Church of St. Richard of Chichester Barnesville, PA

Parish Office Hours:

Monday, Wednesday & Friday

9:00 am - 12:00 noon

Pastoral Note:

Dear Parish Family,

Happy Solemnity of Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ - Corpus Christi.

Origins of the Solemnity: The Solemnity of Corpus Christi dates back to the 13th century. In Belgium, following the mystical experiences of Saint Juliana de Cornillon, a local feast dedicated to the Most Holy Eucharist was established in Liège in 1247.

Several years later, in 1263, a Bohemian priest on pilgrimage to Italy was afflicted by doubts about the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. While celebrating Mass in the town of Bolsena, he experienced a Eucharistic miracle, when a few drops of blood were shed by the broken Host after the consecration. The very next year, in 1264, Pope Urban IV extended the feast of Corpus Christi to the whole Church.

Dogma of the Church: The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ – as it is now

known – honors Jesus substantially present in the Blessed Sacrament. The truth of the Real Presence was confirmed in 1215 by the Fourth Lateran Council. Later, in 1551, the Council of Trent definitively re-affirmed the doctrine in a passage quoted verbatim by the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation” (cf. CCC 1376).

I announced previously that I received a new assignment which begins on Tuesday, June 15th, 2021 at Annunciation B.V.M. (a.k.a. “St. Mary’s”) in Catasauqua Parish. Father Robert Finlan is being assigned as Pastor of both St. Richard of Chichester and St. John XXIII effective June 15th, 2021. Both parishes will remain as independent parishes and both churches will remain open. Since there will only be one priest as pastor of both parishes, Father Finlan made changes in the daily and weekend Mass schedules which are announced in this weekend’s bulletin so that he will be able to celebrate Masses in both parishes without requiring the assistance of another priest. The new Mass schedule for St. Richard of Chichester and St. John XIII parishes will take effect on the weekend of June 19-20, 2021.

I know that you will welcome Father Finlan and make him feel at home. You will be able to attend Mass at either parish. You can put your collection envelopes in the basket at either parish and be assured that your contributions will be directed toward St. Richard Parish.

Our Bishop ordained one new priest on Saturday, June 5th, 2021. After nine priests retire in June 2021, this year for the first time in the 60-year history of the Diocese of Allentown, there will be fewer than 100 active diocesan priests. In a special way, during this Year of the Real Presence, it is our responsibility as the faithful of the Diocese to spend time in prayer in front of the Eucharistic Lord in Adoration, praying for an increase of vocations to the Priesthood, especially within our Diocese.

Thank you so much for welcoming me here for the past two years. You will always be in my prayers and I ask that you pray for our Bishop, me and the other priests of our diocese as well.

Ut Omnes Unum Sint ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam!

That they all may be One, for the greater glory of God!

Have a blessed Corpus Christi!

Yours in Christ,

+The Reverened Father Eric Tolentino

Updated Guidelines: effective 5/23/2021

1. Facemasks are to be worn by all of the faithful who are not fully vaccinated.

See #2 below.

Children under the age of 2 and those with medical exceptions are not required to wear a face mask.

2. In accordance with government guidelines effective immediately, the fully vaccinated may attend Mass in the Diocese of Allentown and all gatherings on parish property without wearing a mask. “Fully vaccinated” is defined as being 2 weeks after receiving the final dose of the vaccine. People who do not meet those requirements are not considered fully vaccinated, and must keep taking all precautions.

3. NO CAPACITY LIMITATIONS will be required in parishes and institutions within the geographical territory of the Diocese of Allentown.

4. Sunday Mass attendees may enter and exit the church using both the ramp and front doors 30 minutes before the scheduled Mass.

5. The Distribution of Holy Communion is to return to the proper place in the liturgy in the Church only. It is no longer permitted to distribute after Mass.

6. Holy Water: All fonts and stoops remain empty.

7. Votive Candles: Parishioners may now light votive candles. Please hand sanitize before and after lighting the candles.

8. Altar servers, Lectors, and Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers are permitted.

9. The Exchange of the Sign of Peace is not permitted.

10. Weekday Mass attendees may enter and exit the church using both the ramp and front doors 30 minutes before the scheduled Mass.

Sunday 8:30 AM Mass will continue to be

live-streamed for those unable to attend Mass.

Guidelines for Outdoor Gatherings:

1. No capacity restrictions.

2. Those who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear masks.

3. Those who are not full vaccinated must wear masks when present at outdoor venues. See #2.

As you plan events, it would be appropriate to have signage reaffirming these requirements and requiring compliance.

Diocese of Allentown

Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator::

Ms. Wendy S. Krisak, M.A.,NCC, LPC– Direct Phone: 800-791-9209

victimsassistance@allentowndiocese.org

Diocesan Secretary for Youth Protection & Catholic Human Services

Pamela Russo, MSW, MS - Phone: 610-871-5200 Ext. 2204

prusso@allentowndiocese.org

The Diocese of Allentown provides assistance to anyone who, as a minor, was sexually abused by a priest, deacon, or employee/volunteer of the Diocese/Parish. Parents, guardians, children, and survivors of sexual abuse are invited & encouraged to contact the Diocese of Allentown for more info about this program. The fullness of compassion should be extended to these victims by the Church. To lean more about the Diocese of Allentown’s Youth Protection

Programs, Sexual Abuse Policy, & Code of Conduct, please visit www.allentowndiocese.org & click on “Youth

Protection” in the upper right hand corner of the page.

Sacraments

Sacrament of Baptism

Sacrament of Marriage

Baptisms are celebrated after the 10:30 am Sunday Mass. Parents need to be registered parishioners and attend a Baptismal Preparation Class. At least one Godparent must be a practicing Catholic for a valid reception of Baptism and also obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from

their parish. Please call the parish office to schedule an appointment with the Pastor.

Sacrament of Marriage

Arrangements should be made at least one year prior to the proposed wedding date to begin pre-nuptial instructions. Please call the parish office for more information and schedule an appointment with the Pastor.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Saturdays @ 4:45-5:15 pm or call the rectory to schedule an appointment.

Sponsor Eligibility

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Certificates of Eligibility for Baptism and Confirmation require the sponsor to be a registered & active member of the parish, and if married, in a valid marriage recognized by the Catholic Church. Please call the parish office to schedule an appointment with the Pastor.

Church of St. Richard of Chichester Barnesville, PA

Mass Schedule

Pastoral Note:

Updated Guidelines: effective 5/23/2021

2021 Mass Intention Request Form

Diocese of Allentown

Sacraments

Sacrament of Baptism

Sacrament of Marriage

Sacrament of Marriage

Sacrament of Marriage

Sacrament of Marriage

Sacrament of Marriage

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Sponsor Eligibility

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Sacrament of Reconciliation

About Saint Richard

Parish History

Photo Gallery

Calendar of Events