EVENTS & EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATIONS
UPDATED: Wednesday March 25, 2020
All currently scheduled parish events and Eucharistic Celebrations
ARE SUSPENDED - As of 3/19/20 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
As of Tuesday March 24th, there will be limited access to the parish office. Although, for now it remains open, there is only one staff member remaining on site. It will not be possible to answer all calls and if you find it necessary to come to the office... please be patient.
Necessary parish administration will be done remotely by staff, which includes receiving and responding to email.
If you do find it necessary to come to the office, please follow good health practices for all.
Mass Intentions can be submitted online through our eGiving system. Please note in the appropriate section, the name / reason, date preferred and any other information we may need, such as your contact number in the case of date conflicts.
ARE SUSPENDED - As of 3/19/20 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
As of Tuesday March 24th, there will be limited access to the parish office. Although, for now it remains open, there is only one staff member remaining on site. It will not be possible to answer all calls and if you find it necessary to come to the office... please be patient.
Necessary parish administration will be done remotely by staff, which includes receiving and responding to email.
If you do find it necessary to come to the office, please follow good health practices for all.
Mass Intentions can be submitted online through our eGiving system. Please note in the appropriate section, the name / reason, date preferred and any other information we may need, such as your contact number in the case of date conflicts.
Brief outline of COVID-19 DOSA Directives
Suspension of Sunday and Weekday Mass
By his authority as the diocesan bishop to dispense from universal ecclesiastical laws, Bishop Estévez has indefinitely dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass three categories of people for as long as the specific condition below continues:
Dispensation from Lenten obligation to abstain from meat on Fridays
- All public Masses are suspended in the churches and chapels of the Diocese of St. Augustine until further notice (i.e., no weekday or Sunday public Masses, no communion services, or Masses in homes).
- Priests will still offer the Sacrifice of the Mass daily (but without participation by the faithful) for the needs of the Church and the world, especially as we face the present realities of the pandemic.
By his authority as the diocesan bishop to dispense from universal ecclesiastical laws, Bishop Estévez has indefinitely dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass three categories of people for as long as the specific condition below continues:
- All who are sick and those who are caring for them
- Those who because of age or infirmity are at higher risk for contracting the coronavirus
- Those who have been exposed to the coronavirus because of travel or other circumstances
Dispensation from Lenten obligation to abstain from meat on Fridays
- By his authority as the diocesan bishop to dispense from universal ecclesiastical laws, Bishop Estévez has dispensed all Catholics from the prohibition during Lent this year to abstain from meat on Fridays.
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'Spiritual Communion' - For those who are sick and unable to attend Mass and for those who attend Mass in Churches where it is not possible to receive communion on the tongue and are not able to receive on the hand...
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Click on the image above for a larger and downloadable image. 
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Previous to Suspension of Mass and Events: Parish Level Responses
- Hand Sanitizer units have been placed at the three main entrances to the Church
- Hand Sanitizer units have been placed at the main entrance to the Hall and to the Bookstore
- Parishioners are helping with the wiping down of pew backs / tops, door knobs and Sanitizer buttons, after each of the weekend Eucharistic Celebrations
- Priests have available to them, held by the Altar Servers, treated purificators to wipe their fingers periodically while giving communion.
Considerations for Parishioners
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- There is a link above for those who wish to engage in 'Spiritual Communion'. This may be an opportunity to listen to the prayers and homilies offered on Facebook and our website, in union with this practice. Most daily Masses are available on Facebook, and Sunday Mass can be found in the Homilies section of the Home page of the website.
DIOCESAN INFORMATION & LINKS
- LATEST DIRECTIVES FROM BISHOP ESTEVEZ
- 11:00 pm March 16, 2020“And to further protect public health and calm fears, I also dispense all the Catholic faithful from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass during the remaining weeks of March [updated to 'until further notice']. This dispensation will allow any who are concerned to stay home and avoid public gatherings of 10 or more people in cooperation with civil authorities. As this continues to be a fluid situation, additional updates will be available on the diocesan website (dosafl.com), social media, and news releases to local media.”
- UPDATE: March 19, 2020 - Read the full Statement of the Bishop
- Watch the Video of Bishop Estevez speaking to the faithful of the Diocese
- UPDATE: March 20, 2020 "While we all deal with the effects of the virus affecting us all, I am aware that it might be even more arduous for many to comply with the universal church of no meat on Fridays, especially during this time of crisis, and especially when Catholic food options might not be readily available in local groceries. Therefore, I am dispensing Catholics from the prohibition during Lent this year to abstain from meat on Fridays. I ask that when families or individuals take advantage of this dispensation, that each consider what other acts of penance or charity they might carry out."
- Update: March 30, 2020 for Catholic Schools - All Schools will remain closed until at least May 1st, 2020 and all activities are cancelled through that date. To read the statement from the Diocesan Director of Education click here
Daily Mass from the Catholic Center Chapel
In compliance with state and local government directives to help contain the spread of the coronavirus, and for the health and safety of our priests, the Diocese of St. Augustine will no longer live-stream daily Mass from the Catholic Center Chapel. However, today Bishop Estévez will livestream a final Mass in honor of the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord at 12 p.m.
Visit www.dosafl.com/masses for a list of local parishes and national Catholic networks that will continue to live-stream daily Masses.
In compliance with state and local government directives to help contain the spread of the coronavirus, and for the health and safety of our priests, the Diocese of St. Augustine will no longer live-stream daily Mass from the Catholic Center Chapel. However, today Bishop Estévez will livestream a final Mass in honor of the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord at 12 p.m.
Visit www.dosafl.com/masses for a list of local parishes and national Catholic networks that will continue to live-stream daily Masses.
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Catholic Schools are Closed until April 15All schools in the state are to remain closed until April 15. During this time, we will continue distance learning. All field trips, athletic events and any large school gatherings (galas, auction, dances, etc.) are canceled or postponed until the students return to regular on-site classes. Please note that Easter vacation has been altered.The Florida Office for Early Learning and local coalitions have asked that early learning centers throughout the state of Florida remain open. Most of our stand-alone early learning centers have remained open. Click here to read the full statement from Deacon Scott Conway, superintendent of Catholic Schools.
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VATICAN
Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary on the granting of special Indulgences to the faithful in the current pandemic, 20.03.2020
The Plenary Indulgence is granted to the faithful suffering from Coronavirus, who are subject to quarantine by order of the health authority in hospitals or in their own homes if, with a spirit detached from any sin, they unite spiritually through the media to the celebration of Holy Mass, the recitation of the Holy Rosary, to the pious practice of the Way of the Cross or other forms of devotion, or if at least they will recite the Creed, the Lord's Prayer and a pious invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, offering this trial in a spirit of faith in God and charity towards their brothers and sisters, with the will to fulfil the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer according to the Holy Father's intentions), as soon as possible."
The Plenary Indulgence is granted to the faithful suffering from Coronavirus, who are subject to quarantine by order of the health authority in hospitals or in their own homes if, with a spirit detached from any sin, they unite spiritually through the media to the celebration of Holy Mass, the recitation of the Holy Rosary, to the pious practice of the Way of the Cross or other forms of devotion, or if at least they will recite the Creed, the Lord's Prayer and a pious invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, offering this trial in a spirit of faith in God and charity towards their brothers and sisters, with the will to fulfil the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer according to the Holy Father's intentions), as soon as possible."
For other Vatican News please click here
HELPFUL RESOURCES
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Why Have Mass with No One There?
With public Masses suspended in more than 100 dioceses across the United States, many Catholics have been told to stay home, make a spiritual communion, and maintain a prayer routine until the coronavirus pandemic passes. Masses are still being celebrated privately, but what does that mean? What is the significance and power of Mass without the laity present? CNA spoke to experts to get a better understanding of why Masses celebrated in private are spiritually beneficial to all Catholics. Click here to read the full story from the Catholic News Agency. 
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Free "Grab And Go" Lunches
👨👩👧👦🥪🍎🍴 Beginning today March 17, 2020, Duval County Public Schools will be be making free "grab and go" school lunches and snacks available to all children (ages 5-18) while schools remain closed. These lunches may be picked up curbside at all DCPS elementary schools between the hours of 11:00am-1:00pm daily. Families can go to any elementary school to pick up the free lunches, it doesn’t have have to be the school their child attends or anything. You may not need this information, but you may know someone who does 
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