St. Theresa Catholic church

‎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.

He will be having confessions this following week on Wednesday afternoon between 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. 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

  
       Our life and routine has been readjusted in the last week or two, and we do not know what is going to happen in the foreseeable future.  The everyday moments of Mass attendance has been curtailed at this present time it is so different celebrating Mass in private with no people present.  But prayer is always needed.  So let us continue to pray for our priests and our Bishop as we continue this journey.  The foundation of our families and our community is our faith.  Prayer happens in our homes, in our journey to work, in the everyday moment, with interaction with others,
     In todays gospel, the significance of the story is not about much about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, but it is about having faith in Christ even when it looks like death has the final say.  This story reminds us, because of our baptism, we are committed to a life of faith and trust.  We are invited to believe that God wants us to be fully alive, to be fully human.  When we look to this weekend’s gospel, we are invited to consider, with some honesty, what Jesus’s question means to us.  In what way and to what extent is Jesus really my “life”.  The raising of Lazarus is a strong imagine that the Lord can raise up from anything, no matter what it may be, even raising faith in the hearts of the faithful.
     As we continue our journey of Lent, the question of Jesus is one that remains at the heart of our faith.  And so, do you believe??  If we boldly answer YES, let us pray for a renewal of our hearts to Christ, who is truly the resurrection and the life.
 
 

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