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Fr. McGivney Declared “Blessed”

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Fr. McGivney Declared “Blessed”

The Knights of Columbus of St. Mary’s by the Sea are proud to announce that  Pope Francis has approved the promulgation of a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to the intercession of the founder of the Knights of Columbus, Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney, a Connecticut priest who served his flock during the pandemic of 1890, before himself becoming ill and dying of pneumonia. Father McGivney is best known for founding the Knights of Columbus in New Haven, CT in 1882

The pope’s action means that Father McGivney can be declared “Blessed,” the step just prior to sainthood. An additional miracle attributed to Father McGivney’s intercession will be required for his canonization as a saint. The beatification Mass for Father McGivney is currently scheduled for October 31, 2020, in Connecticut.

For more information on the Knights of Columbus at St. Mary’s by the Sea, CLICK HERE.

 

 

DEATH OF A STAFF MEMBER

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DEATH OF A STAFF MEMBER

Dear Parishioners,

It is with a great deal of sadness that I inform you of the unexpected death of one of our beloved staff members, Linda Gilbert, the Director of Religious Education and Faith Formation who passed away early Sunday morning. Her passing has deeply affected us all. Linda had a profound impact on many parishioners, as well as the students she taught over the past 27 years. She was a devoted Catholic who truly lived her faith and supported St. Mary’s by the Sea in numerous ways. She is survived by her two sons, Justin and Blake. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

A fund has been created to help her family with funeral expenses. If you would like to contribute, please contact the Office at (714) 536-6913, x-0. Leave your name and phone number and someone will contact you as soon as possible. Thank you and God bless!

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Quang Chu – Pastor

Mass Outside Starting July 14

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Dear Parishioners,

Great news! Fr. Pascal is now home. Thanks be to God!

On another note, even though the Governor has temporarily closed churches, this is only for seating inside. St. Mary’s by the Sea will continue to hold confessions (Saturday from 3:00-4:00pm), daily Mass and weekend Masses (excluding the Latin Mass until further notice) in the Courtyard. Please bring your own chair in the event of overflow. We will still wear masks and practice social distancing, with the exception of families who are able to sit together.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Quang Chu – Pastor

Daily Mass Resumes July 14

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Dear Parishioners,

Good news everyone!!

1) Father Pascal was moved out of ICU late yesterday (Sunday).

2) My test for Covid19 came back negative! Therefore, we will resume Daily Mass beginning tomorrow morning (Tuesday, 7/14/20).

Thanks be to God and to everyone for your prayers!

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Quang Chu – Pastor

Church Closed July 11-13

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Dear Parishioners,  (see update below)

I wanted to give you an update on Fr. Pascal. As of yesterday evening, Father said his doctor was happy with his progress. He will transfer him out of ICU into a regular room in the next few days.

On another note, up until now, I have been fine. I do not have a fever nor any symptoms of the Covid virus. Unfortunately, I still have not received the results from my test. According to my doctor, all the labs are behind schedule. He did say next Monday or Tuesday for sure, maybe sooner. My doctor also suggested that we should close the Church this weekend and a few days after for the safety and health risks of others. So, I have decided to do this. I apologize, but the Church will be closed this weekend, and next Monday.

Dear Parishioners,
Good news everyone!!
1) Father Pascal moved out of ICU late yesterday (Sunday).
2) My test for Covid19 came back negative! Therefore, we will resume Daily Mass beginning tomorrow morning (Tuesday, 7/14/20).
Thanks be to God and to everyone for your prayers!
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Quang Chu – Pastor

 

Message from Father Chu

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Dear Parishioners, I would like to update you on the health status of Fr. Pascal Nguyen, O. Praem (who is the celebrant for our 11:30am & 1:30pm Latin Masses). He came down with a fever last week and was tested … Continue reading →

Reflection for 12th Week

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Dear Parishioners,

I hope you are well and safe during this time of crisis!

Since our Church reopened, I can see that there is about one-third of our parishioners returning to Church. Another two-thirds are still staying-at-home for safety. It is wonderful to see you in-person and I miss those who are unable to return to Church at this time. Whatever it maybe, we are one together in spirit and we pray for one another.

Just to let you know that because of the low attendance ator the 6:00 pm Sunday Mass, with the consultant of Staff and Pastoral Council, I decided to cancel the 6:00pm Sunday Mass beginning July 5, 2020. I apology for any inconvenience!

This weekend, we celebrate the July 4th Independence Day. Please remember our ancestors and those who are in uniform (living and deceased) in your prayers. Especially pray for peace, justice, and unity in our Country. On First Friday, July 3rd, at 3:00pm, I will expose the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration and Benediction to pray for our Country. Please join us if you can to pray for peace and justice wherever it maybe. Please take time to pray and ask the Lord for healing and to restore our life, our country, and to overcome the virus soon so we can come back to normal life. Jesus calmed the winds and the sea when His disciples were faced with a violent storm. He will calm the storm of our life and our society if we come to Him and beg Him for help.

Please continue to stand firm in your faith and belief! Be not afraid! Do not settle for feeling overwhelmed or frustrated! Instead, let the Lord go before you always, come follow Him and He will give you rest.

God bless you always and God bless the United States of America!

Happy Independence Day! Happy 4th of July!

Sincerely yours,

Rev. Quang Vinh Chu, Pastor

Corpus Christi Reflection

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Dear Parishioners,

Greeting and best wishes to all!

I was so happy to see many of you in-person at church to celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. I also missed those of you who could not yet return to our church. I thank each one of you very dearly for your understanding, patience, and cooperation with the guidelines.

I thank our hospitality and cleaning volunteers for their time and talents. You have done a wonderful job in welcoming and assisting our parishioners before and after the Masses, and for the time you spent sanitizing the pews after each Mass. God bless you all! I can see many of our parishioners were so happy to return to church and see each other.

For the first time, we gather in-person after three months of lockdown. Our attendance was down about two-thirds this weekend because many people are not yet ready to return. I hope that in these coming weekends we will have more people return to church.

On the Feast of Corpus Christi, we can sum up three important confessions about our Faith:

  1. That God became physically present in the person of Christ – True God and True Man.
  2. That God continues to be present in His people as they form the Mystical Body of Christ in His church.
  3. That the presence of God, under the form of bread and wine, is made sacramentally real for us on the altar at Mass and preserved there for our nourishment and worship.

For these reasons, I would like to invite you to come back and join with our community to celebrate the Eucharist in-person in our Church.

Let us continue to pray for peace and justice in the world, especially in our country. Peace be with you always!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. Quang Vinh Chu, Pastor.

Church to Re-open June 13

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Dear Parishioners

The Diocese of Orange has announced that we can begin celebrating public Mass on the solemnity of Corpus Christi, Sunday, June 14 (including Saturday June 13 Vigil Masses). In addition, the Bishop of Orange, Kevin W. Vann, extends a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation until such time as it is deemed safe to have large gatherings at Mass.

Those over age 65 and/or in an at-risk health group or who do not feel comfortable attending a public gathering should stay home. Also, anyone who has a fever or temperature or who is sick or has been exposed to the coronavirus should refrain from attending Mass as it is an act of Christian charity to safeguard the health of others.

St. Mary’s by the Sea will be celebrating the Mass together as a community using social distancing, maximum capacity guidelines for attendance, and guidelines for sanitization set by Bishop Kevin Vann and the State of California, no exceptions. Additional Masses are being offered to attempt to accommodate everyone who desires to attend.

MAXIMUM CAPACITY IN THE CHURCH DURING MASS IS (30) PEOPLE. Everyone will sit    6 feet away from one another (unless you are attending the Sunday 4:30 pm Family Mass), with the exception of small children who will be allowed to sit with their parent. If all seats are filled, we will provide overflow seating for (20) additional people in Fr. Johnson Hall and in the Courtyard, where Mass will be viewed on a large screen.

Please plan to arrive no later than 15 minutes prior to the Mass. All households will line up at the Main Entrance of St. Mary’s by the Sea (following social distancing tape placed on the sidewalk). Ushers will be waiting at the steps to seat you and your household. Please use the single entry when entering and exiting the Church. For those who need to use the ramp to enter the church, an usher will be available to provide assistance.

All individuals attending Holy Mass at this time must wear masks, unless medically unable to do so. You will be allowed to remove it only when receiving Holy Communion. If you should forget to bring your mask, one will be provided for you.

Holy Water fonts will be empty, but you are encouraged to still make the sign of the cross.

The sign of peace and distribution of the Precious Blood is suspended. Instructions for receiving Holy Communion will be announced during each Mass. If you are uncomfortable receiving the Eucharist at this time, you are always welcome to remain in the pew and make a Spiritual Communion.

In accordance with the Bishop’s directives, there will be no singing by the congregation until otherwise noted. In addition, all missals, prayer cards or other paper resources are currently not available.

Hand sanitizer will be available to all people. Pews and high-contact areas will be thoroughly sanitized/cleaned in between Masses. Please follow the instructions at the end of the Mass.

A large container will be located at the Church entrance/exit doors to drop off collection envelopes and donations.

Our first consideration must be for the health and safety of our parishioners and those whom they will encounter. As Bishop Kevin Vann said on Friday, “We know that God is with us, but at the same time we have to be careful and make sure that we protect each other in this challenging time.”

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we come together for the Holy Sacrifice with measures in place to minimize risks.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Quang Vinh Chu – Pastor

Temporary Schedule Effective June 13th

Daily Mass (Monday-Saturday): 8:00 am  

Saturday Vigil Masses

4:30 pm (with music)

6:00 pm (no music)

 Sunday Masses

7:30 am (with music)

9:30 am (with music – no choir)

11:30 am Latin Mass (no Schola)

1:30 pm Latin Mass (no Schola)

*4:30 pm Family Mass (no music

 Confessions:           Saturday 3:00-4:00 pm

*PLEASE NOTE: Families may sit in one pew next to each another at the
Sunday, 4:30 pm Family Mass ONLY.

LIMITED PUBLIC MASSES CAN BEGIN ON SUNDAY, JUNE 14

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DIOCESE OF ORANGE ANNOUNCES LIMITED PUBLIC MASSES CAN BEGIN
ON SUNDAY, JUNE 14 IN PHASED APPROACH

May 22, 2020

Garden Grove, Calif., (May 22, 2020) – The Diocese of Orange announced today that public Masses can begin in Orange County on the solemnity of Corpus Christi, Sunday, June 14 (including Saturday June 13 Vigil Masses) in a phased-in approach with measures in place to safeguard public health. In addition, the Bishop of Orange, Kevin W. Vann, extends a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation until such time as it is deemed safe to have large gatherings at Mass.

After extensive consultation over these past few months with civil authorities, County of Orange Health Authority, as well as with our medical advisors, the decision was made to gradually open the churches for Mass with strict guidelines for attendance including important requirements for the distribution and reception of Holy Communion and the safety and health of all who attend. Bishop Vann acknowledges the hard work of Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, on behalf of all the California bishops, who met frequently with Governor Newsom and his staff. The positive cooperation of all involved – working together for the common good – has helped bring us to this important moment.

“The pandemic is far from over so we will begin with small steps,” said Bishop Vann. “Realizing that reinfection is a concern, as we saw occurred in Texas and elsewhere, I am asking our pastors to prepare their churches to ensure that these guidelines are followed without exception.” Indeed advisors to the bishop have been working on guidelines for weeks, in consultation with county officials and other experts.

The Diocese announced that phase one brings smaller groups of healthy Catholics back to a limited Mass with strict social distancing guidelines and rules. Phase two would allow larger groups while phase three would allow choirs to return to church and social gatherings to resume. At this point, it is unknown when we might be able to enter phases two and three. Phasing our return allows for the ability to re-evaluate the process as necessary in order to ensure the health and safety of the community going forward.

All phases of this plan require following strict guidelines for social distancing and sanitization.

  • Those over age 65 and/or with a co-morbidity will be encouraged to consider not returning to Mass just yet, and anyone showing any symptoms of sickness, or anyone who has a household member who is sick or showing symptoms of sickness should not come to church.
  • The church will be thoroughly sanitized/cleaned before and after each service, including all entryways and doors. Holy water fonts will be empty, and hymnals removed.
  • Hand sanitizer will be available at all churches.
  • All local safety orders specifically relating to proper face coverings will be followed.
  • People will be instructed to not engage in any physical touch, such as by greeting each other.
  • Signs and other instructions will encourage normal safe practices necessary to avoid the spread (e.g. cough or sneeze into a shirtsleeve, handkerchief, or tissue; avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth).
  • Ventilation will be increased as much as possible by opening windows and doors, as weather permits.
  • The sign of peace and distribution of the Precious Blood is suspended.

Catholics should visit the website of their parish for eventual specific instructions on how their parish will offer Masses and how attendance will be allowed. In most cases, only one-third of the church space will be available per Mass. Bishop Vann has granted a temporary dispensation from the requirements of canon 932, which will permit priests to celebrate Mass outside the sacred space of a church building, thereby permitting parishes to utilize other spaces for Masses including gymnasiums, parish halls and outdoor spaces.

Since the Sunday obligation has been dispensed from, Catholics will be encouraged to attend other Masses during the week instead of on Sunday, in order to spread out the number of people attending. More Masses than usual will be offered to attempt to accommodate everyone who desires to attend Mass during this phase. In addition, many parishes will continue to livestream Masses.

Anyone who is in an at-risk health group or does not feel comfortable attending a public gathering should stay home. Also, anyone who is sick or has been exposed to the coronavirus should refrain from attending a public Mass as it is an act of Christian charity to safeguard the health of others.

“Please continue to pray for those who have died, those who are sick from this disease and for the people who care for them,” said Bishop Vann. “I wish to thank everyone for their sacrifices over these last weeks to benefit the common good. It has been a time of reflection, prayer and growth in faith for many of us. We will continue to take one day at a time and walk in faith together until the day we can all gather to rejoice in the Lord. The Solemnity of Corpus Christi (the Body and Blood of Christ) is a very fitting feast day to begin our journey to once again gather together as the Lord’s people.”

About the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange

With 1.3 million Catholics, 57 parishes, 5 Catholic centers, and 41 schools, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange is one of the largest and most diverse faith communities in the United States. The Diocese encourages Catholics across Orange County to have an active life of faith that is integrated and woven into the fabric of their daily lives through the community and sacramental life of the Church. Under the leadership of Bishop Kevin Vann, the Diocese works to establish and support dynamic, vibrant parishes and schools welcoming all to live the Gospel with faith, joy, charity and unity. Christ Cathedral, the spiritual home of the Diocese, was dedicated in July 2019.

Learn more about the Diocese of Orange at https://www.rcbo.org.