Dear Parishioners,
In response to public health recommendations concerning the spread of the coronavirus, Archbishop Wilton Gregory has announced that no Masses open to the public will be celebrated in archdiocesan parishes until further notice, beginning tomorrow. All Catholics in the Archdiocese of Washington are dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Further details about the Archdiocesan decision can be seen at https://cathstan.org/news/local/due-to-coronavirus-archdiocese-of-washington-announces-plans-to-cancel-public-masses-and-close-catholic-schools
The sacrament of Confession will still be available as scheduled and by appointment. Our schedule Confession times are as follows: Wednesday (6:30 PM to 8:00 PM During Lent), Thursday (11:30 AM to 12:00 PM), Saturday (3:30 PM to 4:30 PM). Stations of the Cross will be celebrated tonight, Friday, March 13, but will not be held again until the Archdiocesan restriction on public Masses is lifted.
The Church will remain open for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist. While the lay faithful are unable to receive Jesus in Holy Communion, please make use of every opportunity available to continue to grow in holiness during this season of Lent. The Archdiocese of Washington produces a Sunday TV Mass that can be viewed online on demand at https://adw.org/parishes-masses/sunday-tv-mass/. EWTN also airs daily Masses that can be viewed at https://www.ewtn.com/tv/watch-live. You can also unite yourself to Jesus through a spiritual communion, using a prayer like this one from St. Alphonsus Liguori:
"My Jesus, I believe that you are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I long for you in my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though you have already come, I embrace you and unite myself entirely to you; never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
If you are not already enrolled in our weekly direct debit offertory, please continue to support the parish online at https://saintaloysiuschurch.org/donate or by mailing in your offertory donation, according to your means (P.O. Box 310, Leonardtown, MD 20650). St. Aloysius Church continues to rely on your generous support for our regular expenses.
