Onsite Daily & Weekend Masses Canceled
Dear People of St Raphael,
On behalf of Fr. Jeremiah, our deacons and staff, I am writing to assure you of our love and prayers for you and all the people of St Raphael Church.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, our lives have been changing rapidly. In this time of uncertainty and change, and in light of the newest sacramental restrictions, Fr. Jeremiah and I have been collaborating with our deacons and staff to provide the community of St Raphael necessary changes and new resources to help us all remain close to Christ Jesus, our rock and source of eternal stability.
It is difficult for all of us to adjust to such abrupt changes. It requires flexibility and creativity. That’s why we want to hear from you! We welcome your creative thoughts and ideas on what we can do to keep the community of St Raphael strong and rooted in the hope of Jesus Christ. If you have any ideas, please send us a note at the following address: Srcideas@st-raphael.com. Although it is unlikely that we will be able to respond to all messages, we will check this email daily, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Here are a few new ways we are trying to continue our mission:
Daily Reflections
Each day one of our priests or deacons will provide a spiritual reflection in either written or audio format. Click the Daily Reflections button above.
Live-streamed Sunday Mass at 9:00 am, daily Mass at 7:30 am & other forms of spiritual communion.
Click here watch the live-streamed Mass
Unfortunately, priests will be unable to permit anyone into the church during the celebration of Mass. In rare circumstances when Mass is unavailable, the faithful are always encouraged to make an act of spiritual communion with Christ our Lord and the Church. One powerful way to do this amid present circumstances is by participating in Sunday Mass remotely via the internet. A live-stream of the Mass will be offered on Sundays at 9:00 am. We will also be offering daily Mass at 7:30am on Monday through Saturday.
In addition to a live-stream of the Mass, a recording of the Mass will be available afterward.
It is very sad that the “source and summit” of our faith is currently inaccessible to the faithful in the ordinary way. We should be praying for this restriction to end as soon as possible. In the meantime, here are few links to deepen devotion and aid us in making a spiritual communion with Christ:
- Spiritual Communion
- How Do Actual & Spiritual Communion Differ
- Can’t Receive the Eucharist? How to Make a Spiritual Communion
- The Value of a Spiritual Communion
- Spiritual Communion
Spiritual Communion Prayer (with Anima Christi)
Jesus, I desire to receive you into the poor dwelling that my heart offers. While waiting for the happiness of sacramental Communion, I wish to possess you in spirit. Come to me, O my Jesus, since I for my part, am coming to you. May your love embrace my whole being in life and in death. I believe in you, I hope in you, I love you. Amen.
Anima Christi
Water from Christ’s side, wash me
Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee
With Thy saints and with Thy angels
Forever and ever. Amen
Resources for Teen Ministries at St. Raphael
Students in our 7th, 8th, and 9th Grade Small Christian Communities can access prayer resources, videos, and more at https://saintraphaelteenministries.wordpress.com. The site will be updated regularly, and major announcements will be posted on the homepage.
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- RPM teens can access prayer resources and the RPM Spotify playlist here: https://saintraphaelteenministries.wordpress.com/rpm/. This site will also include the link to join our live RPM video chats on Thursday nights.
- Teen girls are invited to view the prayer and activity resources for the Arise teen girls’ group: https://saintraphaelteenministries.wordpress.com/arise/.
- Everyone is welcome to read blog posts from our youth minister, Chris, our Echo apprentice, Sydney, and several of the RPM teens. These will feature the ways that they are praying and living their faith at home. Blog site: https://saintraphaelteenministries.wordpress.com/peer-ministry-blog/
Please check the website daily for changes and additions.
God Bless,
Fr. John and Fr. Jeremiah
Dear Family,
No one could have dreamed when I left in January that all Churches would be closed by March. It is truly a test of faith that we are all going through together. Though each of us is confined we are all united in prayer, and God is with us. I have been praying every–day for the parish family since I left, and I am offering each mass while in isolation for the parish family, especially the sick and those who are caring for them. Fear is our enemy, so I encourage you with the Gospel words, “Be not afraid”.
I returned from Italy on March 13th.
Things went from bad to worse in a short time and we were told we needed to leave for the United States. Within days we went from everything closing in Rome, to a travel ban, to a pandemic. By the grace of God I got the last flight out of Rome before the ban went into effect. It was a time of great tension, yet I needed to place my trust in God, whatever the outcome.
I was quartined the week before we left Rome, and have now been in self isolation for eight days with six more to go, with no sign of the virus. This is truly a time to turn to God and trust in His tender love for us all. I never dreamed when I took a sabbatical the entire world would get a sabbatical too. I think it is healthy for the soul to continue to laugh out loud, that the evil that has caused so much pain and fear, can never take away our joy that in God we have our victory, and His grace is sufficient.
None of us knows how this will end, the only real control we have is to lift up our daily prayers, to help those in need, and take each day as it unfolds. My niece sent me a picture of my great nephew who had fallen asleep while praying the rosary. She said he wants to pray it every night but never makes it past the first decade. Seeing this in one so young, I know God is doing something wonderful. Let us all unite our crosses to the cross of Jesus Christ, and walk humbly with our God.
I would like to thank Fr. Jeremiah and Fr John, our Deacons and staff not only for all they have done and are doing, but also for their selflessness and care they have shown to the Parish Family in these difficult days. Let us hold each other up in prayer, until we can all be united around the altar of our Eucharistic Lord.
Pax,
Fr Dan