St. Theresa Catholic church

Post:  St Theresa's will be live streaming Stations of the Cross followed by a Rosary starting at 6pm  

  "I understood that all we accomplish, however brilliant, is worth nothing  without love."
St Theresa

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‎Ann Krafft Buettner‎ to St. Theresa Catholic Church

Father Mark has asked me to post about the Church being open to private worship daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The church has been sanitized and sanitizer is available at the entrance.

 Please maintain your social distancing. He is also available Saturday for confessions, please call him at the office to set up a time, 903-845-2306

                   
 

     This weekend, the church celebrates the Most Holy Trinity.  Some people have referred to it as Mystery Sunday.  What we are celebrating is the very nature of God, which at the end of the day is always a mystery.  This isn’t to say that we don’t have an understanding of what or who the Trinity is.  There is centuries of thought and argument to bring us to such an understanding.  We should always be reminded that our human understanding of God is limited.  The ways in which God works, in us and through us, is not something we can even begin to wrap our heads around.
     In the first reading from Exodus, we are reminded of that mystery, that the Lord descends from a cloud to stand with Moses on the mountainside.  In the exchange, there is a poetic descriptor from the creator.  “A merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.”
     In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, describes the Trinity in terms of Grace, Love, and Fellowship.  The God of Love and peace would be with the Corinthians if they encourage one another and live in peace.  Paul is describing the ways in which God shows up in the midst of community.  God works through people who are in a loving relationship with each other, just as the three persons of the Trinity are in relationship with each other.
     Community is important and it is a call that is heard throughout all of scripture.  The Biblical focus in community is simple.  When you are looking out for yourself, it is you against the world, when you look out for others in your community and they in turn, look out for you it is the community together that faces the challenges, setbacks, and opportunities the world offers.  And that is where God, a community of three persons, shows up.
 

 



   
               

SOCIAL SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS:  Please join us on the 1st Saturday and/or the 2nd Sunday of each month for food and fellowship.     

Decree Suspending the public Celebration of Mass and Enacting Other Measures

JOSEPH EDWARD STRICKLAND
BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE APOSTOLIC SEE
BISHOP OF TYLER

DECREE
Suspending the Public Celebration of Mass and Enacting Other Measures

Considering that it is my responsibility to show concern and act with humanity and the charity of Christ toward all those entrusted to my care as Bishop of Tyler (c. 383, §§1, 3), and recognizing my duty to direct, promote, and guard the liturgical life of the diocese (c. 835, §1); and

Having consulted medical experts and heeding the guidance of the civil authorities and public health professionals regarding the critical need to limit gatherings to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease, including the guidelines issued by the President of the United States in this time of national emergency; 

Therefore, in virtue of my ordinary, proper, and immediate authority as diocesan bishop, I hereby decree as follows:

1. The suspension of all public Masses in the Diocese of Tyler. Accordingly, this includes a dispensation for all the faithful in the diocese from the obligation to participate at Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation (cc. 87, §1; 1247).

2. The celebration of Holy Mass by the priest privately (without the people) should continue and include, if possible, the assistance of only one other adult minister who is asymptomatic (cc. 904; 906). Previously scheduled intentions, including the weekly Mass for the people, may be fulfilled in this manner.

3. The faithful are encouraged to keep the Lord’s day holy and celebrate Sunday as a domestic church by taking time to pray together as a household (c. 1248, §2). Diocesan media will have resources for daily Mass readings, spiritual communion, and other devotions.

4. Baptisms may still be celebrated, but with the requirement to keep attendance to asymptomatic immediate family and godparents.

5. The sacrament of penance should still be offered, but penance services are to be canceled. When celebrated individually, proper social distancing should be observed as much as possible. Consideration should be given to moving the penitent approximately six feet from the confessor, even if this would necessitate using a different room than is normally used for confession or celebrating the sacrament in a more open location.

6. Visits to the sick may still take place and anointing of the sick should still be celebrated by priests for those who are seriously ill or in danger of death, but always following the recommended protocols for handwashing and use of masks by those infected and those who are ministering. Priests are reminded that they may use an instrument (e.g. a cotton swab) to anoint if there is a grave reason (c. 1000, §2).

7. Public weddings should be rescheduled, particularly those in April. Simple weddings may be celebrated, but only with the minister, official witnesses, and asymptomatic immediate family members.

8. Funerals may be celebrated, but only with the minister and immediate family members. Pastors may use discretion on requests from families to include others.

9. Public celebrations of the Liturgy of the Hours, Stations of the Cross, and other devotional gatherings are suspended until the public celebration of Mass resumes. Churches may remain open for private prayer, provided due regard is given to the proper sanitization and hygiene procedures.

I order that this decree be made known to all concerned and communicated to the faithful by the pastors of the diocese.

These measures take effect March 18, 2020 and will remain in force until further notice, with an update to be provided on April 1. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding.

Given at Tyler, at the Diocesan Curia, on March 17, 2020, the Memorial of St. Patrick.

 + Joseph E. Strickland
Bishop of Tyler

 Peyton Low
Chancellor

Thank you for your interest in our parish. Whether you’re just visiting us for a brief time, looking for a new parish home, are returning to the practice of your Catholic faith, or are interested in finding out more about the Catholic Church, we’re happy to have you here.

                                                                                    DO ALL THINGS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD