February 14, 2021 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

February 14, 2021, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Father Gerry’s Message:

February 10, 2021 My Dear Friends in Christ,

I am very grateful to all parishioners for your continued support during the COVID-19 pandemic. With churches closed, community worship and activities were turned upside down. However, you continued to support our parish in many ways including on-going financial support, and we were able to keep our parish functioning.

As members of the Francis de Sales family, we are called to be stewards in our parish community including prayer, worship, outreach, and financial support. Your future support of FdS is reflected in our Stewardship Campaign. Our Treasure or wealth, however large or small, is meant to be shared in order to serve the needs of our community. Financial gifts can help FdS to continue our growth as a faith community, and to continue our service in the broader community.

As in all families and organizations, the Church of Francis de Sales cannot remain viable unless income exceeds expenses. Our current expense budget is approximately $193,000, which is the minimum amount needed to keep FdS functioning.

Our current operating expenses include the following:

• Personnel Costs • Utilities Expenses (church & rectory) • Rectory Expenses (food & housekeeping & housekeeping supplies all of which are shared with Visitation) • Worship Expenses (sanctuary supplies, worship aides, flowers, funerals, sacraments, Sunday & Daily Masses) • Repair & Maintenance Expenses (church & shared rectory) • General Church Expenses (housekeeping, office supplies, internet & phone, collection envelopes, postage, Christian formation, parish life social events, sacramental preparation, RCIA, pastoral care, security, grounds) • Payment on the Church Debt • Diocesan Assessments (Cathedraticum, Insurance Assessment, Catholic Virginian, Catholic Schools Tax)

The Stewardship Campaign is extremely important in order to accurately plan for the future since the current difference between church income and expenses is extremely small. All contributions are significant regardless of size and method (loose change, checks, envelopes, e-giving, or automatic bank payments). Therefore, each family should prayerfully reflect on increasing current giving so FdS can continue to be a vibrant catholic community.

The FdS 2021 Stewardship Campaign Pledge Document is the key to making your commitment for Time & Talent & Treasure. I am asking every parish family to submit a Pledge Document, which will signify that you are active members of FdS, and that you will provide your Time, Talent, and Treasure, as you are able. The Pledge Documents are available at Sunday Mass, at the church office, in the electronic bulletin, on the FdS website, and is attached to this correspondence. Pledge Documents are due back to the Church no later than the 21st of February and may be mailed, emailed, dropped off during office hours, or dropped in the Sunday offertory collection basket. These documents are strictly confidential.

Thank you in advance for your continued prayer and financial support of FdS. May God continue to bless the Church of Francis de Sales and each of its members.

Very Rev. Gerry Kaggwa Pastor, Church of Francis de Sales)

FdS 2021 Stewardship Campaign Pledge LIST OF PARISH MINISTRIES LITURGY CATECHESIS & EVANGELIZATION PARISH LIFE Liturgy & Worship [LW] RCIA [RCIA] Socials & Food Preparation [S&F] Eucharistic Minister [EM] Scripture Study [SS] Activity Planning [AP] Lector [L] Adult Faith Formation [AFF] Funeral Receptions [FR] Music & Choir [M&C] K-8 Religious Education [K8R] Receptions Clean Up [RCU] Sacristan [S] Sacramental Preparation [SP] Sunday Hospitality [SH] Usher [U] Youth Ministry [YM] New Members [NM] Environment/Flowers [EF] Small Group Scripture Study [SS] Parish Picnic [PP] Funeral Mass Planning [FM] Greeters [G] SICK & HOMEBOUND ADMINISTRATION Acolytes [A] Pastoral Care [PC] Administrator [AD] Building & Grounds [B&G] SOCIAL OUTREACH [J&P] PRAYER MINISTRIES Bulletin Preparation [BP] Social Ministry [SM] Prayer Chain [PC] Sunday Offertory Counter [SOC] Emergency Medical Relief Fund [MRF] Adoration [A] Finance Council [FC] St. Noa School [STN] Fundraising [F] Right to Life [RL] Parish Council [PC] Hands Across Mathews [HAM] Webmaster [WEB] Bereavement Counseling [BC] Columbarium [COL] Memorial Bricks [MB]

TIME & TALENT FOR CHURCH OF FRANCIS de SALES

Name & Phone Number: New Ministries (use code above): Existing Ministries (use code above):

CutLine======Cut Line

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION NOT TO BE SHARED

Dear Father Gerry:

I will commit $ [Circle one: Weekly – Monthly – Annually] to the support of the Church of Francis de Sales. These funds will be given in regular offerings [Circle one: Weekly – Monthly – Annually]. I plan to use [check below all that apply]:

Checks Cash Offertory E-Giving Auto Bank Envelopes Payments

Announcements:

ALL PARISHIONERS OF FRANCIS DE SALES ARE INVITED TO COME TO MASS IN PERSON. INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES WILL BE SEATED TOGETHER, ALL OTHERS WILL BE SEATED SIX FEET APART. If you are planning to attend, please notify the church office by 12:00 noon on Friday via email or phone with how many people in your family will attend. SOCIAL DISTANCING AND FACE MASKS ARE REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES IN THE CHURCH BUILDING Please arrive 20 minutes before Mass begins to allow time for the COVID-19 no-contact temperature checks and answer the following questions: 1) Do you currently have a fever, i.e., temperature higher than 100.4 degrees F? 2) Do you have other symptoms of COVID-19, without an alternative diagnosis, i.e., chills, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea? 3) Have you had a positive diagnostic test for the virus that causes COVID-19 in the past 10 days? 4) Have you been exposed to a COVID-19 case in the prior 14 days: exposure being less than six feet away for greater than a cumulative 15 minutes over a 24-hour period without wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment as defined by the CDC?

PLEASE NOTE: 1) Next Wednesday, February 17th, is ASH WEDNESDAY, and Mass will be held at CFDS at 6:30 p.m. 2) STATIONS OF THE CROSS (NO SOUP) will be held every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. during Lent beginning February 23rd and ending March 23rd. Volunteers are needed to lead the Stations. Please contact Helen Yacobucci (804) 815-7606 or Patty Sarosy (804) 832-3642 if you wish to volunteer.

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES (CRS) RICE BOWL: What is CRS Rice Bowl? Each Lent, Catholic Relief Services encourage catholic families across the country to unite and put their faith into action through prayer, fasting and alms giving. Through CRS Rice Bowl, families learn how our brothers and sisters across the globe overcome hardships like hunger and malnutrition, and how through Lenten alms, we have the power to make the world a better place for all. CRS Rice Bowl shares stories of hope from CRS’ work around the world. These stories are examples of your alms giving at work. Take a virtual tour of Madagascar, El Salvador and Timor-Leste by checking the web site below. What does your donation provide? Forty dollars can purchase an infant scale to measure an infant’s growth, $80.00 can help raise chickens for eggs for protein and income, and $120.00 contributes toward a household garden for family nutrition. Only a portion of your contribution is used abroad. Seventy percent of your donation supports the work of CSR. Twenty percent stays in the diocese for local hunger and poverty alleviation efforts. For more information, videos and recipes for meatless Lenten meals, log on to the web site at: crsricebowl.org Rice Bowls are in the Commons, please pick one up and begin your alms giving on Ash Wednesday, February 17th. They should be returned on Palm Sunday, March 28th. Yours in Christ, Helen Yacobucci Social Outreach Committee

The CFDS 2020 Donation/Contribution Tax Letters are on a table in the Commons area. Also, the new 2021 Donation/Contribution Envelopes are also on a table in the Commons area. Please pick yours up at your earliest convenience.

The link to watch the videos of each Sunday and Tuesday and Friday Daily Mass services at the Church of Francis de Sales is: https://www.facebook.com/Church-of-Francis-de-Sales-102720301404594/

We still have available copies of The Bicentennial books about the history of the diocese. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of this book, the price is $40. To order one you can contact the office or Claudia Hale at (804) 854-5410 or her email is: [email protected]

If you would like to have Father hear your confession, please call the office during normal hours and an individual appointment will be set.

Please don’t forget to periodically send or bring in your normal weekly donation, as our Church still must operate during these trying times. 1) You can bring your Sunday Offering (i.e., envelopes, checks or cash) to the Parish Office (Monday & Tuesday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon). 2) You can send cash or checks to the Parish Office for each week. 3) If you pay bills online, please consider making your weekly/monthly Offertory an online payment or set up automatic bill pay. 4) You can use the Catholic Diocese of Richmond website to donate online and 100% of all proceeds will go towards your selected parish. Go to: https://offertory.richmonddicocese.org Then select our Parish: “Church of Francis de Sales, Mathews – 4011”

Please know that our Church and office are open on Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and on Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 Noon and you are welcome to come for individual adoration. If you wish pastoral care, please call the office, (804) 725-2776, during the normal hours and we will do our best to meet your needs. Outside office hours please call Father Gerry at (804) 286-9271. Should any of the above change, we will notify you by e-mail.

The Claude V. Simmons Scholarship Academic Year 2021-2022

The Claude V. Simmons Scholarship Fund has been established to support graduating high school seniors who are planning to attend a 4-year college or university and are qualifying members of the Church of Francis de Sales in Mathews County, Virginia. This is a 4-year renewing scholarship.

Current recipients and new applicants must submit their electronic application for the 2021-2022 Academic Year to the Community Foundation by March 02, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

Supporting documents are required as outlined in the application form contained on the Community Foundation website. Please note that new applicants must complete a Student Financial Information Form as instructed in the application to include Page 1 of the FAFSA Student Aid Request as well as a statement of reflection on personal growth and faith as a parishioner of the Church of Francis de Sales.

The Community Foundation website is: www.cfrichmond.org/receive/apply-for-a-scholarship/view- all-scholarships/claude-v-simmons-scholarship/

Ms. Margaret Nost of the Community Foundation is available to answer any questions regarding the scholarship and to assist in submitting the application. Ms. Nost can be reached by calling 804-436- 1600 (Kilmarnock Office) or 804-725-3454 (Mathews Office).

Recipients will be selected on the basis of greatest financial need.

Should you have additional questions, please contact Michael Henig at 804-725-7750 or Chuck Dawson at 804-725-2776.

February 14, 2021, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Readings:

Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46: The leper will dwell apart, making an abode outside the camp. Psalm 32: “I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble and you fill me with the joy of salvation.” 1 Corinthians 10:31, 11:1: Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Mark 1:40-45: The leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

Prayer for Spiritual Communion My Jesus, I believe that You are truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to possess You within my soul. Since I am unable at this moment to receive You Sacramentally, Come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as being already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen (2020 Catholic Diocese of Richmond)

February 14, 2021, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Father Gerry’s Homily:

The first reading for today can very much be understood in relation to our situation in this present time of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the time of Moses, the people of Israel, who did not have hospitals, look how practical they were in preventing communicable diseases like leprosy from spreading. Leprosy could be a variety of skin diseases and highly contagious. However, many of them were quite deadly. So, what do you do when a person contracts one of these? It was the priests who determined whether or not a person had the disease. If you had it, you were ordered to be isolated from the community, put on torn clothes, keep the head bare and cover the mouth. This was to help others to see from a distance that someone was sick, and in that way avoid coming into contact. There were also set distances, determining how close a person should get to someone with leprosy, this was four cubits. By the way, four cubits is six feet. Does it sound familiar! And if someone happened to get too close to the sick person, that person had to be quarantined outside the camp. Could a place so ancient, which did not have hospitals, have something to teach us about our approach to a communicable disease?

In the Gospel we have this encounter between Jesus and the Leper. These two – Jesus and the leper - do something, which no one had dared to do before, because in those days the people were terrified of leprosy. And therefore, by Jewish law the sufferer was isolated totally from society as we heard from the first reading.

And more, it was understood that Leprosy is a curse from God. That someone to have this disease must have committed something evil, and so because of his sins, God punished him with leprosy. And therefore no one could associate with such people or else they get the curse themselves as well.

But the leper in this Gospel seemed determined to break the rules and come out of his isolation. He approaches Jesus and cries out, pleading with Him, ‘If you want to, you can make me clean.’ And Jesus responds to the leper’s cry by doing something no Rabbi could dared do. He reached out his hand and touched the leper. If it was forbidden for a leper to approach the healthy, it was certainly forbidden for a healthy person to touch a leper. It seems that the leper’s desire to be freed from his isolation was met by an equally strong desire on the part of Jesus to deliver the leper from his isolation. Jesus healed this man from: the disease, his loneliness, his despair, and his belief that he was cursed by God.... So, Jesus frees us from all kinds of imprisonment and isolation be it because of disease or sin. He wants us to be part of the community; he wants us to feel free.

This is the Good News. That Jesus breaks all the barriers that separate us from one another and from God. And more good news is that we can approach the Lord no matter what our condition is, or circumstances are. Our Faith is more than a system of morality or a set of admonitions.

Jesus came to demonstrate what the Father is like. He could have behaved as a severe moral judge, condemning the sinful; in fact, that was what was expected of a prophet. Instead, He reached out in mercy to failures and outcasts. Jesus reaches out and welcomes sinners while they are still in their sin. He reaches out to the afflicted and heals them. Our prayer can therefore be quite simple: "Lord, if you wish help me!" without fear because if we have faith, He will always come to help us.

We need to trust in the mercy of a forgiving God who assures us that our sins are forgiven and that we are clean. We are forgiven and made spiritually clean from the spiritual leprosy of sins when we repent of our sins, because God is a God of love who waits patiently for us. The only condition required of us is that we ask for forgiveness with a repentant heart. We need to tear down the walls that separate us from others and build bridges of loving relationship. Jesus calls every one of us to demolish the walls that separate us from each other and to welcome the outcasts and the untouchables of society.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER:

Parishioners: Helen Yacobucci, Mike Beavers, Joe King, Ginny Groff, Kirsten Beatley, Rita Engle, Bob Tanner, Anna Deagle, Roland Gauthier, Pat Barnes, Terry & Randy Dobson, Sharon Simmons, Janet Letizia, Peggy Kinsey, Don McCue, Ann Marie Lachner-McCue, Skip & Patti Sarosy, George Denio, Bonnie Goolsby, Alice Mercer, Gloria Bosley, Matthew DeForge, Paul Reardon, Sally Howland, Jerry Johnson, Susan Sanderson and Michelle Oliver.

Family: Cathy Moody, Vicki Krieger, Jim & Joan Banocy, Michael Einfeldt, Myron & Shirley Schmoldt, Mary Catherine Ort, Stephen Harrold, Ellie Kennedy, Dale Wilson, Mallory Hurst, Peg Leonard, Jordan Hurst, Brian Carroll, Karen Beal, Larry Hargrove, Melissa Smith, Francis Smith, Brett Smith, Tony Cantrell, Susan Boone, Grahame Walker, Joe Schertle, Dottie Long, Fred Moody, Jean Raines, Frank Manozzi, Mimma Angelillo, Kathleen Cala, Shirley Schmoldt, Timothy Farrell, Ruth Brown and Jim McAndrew.

Friends: Clayton Bruce, Kresia McCoy, Zachary Reynolds, Lee Osenton, Mike Bergman, Donald Henry, Jim Renner, Charles Altar, Don & Sandy Mikulecky, Florence Foster, Cheryl Lamport, Bobby Tinder, Bob Thompson, Bill Smith, Nancy Taylor, John Kelly, Shirley Primovic, Jim & Tammy Ellis, Jean Steel, Lourdes Parker, Laurel & Allen Robins, Nita Rew, Bella Silvus, Mary Roberti, Robin Dale, Jan Towne, Lori Roscher, infant Ezra Freeman, Zoe Hassim, Jon Noble, Tom Neiger, Nancy O’Donnell, Joanne Jones, Lisa Coolahan, Marie Coolahan, Jeannie Morgan, Jennie Horner, Violet Brownley, Joy Long, John Machen, Sr., Paul Flaherty and Benny Leigh.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES:

Captain Andrew Bohn, son of Jeff Bohn & Suanne Dittmeier, U.S. Army, South Korea

Cdr. Ryan Carey, son of Jack & Ginny Carey, US Navy NMCB Battalion 5, Okinawa, Japan

MSGT Kristin Dobson, daughter of Randy & Terry Dobson, Langley AFB, VA

SSGT, EOD, USAF Cameron Farrell, great-nephew of Elaine Lynch, Seymour Johnson AFB, Goldsboro, NC

Master Chief, Andrew Guenther, son-in-law of Eric & Monica Chadwell, USS Nimitz (CVN-68) Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton, WA

E-4 Gregory Michel, son of Jill Edmonds-Michel, USAFA, CO

E6, U.S. Navy, John Robert Pizzicar, son-in-law of Jim & Deona Pavik, Ft. Meade, MD

SPEC Zachary Shields, son of LeAnne & David Shields, Guam

Lt. Patrick Sopko, son of Suzanne Sopko and Ronald Sopko, North Island Naval Air Station, Coronado, CA; currently deployed, attached to the USS Nimitz Air Craft Carrier.

Austin Tice, freelance journalist & former Marine Captain, captured in Syria on August 14, 2012

FdS Parish Financial Report (Through the end of December 2020) Fiscal Year 2020-2021

Total Income: $89,860 Offertory Income: $80,256 Total Expenses: $84,263 Offertory Budget: $79,200 Income Minus Expenses: $5,597 Difference: $1,056 We are half way through the current Fiscal Year and we thank your continued support and generosity.

As we move forward, we are counting on continued Parishioner support and generosity. Your generosity is important all the time, but right now, it is absolutely critical. If you are in a position to do so, please continue to contribute to our parish on a weekly or monthly basis. The following are ways to continue your financial support to Church of Francis de Sales:

1. You can bring your Sunday Offering [i.e., envelopes, check, cash] to the Parish Office [Monday & Tuesday 08:00am to 04:00pm and Friday 08:00am to 12:00 noon].

2. You can send cash or checks to the Parish Office for each week.

3. If you pay bills online, please consider making your weekly/monthly Offertory an online payment or set up automatic bill pay.

4. You can use the Catholic Diocese of Richmond website to donate online and 100% of all proceeds will go towards your selected parish. Go to: https://offertory.richmonddicocese.org Then select our Parish: “Church of Francis de Sales, Mathews – 4011”

There are many opportunities available to support worthwhile causes, but please consider supporting our Parish first. Thank you for your continued financial stewardship especially during this difficult time.

Parish Finance Council questions may be directed to Leon Iveson at [email protected] or cell: (501) 749-2276.

Church of Francis de Sales Contact Information (updated December 22, 2020) Name Committee Email Home Phone Cell Phone

Fr. Gerry Kaggwa Pastor; & Liturgy, Co-Chair [email protected] 804-286-9271

Chuck Dawson Parish Administrator; & [email protected] 804-725-2993 804 -512-8940 Columbarium, Chair

Mary Marshall Office Manager [email protected] 804 -725-2776

Mike Beavers Lectors, Chair [email protected] 804-694-6489

Richard Churray LEMS Coordinator, Chair [email protected] 804-725-8140

Jeffrey Bohn Funeral Coordinator, Chair [email protected] 804-854-1077

Joan Dawson Sacristan, Chair [email protected] 804 -725-2993

Suanne Dittmeier Prayer Chain, Chair & Music, Chair [email protected] 804-854-9620

Allen Downs Grounds Manager [email protected] 804 -725-5807 804-725-6067

Rita Engle Parish Life, Chair [email protected] 804-725-1462 804-824-1599

Christine Dehnert-Fernald Counters, Chair [email protected] 804-725-4943

Rachel Foss Youth Ministry, Co-Chair [email protected] 804 -384-4248

Michelle Haas K-8 Religious Ed., Chair [email protected] 804-695-0549

Claudia Hale Parish Council, Chair [email protected] 804 -854-5410 Alan Hartlove 717-471-4795 Memorial Bricks, Chair Robert Hartlove Building Manager 717-572-4210

Cheryl Henig RCIA, Chair [email protected] 804-725-7750 804-356-2475

Leon Iveson Finance Council, Chair [email protected] 501-749-2276

Christine Johnson Evangelization Program, Chair [email protected] 410-967-8863

Pat Lipinski New Members Chair [email protected] 804 -725-1537 703-969-2430

Elaine Lynch Bulletin; Environment, Chair & [email protected] 804-725-4617 Receptions Clean Up, Chair

Ed McNamee Webmaster [email protected] 571-265-6192

Jon Oliver Acolytes, Chair & [email protected] 804 -725-6702 Youth Ministry, Co-Chair

Michele Oliver Liturgy, Co-Chair [email protected] 804-695-4959 Paul Reardon Greeters, Chair [email protected] 804-384-3339

Phillip & Susan Sanderson Faith Formation, Co-Chairs [email protected] 804-725-9026 804-384-8919

Patti Sarosy [email protected] Pastoral Care, Chair 804-832-3642

Valerie Smith Sunday Hospitality, Chair [email protected] 804-514-5311

Mark Sopko 804-815-2897 Ushers, Chair [email protected]

Helen Yacobucci Parish Outreach, Chair & [email protected] 804-815-7606 Funeral Receptions, Chair

OUR THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES FOR SUPPORTING OUR BULLETIN