus:  Mon-Fri.  after 8:30 AM Mass
Rosary:    Sun. before 10:00 Mass 
Miraculous Medal: Mon. after 8:30 Mass
Guadalupe Prayer Group:Mon7-8PM(Spanish)
Holy Hour: First Fridays 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
         First Mondays 7:15 PM-8:15 PM (Spanish)