St. William Catholic Church

Earlier Letter...

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As you have likely heard on national and local media, the Covid-19 coronavirus is a serious, contagious respiratory illness that can easily spread from person to person. It originated in China and cases have now been reported in other countries including Italy, Hong Kong, Canada, France, Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. Coronavirus symptoms resemble typical flu symptoms and include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

While the U.S. has experienced minimal coronavirus cases to date, I ask you to exercise special precautions during the celebration of the Mass and implement protocols at parish functions to minimize the potential for coronavirus and flu spread and to educate on how to avoid exposure. For example, guidance could be offered by way of announcements and/or signs. Alcohol-based anti-bacterial solution or wipes could be made available at entrances. Based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), please remind your parishioners to:

1) Cover coughs/sneezes, throwing away used tissues.
2) Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day.
3) Avoid shaking hands, and clean hands often.
4) Do not share personal items. Take care not to share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets. After using these items, wash them thoroughly with soap and hot water.

In deference to points three and four above, I strongly encourage you not to extend the Sign of Peace, distribute Holy Communion from the chalice or otherwise invite people to extend a greeting at Mass or other gatherings.

All those who distribute Holy Communion should wash their hands before Mass begins. As a further precaution they may clean their hands again by using an alcohol-based anti-bacterial solution before distributing Holy Communion. After distributing Holy Communion, they should purify their fingers using an ablution cup, and then may proceed to use the alcohol-based anti-bacterial solution again.

Also, please let parishioners know that they are legitimately excused from Mass if symptoms are present or have any reason to suspect that they have been exposed to the virus. They could be encouraged to watch live-streamed Sunday Masses online, Masses broadcast on EWTN (www.ewtn.com), or recorded homilies/Masses offered on your websites.

The CDC expects coronavirus cases to increase in the U.S. in the coming weeks and asks organizations to begin responsible planning to minimize the likelihood of infection and related disruption. I am grateful for your attention to these important matters.
 
For additional information regarding the coronavirus, please visit the CDC’s website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis
Bishop of Charlotte

“OUR FAITH IN ACTION” is the theme of the 2020 Diocesan Support Appeal which kicks off the weekend of February 8th and 9th. You will be receiving correspondence from Bishop Jugis asking for your generous support of the DSA. A short video will be shown during the Masses on the kick off weekend which will present an overview of how the funds given to the DSA impact our Diocese. Bishop Jugis asks each of us to prayerfully consider a gift to the DSA as a way of serving Christ through service to thousands of Catholics in Western North Carolina.


The DSA Assessment for 2020 is $19,613. 
The shortfall was paid from operating funds.
Thank you to all who contributed.

Click HERE to start a new or one-time 2020 online pledge.

Click HERE to make a payment on an existing 2020 online pledge.

DIOCESAN SUPPORT APPEAL PRAYER

Loving God, You call us to a life of service, entrusting to us
the mission of making Your name and Your love known.
We strive each day to use Your generous gifts to grow ever more faithfully into a
community of faith and love, attracting people to Your Son, Jesus.
We are grateful for Your gifts.
Help us to use them wisely in Your service. Keep us ever
mindful of the many needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Help us recognize the presence of Your Son in them and respond to the Diocesan Support Appeal with love,
compassion and generosity. May our words and actions be
a response to Your great love, in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

Pledges made to the 2020 Diocesan Support Appeal must be completed by the end of the year. Contributions made after December 31, 2020 will be credited to the 2021 appeal.

The Annual Priest Retirement Assessment for 2019 was $6,110.
The shortfall was paid from operating funds.
Thank you to all who contributed

The Annual Priest Retirement Assessment for 2020 has not been assessed yet, however, we do not have to wait to contribute. 
All contributions made after 1/1/2020 will go towards this year's goal.

If you're interested in receiving daily messages during Lent, with challenges, messages and a few videos....consider joining St. William's Lenten Messages.

Click below to join:
Lenten Messages

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This helps you stay in the know on what's going on in our parish!

So fill out the box above or click on Uno (the little sheep) in our header.