St. Joachim -  St. John the Evangelist

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO OF SUNDAY MASS ON FACEBOOK LIVE ON MAY 24th FROM
ST. JOACHIM-ST.JOHN THE EVANGELIST CHURCH WITH CELEBRANT: PASTOR FR. RICHARD SMITH 

PLEASE JOIN US FOR VIRTUAL SUNDAY MASS ON FACEBOOK LIVE ON SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 AT 11AM FROM ST. JOACHIM - ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST CHURCH WITH CELEBRANT: PASTOR FR. RICARD SMITH

Click Here for the link from the Archdiocese of NY about
Acts of Spiritual Communion along with the Spiritual Communion Prayer - 

May 21, 2020
Ascension Thursday

Dear Member of the Family of the Archdiocese,

It is undeniable that one of the most difficult aspects of the ongoing crisis caused by Covid-19 continues to be the temporary suspension of public Masses and sacraments. Although there are livestreamed Masses available through the parishes of the archdiocese, we all eagerly await the return of in-person practice of our faith.

For the past number of weeks, several priests of the Archdiocese of New York, members of the curia and I have been discussing with each other and consulting with medical experts on the best way to reopen our churches. Today, we held a press conference to introduce these guidelines for a safe and gradual reopening of our churches.

I’d like to share that video with you, here:

In addition, here are the documents detailing our safety procedures, so that you can familiarize yourself with the precautions that will allow us to work with state and local officials to bring the Mass and sacraments back to the Catholic community in a responsible and expeditious manner.

Thank you for your patience and your faith as we work together to reopen our churches.

Faithfully in Christ,

Reverend Monsignor Joseph P. LaMorte, VG
Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia

• Please Click here for the 2020/2021 Religious Education Registration Form
• Please Click here for the 2020/2021 Confirmation Registration Form

HOW CAN I HELP MY PARISH AND PASTOR??
BY MY PRAYERS AND MY GIVING

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION TO OUR CHURCH USING WESHARE.

CLICK HERE FOR A SIMPLE GUIDE TO ONLINE DONATIONS USING WeShare FOR NEW USERS

Mailing Address
Parish Office: 2 Oak Street,
Beacon, New York 12508 - 1805
845-838-0915

• Per the instructions of Governor Cuomo, the parish office will be CLOSED starting Monday, 3/23/2020. 
• The phone will be answered, but if you call and, by chance, no one answers, please leave a message in the appropriate voicemail (follow the prompts) and your call will be returned. 
• We will be checking the mail and emails daily.

• Pews will be carefully marked, so that social distancing is maintained; families will be able to sit together.
• Ushers will be trained to assist parishioners to their pews as they arrive.
• Since our church seating capacity will be greatly diminished, we will temporarily add Sunday Masses in St. Joachim’s gym and St. John’s lower hall.
• Hand sanitizer and masks will be available in the churches / gym / lower hall.
• For a time, even in Phase V, livestreamed Sunday Mass will continue for those unable to attend Mass (especially those at higher risk for COVID-19).
• We are currently working out possibilities for rescheduling the Confirmations and First Holy Communions that were delayed this spring.  As soon as a plan is in place, we will be contacting families directly.

• The obligation to attend Mass is suspended until further notice.
• Those at a higher risk for COVID-19 (those older than 65 or have underlying health conditions) are urged NOT to come to church for Mass until it is safer to do so. Those who should not attend may continue to pray privately, watch a broadcast or livestream Mass, and make an Act of Spiritual Communion.
• Those who feel sick in any way or who are worried about attendance should not enter the church.
• In accord with current state policy, everyone over two years old must wear a cloth mask when in the church building.

• St. John’s Church is open for prayer every day from 7am to 8pm, St. Joachim’s Church is open Sundays from 8am to 1pm; please use hand sanitizer as you enter and maintain social distance.
• Confessions are Saturdays in the sacristies, with proper distancing: 4-4:30pm at St. Joachim and 4:30-5:15pm at St. John.
• Sunday Mass is livestreamed at 11am on Sundays.
• Lectio Divina (praying the Sunday Scripture readings) is offered Mondays at 7:30pm.  You will need a “Zoom” app to participate.
• The Rosary is livestreamed Tuesdays at 7:30pm.
• Eucharistic Adoration is livestreamed Fridays at 7pm
• All of the above may be accessed on Facebook and/or the parish website (stjoachim-stjohn.org).
• Daily Mass is offered privately for the requested intentions; we always remember our parishioners and your needs and intentions at Mass.
• The parish bulletin is updated weekly and available at the parish website.
• THANK YOU to those who have continued to send weekly contributions.  As this is almost the only source of income the parish has, we are deeply grateful to those who are able to continue financial support at this time.  You can mail your envelopes to the parish office (2 Oak St. Beacon 12508) or use WeShare for electronic giving – this can be accessed by hitting the “Donate” button at the top of the parish website (stjoachim-stjohn.org).
• If someone is in danger of death, PLEASE call the church so that a priest can come and administer the sacraments.

 
Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.
St. Joachim, pray for us.
St. John the Evangelist, pray for us.

• Per the instructions of Governor Cuomo on 3/20/2020, the parish office will be CLOSED starting Monday 3/23/2020.  The phone will be answered, but if you call and, by chance, no one answers, please leave a message in the appropriate voicemail (follow the prompts) and your call will be returned. 
• We will be checking the mail and emails daily.
• Confessions on Saturday: 4-4:30 at St. Joachim, 4:30-5:15 at St. John (in the sacristy, not the confessional): behind the screen only, with appropriate distancing.
• Cardinal Dolan sent word on 3/20/20 that all Holy Week Liturgies (Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday) are to be celebrated without a congregation.
• Confirmation and First Communions are postponed.  We will get information out about the new dates as soon as possible.
• St. John’s remains open every day from 7am to 8pm for personal prayer, St. Joachim will open Sundays from 8am to 1pm.  Please use the hand sanitizer and maintain a minimum of 6 feet from other people.
• REMINDER: DO NOT ENTER ANY OF OUR BUILDINGS IF YOU ARE FEELING ILL.
• The best way to keep up with what’s happening in our parish is our parish website (stjoachim-stjohn.org) and our Facebook page.  Please spread the word!
• PLEASE check up on older parishioners or those at risk for illness.  We’ve been making calls to check in, but would deeply appreciate you letting us know the needs of our parishioners at this time.
• Pray for one another – this is a beautiful parish family, and while it’s a heartbreak for us to be apart physically these days, we remain the Body of Christ.  It’s a consolation (at least for me!) to think that my brothers and sisters in Christ are holding one another in prayer these dark days.
• Even though Masses are not open to the public, please know that we are offering Mass each day for the announced intentions and that we are specifically praying for you at each Mass.
• St. John’s will be open daily for private prayer and devotion from 7am to 8pm.  Please use the hand sanitizer as you enter and maintain social distancing of six feet from others in church.  St. Joachim’s will be open for private prayer and devotion on Sundays from 8am to 1pm, again please use the sanitizer as you enter.
• AGAIN PLEASE DO NOT ENTER ANY OF OUR BUILDINGS IF YOU FEEL ILL.  This is a matter of love for one another. 
• Public Stations of the Cross are cancelled, but you can always pray them on your own at St. John’s.  There are also beautiful outdoor Stations of the Cross behind St. John’s church.
• We prefer to postpone infant / child baptisms right now. When that is not possible, only a very limited number of immediate family members will be permitted to attend.
• In the event of the death of a loved one, for the time being it would be best to have the burial now and plan a memorial Mass for the future.  When this is not possible, attendance at the funeral will be limited to immediate family (of everything I’m listing here, this is the most heartbreaking).
• Your priests are available if you need to talk, either by phone or in person.
• If someone is dying, please call the parish immediately so a priest can administer the sacraments.
• Please continue to support your parish by mailing in your offering envelopes or by enrolling in WeShare (click the “donate” tab at the top of the website or call the parish office for help). We are always grateful for your generosity and support of the parish.
• Our Facebook page and parish website (stjoachim-stjohn.org) are the best ways to get current information and to stay connected as a parish family – please spread the word!

 
Finally, please know that you are remembered in the daily Masses of our priests as they also pray for the announced intentions. Right now, almost the only way we can serve you is through prayer – I promise, you have those prayers in abundance.
 
St. Joachim, pray for us.
St. John the Evangelist, pray for us.
Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.