Category: Uncategorized

June 10, 2020

Dear Parishioners,

We praise and thank God for this opportunity to be together again! This week, we will begin to hold public Masses in the church once again as the Coronavirus shutdown begins to be lifted. We will have our regular Masses on weekdays beginning on Thursday, June 11 with Mass at 9 AM,  going forward. On Saturdays, we will still have our regular Mass at 5:15 PM starting this Saturday, June 13.

We will be holding one Mass on Sundays, which will be moved to 10 AM instead of our regular time of 10:45 AM. We will NOT be holding Mass at 8:30 AM.These new times will begin this Sunday, June 14 and extend into the foreseeable future.

There are a few things we would like everybody to keep in mind when entering the church for Mass:

• Masks or face coverings must be worn in the church at all times. Those without face coverings will not be allowed into the church.
• We will have hand sanitizer available for use when entering the church
• Attendance will be limited to 100 people.
• Social distancing must be maintained in the church at all times. Ushers will be seating people as they arrive to ensure proper spacing. Entry will be limited to the main doors of the church. The side doors leading to the parking lots and the rectory will be used for exiting only.
• Communion will be administered at Masses starting on Saturday June 13. This will be done with alterations made to comply with health guidelines from the Diocese and the CDC. Click here for more information regarding the distribution of Holy Communion.

We hope that as a church family, we stay strong together in these trying times, we pray for wisdom for what lies ahead and the Holy Spirit to guide us. We continue to Trust the Lord and His Divine plan.

A quick update on Msgr. Bauhoff: He was admitted to St. Francis Hospital again on Tuesday, June 9, due to anemia causing him to feel lightheaded and shortness of breath. The doctors will run tests in the coming days. Some of you may remember him experiencing a similar issue in 2018. He already reported feeling better after spending some time in the hospital. Please keep him in your prayers.

We are excited to be able to reopen for public Masses, and thank you all for your continued support through this shutdown. We look forward to seeing you this weekend.

Sincerely,
Lorelei-“Bullet” Onglengco
Business Manager

Dear Parishioners,

As per amendments made June 10 to the reopening guidelines by the Diocese, we are happy to announce the following:

Starting Saturday, June 13, churches will be able to resume the distribution of Holy Communion in the form of the Most Holy Body of Christ. The Precious Blood will NOT be distributed until further notice.

With this new development, there are several things to keep in mind with regards to the way we will conduct the distribution of Holy Communion:

• The distribution of Holy Communion will be moved to after the conclusion of Mass for the time being.
  • This is done to allow priests to wear masks while in close contact with other people, as they are not allowed to have their faces covered during the Mass proper.
  • This is also done to ease the flow of people past each other while walking to receive; parishioners will receive Holy Communion and then exit the church rather than walk back through the church and return to their seats, thus reducing the number of other parishioners they walk past so as to maintain appropriate social distancing.
  • At Holy Name of Jesus, parishioners will follow the receiving line up toward the Alter, and then exit through the side doors to the parking lots after receiving.
• Priests and ministers may NOT wear glove will distributing Holy Communion, and parishioners may NOT wear gloves while receiving. This is in accordance with both CDC and Church guidelines.
  • Priests and ministers will have hand sanitizer available next to them as they distribute and may pause distribution momentarily to sanitize their hands if they have come in physical contact with someone while ministering Holy Communion.
• Parishioners should wear their masks while on line to receive, then remove their masks right before it is their turn to receive.

These changes are done to ensure best health practices are easily maintained. The health of all parishioners is our number one priority. As such you may notice several other changes in the church and during Mass:

• Some parts of the Mass may be altered or removed. For example, there will be no invitation to exchange the Sign of Peace
• Priests may make announcements regarding new procedures at times if they feel it is necessary.
• Pews may be taped off, markings may be placed on the floor, and signs may be placed on the walls to help direct the flow of parishioners through the church and enforce proper social distancing.
• The church will continue to be cleaned regularly, especially after all Masses

We would like to remind everybody that the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass is still in effect. Those in high-risk populations for COVID-19 are encouraged to stay home for their own health and safety. We ask that anyone who is not feeling well and anyone with a fever or cough of any kind should stay home.

When entering the church, please follow the guidelines listed above, as well as any mentioned in previous announcements and any guidelines given by the CDC. Remember that you must wear a mask when inside the church.

We are excited to be able to distribute Holy Communion again, and we look forward to seeing you this weekend!

 

Sincerely,

The HNJ Parish Staff

May 27, 2020

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

A brief email to share with you on what we can and cannot offer at Church at the current time based on the guidelines of the Diocese and the Governor.

In-door Masses are permitted for Funerals and Weddings with a maximum of 10 people including the priest. Baptism celebrations must follow the same rule – maximum of 10 people including the priest or the deacon. Sunday and/or weekday celebrations of Mass are not permitted at this time.

The Diocese is preparing guidelines for “drive in” Masses. While we have a fairly large parking lot, and a good number of parishioners have suggested the possibility of a drive in Mass, several problems need to be addressed:

– A platform that would allow everyone in their cars to see the altar. A preliminary investigation reveals that platforms can be rented with a daily/monthly fee depending on the size of the platform. A canopy over the altar.

– Sound and amplification for the prayers and readings; outdoor speakers cannot work because of the proximity of the residents in the adjoining complex.

– With the warmer weather and higher temperatures in June, the temperatures in the cars could become uncomfortable but we cannot have the cars running to provide air conditioning for its occupants because of the proximity of the neighbors.

– As of this writing, Holy Communion cannot be distributed.

– Outdoor/field Masses at which parishioners would bring their own chairs and practice safe distancing are not permitted at this time.

Until some of these difficulties can be worked out, I don’t know if a drive in Mass is the best solution at this time.

Even though it’s short notice, I am happy to offer once again a drive by blessing this coming Sunday, May 31 from 11 am to Noon. Then, beginning on Sunday, June 7, I will celebrate Sunday Mass which will be available on YouTube, and I will continue to offer that each Sunday until such time as we are permitted to have Mass in the Church. Unfortunately we cannot live stream the Mass from HNJ Church.

Pope Francis will lead the major shrines around the world in praying the rosary to implore Mary’s intercession and protection amid the coronavirus pandemic. The pope will pray at the replica of the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens May 30, the eve of Pentecost, and will also be joined by several “men and women representing various categories of people particularly affected by the virus,” the Vatican said May 26. The service will be at 5:30 p.m. in Rome (11:30 a.m. EDT). “At the feet of Mary, the Holy Father will place the many troubles and sorrows of humanity, further worsened by the spread of COVID-19,” said a statement released by the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization. According to the statement, the prayer, which coincides with the end of the Marian month of May, “is another sign of closeness and consolation for those who, in different ways, have been struck by the coronavirus, in the certainty that the Heavenly Mother will not disregard the requests for protection.”

I long to be in the Church with you and to celebrate Mass together as much as you do, but there is not much else we can do at this time except to pray and hope that the Church(es) will be open for Mass  in the near future.

With my thanks and gratitude for your continued generous donations to the Church and the thoughtful notes which accompany some of the envelopes and a prayer and blessing for your good health,

Fr. Bauhoff

 

NEW RECTORY GUIDELINES:

 

In this new normal that we have to face temporarily, we would like to implement some simple practices when coming in to the rectory.

Please let us know if you need any help or have any questions. You may email us; Ryan, rsullivan@hnjchurch.net and Bullet, bullet007@hnjchurch.net and we will gladly respond as quickly as possible. We encourage you to call the rectory rather than a personal visit at this time. We try to comply with the guidelines of social distancing and staggered working hours until we are all safe.

In the event that you need to come to the rectory, please wear your mask and sanitize your hands with our available hand sanitizer as you walk in before doing your business transactions.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

Together we can beat this COVID-19 with cooperation and being mindful of those who are vulnerable.

Again, please stay well and be safe.

 

In God we Trust,

HNJ Staff & Management

May 22, 2020

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

This past Thursday, we celebrated the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord into heaven. We recall Jesus’ words to His apostles and disciples, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

The disciples must now figure out what are they to do? They know the answer and so do we – to take on the words of Jesus and to continue building the reign of God on earth. I think it’s safe to say that our understanding of God influences how we live our lives. We know and must accept the example of Jesus accepting everyone – women, men, outsiders, and even forgiving his executioners. If this is how God acts, how Jesus acts, then we are challenged to live and love as God does. This is the prayer of Jesus for His disciples and us. So the way we treat one another reveals who we are.

We call ourselves Christians. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to show people God’s way of living. This is what he commissioned His disciples to do at the time of His ascension and He commissions us likewise. May we come to understand and accept the mandate of Jesus given at the Last Supper: “Do this in memory of me.”

For your information: the Diocese is currently preparing guidelines for the opening of Churches for prayerful celebrations in accordance with those issued by the Governor. As of this letter, funerals, weddings and baptisms are now permitted but with no more than 10 people in attendance including the celebrant. Face masks and/or coverings are required for anyone over the age of two (2) years. Holy Communion will not be distributed until further notice at any of these Masses or Services. Diocesan guidelines are clear that only the priest and deacon can receive. Home Masses with a “select” group of people are not permitted. Discussion is also underway for “Drive-Masses”. However, time is necessary to make plans and preparations/arrangements for a means of transmitting the audio via online devices or outdoor amplifiers. The time for such a Mass may have to be adjusted from our regular Sunday schedule. I will keep you informed and let you know how and when we can begin with an outdoor Mass.

Hopefully we will soon be gathered around the table of the Lord to be nourished by His Word, the faith of one another, and in the Spiritual reception of Holy Communion. Thank you once again for remembering HNJ in and through your mail-in and online offerings.

Please read Bishop Barres’ letter for the Seventh Sunday of Easter by clicking here: Bishop Barres Letter 5/24

With a prayer and blessing for you,

Fr. Bauhoff

May 17, 2020

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Last Sunday was a blessed and wonderful day at Holy Name of Jesus as a large number of parishioners from  the KCA and HNJ accepted the invitation from Deacon Chris, Fr. Damian and me to come for a drive by blessing and, if possible, to bring an item or two for the parish food pantry. The response was overwhelming. Seeing and saying hello, along with the food items for the pantry was very emotional for me. Thank you for accepting our invitation to come for a blessing, for saying hello, for your contributions (both food and financial), and thanks to the parishioners from both communities for helping with the logistics. What a blessing to see and experience the parish as one family in the Lord Jesus.

In the Gospel for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Jesus informs His disciples that He will provide for them after His departure. He promises to ask the Father to send “another Advocate” indicating that He is their first Advocate. He further makes the promise that even though He must leave this earth, the Holy Spirit will remain with them (and us) until the end of time. He will not leave us orphans.

In this context, an advocate is someone who will encourage, beseech, teach and comfort. He is the Spirit of truth and the continuing presence of Jesus in the world. But there is a catch – only those who have accepted the gift of faith will be able to see the presence of Jesus manifested in the things of this world. He further teaches that loving him is manifested by keeping His commandments and furthermore, that being a disciple of Jesus involves more than simply knowing and/or learning the commandments or His teachings. It about our behavior and how we live our lives.

When we think about these past few months, we, who have the gift of faith, can easily see Jesus revealing Himself in the thousands upon thousands of people living out their vocations in many, many ways serving God’s people. May our Lord bless those who live the commands of Jesus daily by offering loving care to the  sick, the suffering, the dying, the lonely, the hungry and in all the other service oriented vocations benefittng humankind.

For your information, I thought you might be interested in some items posted on hnjchurch.net: the celebration of the White Mass by Bishop Barres praying for health care workers; a series on the Sacraments offered by Bishop Robert Barron; information about the School of Missionary Disciples offered by the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and finally a letter from the Bishop about the Preparations for the reopening of Churches and public celebrations. You can also click here to view the Bishop’s letter.

So far, all of us at the rectory and on staff appear to be well. Please stay well, be safe and once again, thank you again for your continuing financial support to HNJ.

With a prayer and a blessing for you,
Fr  Bauhoff

BISHOP BARRES TO CELEBRATE SPECIAL MASS IN RECOGNITION OF
LONG ISLAND HEALTH CARE WORKERS

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y., May 5, 2020 — As Long Island health care workers join with health care professionals across the world in battling COVID-19, the Most Reverend John O. Barres, Bishop of Rockville Centre (DRVC) will celebrate a special Mass in recognition of their heroic work.

On Sunday, May 17, 2020, in the Cathedral of Saint Agnes, Bishop Barres will celebrate a White Mass, offering prayers for the safety and well-being of all Health Care Workers. Named for the white coats and uniforms worn by many health care professionals, White Masses are special opportunities to ask God’s blessings for all those serving in the health care field.

The White Mass will be broadcasted on Catholic Faith Network (CFN), beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 17. CFN is found on Optimum channel 29/137, Verizon FiOS TV channel 296 and Spectrum channel 162/471. The Mass can be viewed any time after 11:00 a.m. on cfntv.org, drvc.org and on Diocese of Rockville Centre social media platforms. You can also watch CFN on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android or by downloading the CFN iOS mobile app at the app store by searching for “Catholic Faith Network” or “CFN”. In the tri-state area, the Mass will also air at 11 a.m. on WLNY-TV 55, Ch. 10 and on select CBS stations nationally, check local listings.

“On behalf of the People of God of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, I thank each and every one of our first responders, our doctors, nurses, health care workers, health care chaplains, volunteers at our Catholic Health Services hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, Catholic Home Care and Hospice, Maryhaven and all of the hospitals across Long Island,” said Bishop Barres. “God has blessed our diocese with incredible health care workers for this battle against COVID-19.”

Vatican releases free downloadable book of pope’s homilies, prayers for ‘difficult times’

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican published a free downloadable book of Pope Francis’ prayers and homilies responding to the trial and suffering of the coronavirus pandemic.
Titled “Strong in the Face of Tribulation,” the book also contains suggestions for Catholics who are unable to receive the sacraments due to restrictive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The book, which was released April 21, is available in English, Italian, Spanish and French and will be updated several times a week “with new homilies and other interventions made by the pope,” said Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication.
“This book is intended to be a little help offered to all, so as to know how to discern and experience God’s closeness and tenderness in pain, in suffering, in solitude and in fear,” Tornielli wrote in the book’s introduction.
“Thousands of people are gravely ill, thousands have died,” he wrote. “Many families mourn their loved ones, to whom they were unable to stay close, to whom they were unable to say farewell, and who were cremated without the possibility of a funeral.”
For Catholics, he added, not participating in the liturgy or the sacraments, “aggravates this condition of uncertainty, discomfort and confusion.”
Nevertheless, Tornielli said the church’s invitation to “renew our faith in the risen Christ” has sparked creativity, especially among priests who, through the use of technology, “make themselves present in the life of their communities and families confined to their homes in semi-deserted cities.”
The editorial director said that when lived “in its essential elements,” Christian faith can offer an outlook on reality that offers the possibility of seeing God’s love and experiencing the unity of the church even amid solitude and isolation.
The book in English can be downloaded at https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/lev/forti-nella-tribolazione/pdf/eng/strong-in-tribulation.-20042020.pdf<https://licatholic.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74f1854a4cc8f26cb0b877b5f&id=be86bd437a&e=769e46738f>
The book in Spanish can be found here: https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/lev/forti-nella-tribolazione/pdf/es/SPAGNOLO_22-APRILE.pdf<https://licatholic.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74f1854a4cc8f26cb0b877b5f&id=ce27bac72a&e=769e46738f>

April 15, 2020

Dear Parishioners and friends,

Happy Easter to you and your friends. Even we couldn’t and can’t be together in Church, please know that I remembered you in my celebration of Mass on Easter Sunday. In case you don’t know, I celebrate Mass privately every day for the intention booked for that particular Mass, and I always include a remembrance for all of you. Since many parishioners take the same seat week after week, I sort of have a picture in my mind remembering you when I pray. I hope you don’t change your seats to confuse me once we are able to return to Church!

The Staff at HNJ joins me in sending these Easter greetings to you. While the office is closed, they continue their responsibilities. Thanks to Ryan, these emails are sent to you. He’s also working on Church records to get them on the computer so that it will be easier in the future to look up records of baptism, First Holy Communion etc. Lorelei (aka Bullet) is paying the bills as they come in and thanks to many of you, we have some funds to pay them. Among other responsibilities, she faithfully records your gifts so that you’ll have an accurate record for your 2020 taxes. Sandra does the shopping and preparing of meals (so I only have to microwave a meal and not cook from scratch). She also is making sure that the rectory is clean and safe. Sal is kept busy spraying down the pews, handrails etc. that parishioners and visitors use when they come to Church for quiet prayer. He’s trying to make sure the Church is as clean and healthy as possible. When he has some extra time, he’s outside working on the grounds for a little Spring cleanup.

Bishop Barres issued a letter for Divine Mercy Sunday which we celebrate this coming Sunday. You can find it by clicking here.

Please continue to pray for all those who care for and assist the sick and the dying, for those whom God has called home, for our parishioners who contracted or currently have the virus, for those who have lost loved ones, those who go to work every day to make sure we have our food, medicine, and other necessities. Let us also pray for Bishop Barres as he leads the faithful on Long Island, for our President and our Governor that God grant them wisdom for the difficult decisions they will have to make, and let’s not forget to ask God that He will inspire someone soon to discover a vaccine that will work for all God’s people.

Looking forward to that day when we can be together in Church, I remain

Sincerely yours,

Fr Bauhoff

Holy Saturday, April 11, 2020

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Gerard Manley Hopkins was one of the greatest English poets, one of the greatest religious poets, and one of the greatest Catholic poets. Easter was an important theme in his poems. In “The Wreck of the Deutschland” he wrote: “Let Him Easter in us, be a dayspring of the dimness in us ….” (Perhaps you remember this poem from your studies years ago.)

If I understand the poem and the commentaries on “The Wreck of the Deutschland”, then I think what Hopkins is saying is to let the Risen Lord enter our lives and to welcome Him as a trusted friend because He is life.

Our hope and prayer for all is:

Let Him Easter in us – May this Easter bring us and all God’s people new life despite the pandemic we are experiencing in the world.

Let Him Easter in us – May this Easter break open the tombs of fear, sin, worries, difficulties, problems, and fill us with hope and new life.

Let Him Easter in us – May He bring us new life and fill us with the joy and peace we seek and strengthen us to live in imitation of Him.

Fr. Alex Mariadass also sends his prayers and wishes to all at Holy Name of Jesus as he in a recent email: “This year’s Easter is like the first Easter when the Apostles were terrified and locked themselves indoors. We too are asked to remain indoors and we too are afraid about the Pandemic situation. As the Risen Lord cleared away their fears and brought them peace, let’s also pray and hope that He will restore reach and harmony in the world.”

To all of our parishioners, friends, neighbors and relatives, the Staff at Holy Name of Jesus sends greetings and wishes as we celebrate the great feast of Easter.

With our prayers, our love and hope that we will soon be able to return to our Church and gather around the table of the Lord,

Fr, Bauhoff, Fr. Damian Lee, Fr. John Melepuram, Deacon Chris Sisinni

and the Staff at the Church, Office and Rectory