St. Paul Catholic Church

Dear Parishioners,

We are still doing livestream masses on weekends. This is to cater to our brothers and sisters who are not able to attend our regular masses on weekends, because of age and health reasons. So far we are using a DSLR camera and a GoPro camera for our livestream masses. They are good and they give a decent video for our livestream. These are personal items too. We think that it's high time now for St. Paul Church to have its own REAL LIVESTREAM camera(s) that will be dedicated solely for that purpose.

We are thinking of procuring one or two of these equipments. They are very convenient (remote panning and zooming in and out - not anymore going to the DSLR and GoPro doing that manually running around) and clearer in darker environment (WDR - Wide Dynamic Range). Of course, they come with a good price to match their quality. It would cost us $1,800.00 per unit. We already started to ask parishioners to help us defray the expenses for these cameras last Sunday in our 9:00 AM mass. Some have promptly and generously donated for this project already. We need your help. It's still a long way to go. So if ever you write a check for this project, kindly write it for ST. PAUL CHURCH and stipulate on the MEMO below it: CAMERA. You may drop your donation at the office or during our weekday or weekend masses or mail it to the church. Be it great or small, it would help us a lot. We thank you and may God bless you for your undying generosity. Below is the photo of the camera. The brand is PTZ OPTICS. God bless you.

We have changed the time for the Spanish Mass on Saturdays, i.e. from 7:00 PM we moved it earlier to 6:00 PM. This is due to the early sunsets as we approach the equinox this September. We hope for your kind consideration. Be safe and God bless you.

-July 16, 2020 (Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel)

Everybody is already aware that Sacramento County is one of those counties that has been suspended by the State to do indoor masses. Outdoor mass then is the only option that we have to continue celebrating the Holy Eucharist with the congregation, instead of totally not celebrating the Eucharist wth the congregation like we did in the previous months. The diocese, therefore, had given us directives on how to do the outdoor mass. It is a long document so I tried to take only the salient points that we can highlight for a worthy celebration of the Holy Eucharist and taking into consideration the public health safety as provided by the State and County. The following are the points for us to consider and follow:
 
A. General Principles

• The celebration of other Sacraments, including Matrimony, in the context of Mass is to take place in the parish church or approved chapel or oratory and not in an outdoor setting.
• Outdoor Masses should be celebrated in early morning, starting no later than 10 a.m. or after 5:30 pm to avoid the heat of the day.
• Contract tracing and face coverings are still required in any outdoor Mass.
• Pastors are to communicate the necessary information and recommendations to parishioners regarding the celebration of outdoor Masses. This should include health and safety precautions e.g. long sleeves, sunscreen, for outdoor activities.

B. Congregant Safety

• The consumption of food and drink during Mass is not permitted; however, for hydration reasons, water may be consumed during Mass.
• The use of hats and umbrellas to provide shade are permissible. Those seated in the sanctuary area should not wear hats nor sunglasses.
• Congregants should take reasonable precautions - face coverings, physical distancing, and hand washing/sanitizing - to protect themselves from possible infection of COVID19.

C. The Celebration of the Liturgy

• The celebration of the Mass should not be unduly prolonged.
• Congregants may be invited to remain standing during the Eucharistic Prayer.
• During Communion, signs and instructions must be clearly marked in order to keep the appropriate physical distancing among communicants.
• Remind people that unnecessary gatherings are to be avoided as much as possible after the recessional. Until further notice, singing and chanting should be omitted.

Kindly be guided accordingly. Thank you for your patience.

-July 16, 2020 (Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Regarding the other Sacraments such as Baptism, Matrimony (Wedding), Confirmation and Funeral Masses (indoor), we are back to the old directives given to us last March 2020. The following are the salient points taken from the original directives given by the bishop yesterday:

On Celebrating the Rite of Marriage

• The Rite of Matrimony should be celebrated only within the church property. Inquire with the Vicar General, Fr. Vaughan, regarding the necessity of pastoral consideration in specific circumstances.
• The number of people attending the Rite or Marriage should be limited as much as possible to those who are required to be present.
• The Sacrament of Marriage should be celebrated within the Sacrifice of the Mass. Mindful of the pastoral circumstances, the pastor may choose to celebrate the Rite of Marriage Outside of Mass.

On Celebrating the Rite of Baptism

• Group baptisms are to be avoided at this time.
• The people present should be limited to the child to be baptized, the parents, and the godparents.

On Celebrating the Conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation

• Pastors/Parochial Administrators are to limit the number of candidates receiving the sacrament to the minimum permitted by local ordinances on public gatherings.
• The attendees for the celebration should be limited to those who are required to be present (candidate, sponsor, and parents)
• The Sacrament of Confirmation should be celebrated with the Sacrifice of the Mass. Mindful of the pastoral circumstances, the pastor may choose to celebrate the Rite of the Conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation Outside of Mass.

On Celebrating the Rites of the Order of Christian Funeral

• In the case of Catholic Cemeteries, the funeral liturgy is to be celebrated within the property of the cemetery. Priests are to coordinate with other funeral homes regarding diocesan directives in celebrating the rites.

Kindly be guided accordingly. Thank you for your patience.
 

- June 16, 2020

It has been called to our attention that it is needed to have CONTACT TRACING PROTOCOL in cases that any parishioner(s) who attended the mass on any given day may have contracted COVID19 or positive with it within 14 days. This will help us in contacting the parishioners who have attended mass on that particular day(s) so that they may know what to do next as a process.

Below is the link to fill out the form. Calendar date is provided in the form for your choice of date(s) in attending the mass. Your time of mass on a date of your choice is very essential for the record. Kindly fill it out and submit it.

CONTACT TRACING PROTOCOL FORM

 

-June 29, 2020

Kindly read the guidelines for proper information and guidance of attending the Sacraments. Below are the links for the copies of the guidelines. Be safe always and God bless you. 

Updated/Edited  Guidelines for the Resumption of Public Masses - General Congregation 

Guidelines for the Resumption of Public Masses for Ministers Only

ADDENDUM to the Guidelines for the Mass

Funeral Guidelines

Marriage Guidelines

Baptismal Guidelines

Confirmation Guidelines

Reconciliation/Confession Guidelines

Additional Instructions For The Various Lay Ministers And Other Parish Volunteers During The Time Of The Covid19

Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (1887-1968)

September 23

Did the World War II American flyer really see Padre Pio in midair, preventing the bombing of his village below? Did Pio actually “bilocate” in Italy, the Holy Land, even America, as countless witnesses testified? Or “read hearts” before penitents spoke? What of the stigmata, Christ’s wounds imprinted on Padre Pio’s hands, feet, and side? John Paul II, who as a young man visited Pio, never mentioned these extraordinary elements at the canonization. Instead, the pope spoke of “trials accepted with love,” referring perhaps to sanctions restricting Pio’s faculties for hearing confessions and celebrating public Mass, imposed because of criticism, later discredited, sent to the Vatican; of Pio’s offering his sufferings in union with Jesus’ passion for a suffering world; of his continual availability to sinners seeking direction and absolution; of Padre Pio’s prayer that blossomed in charity, especially through his House for the Relief of Suffering, a healthcare facility that anticipated by decades today’s holistic partnering of medical science and spirituality. Finally, how comforting for us ordinary Christians, this extraordinary saint’s most frequent advice: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry!”

St. Mary Cemetrery & Funeral Center - Open House

Plan your funeral and cemetery services today! Act now! Prices increase November 1st!

Open house weekend October 3rd and 4th, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM   By Appointment Only!

Reserve your private tour today,
Call 916-452-4831 or visit cfcssacramento.org/open-house

Download the following FLYER LINK for more information.