Rosary Procession, join us!
Category: Updates
Weekend Adorers?
Thank you to everyone who has committed to an hour or more to Adore Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. It has been tremendous to witness as a priest.
As we go forward, can we see if we can regularly have adorers for the weekend hours? Presently, we have a good many hours open on Saturday mornings, afternoons, evenings and Sunday mornings. One can see the open hours through the SignUpGenius on this blogspot. Please consider spending an hour in Adoration over the weekend.
God bless
FRVW
Corpus Christi
Thank you to everyone who spent an hour (or two) with Jesus last weekend! Please again, can I ask that you consider looking at the SignUpGenius on this blogspot for open hours this weekend? Adoration will be in our chapel through the weekend until 1pm on Monday. As we celebrate Corpus Christi Sunday, spending time with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration would be a tremendous way to celebrate – in addition to Mass.
Over the last two and a half months you noticed two young men at our Masses, Holy Communion Outside of Mass Rites and the daily Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Rosary. Ricky Malebranche and Ray Goins both finished their first year of the seminary while with us. Almost all of our seminarians were placed in parishes when the seminaries shut down in late March. Each would continue his studies online until exams in mid-May. Ricky and Ray were extremely helpful. As you saw, they were always available for Masses and other liturgical functions. When we were quarantined, they were the ones troubleshooting and setting up for live streamed Masses, Chaplets and Rosaries from the rectory. They were quarantined when Fr. Carr had COVID after Easter. They helped with meals. We had some great conversations throughout those two and a half months. I am grateful they were assigned at Holy Trinity for the time they were. As of this past Monday, they began their summer assignments at other parishes. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to follow Our Lord’s call.
This Sunday is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ). The feast dates back to the 1260s following a Eucharistic Miracle. A young priest, Fr. Peter, implored Our Lord in his prayers to help him have a deep faith in Jesus’ Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. In the midst of one Mass, as Fr. Peter completed the Consecration of the bread and wine into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus, the Host actually began to bleed.
Fr. Peter wrapped the Host in the corporal and walked a few miles to the next town, Orvieto, where the Pope was living. The Pope was given the news of the miracle and met Fr. Peter outside the city walls. He knelt before Our Lord in the Eucharist then brought the Eucharist to a church in the town. He soon pronounced the Solemnity of Corpus Christi to be celebrated. In Orvieto, you can still see the Blood-stained corporal in the cathedral built for It. Ever since the Miracle there has been a yearly Eucharistic Procession throughout the town with Jesus in the Host followed by the Corporal that is stained with His Blood. Our Corpus Christi Procession takes its roots from Orvieto’s Eucharistic Procession. Our altar on the front steps for Benediction mirrors the Benediction at the end of the Eucharistic Procession in Orvieto.
Finally, on July 4th our new music director will begin his work at Holy Trinity. Mr. Trevor Rowland comes to us from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hagerstown, Maryland where he has worked in the music ministry for the last nine years. He and his wife, Bebhinn, and their baby daughter are happy to be in his wife’s native state! Mr. Rowland is humble and a gentleman. He comes to us with a love for the Mass as well as a love and knowledge of liturgical music in the tradition of the Church. I look forward to working with him at Holy Trinity.
God bless
FRVW
Public Masses Begin on Pentecost Weekend
March 16, 2020 will be a date notched in my brain for a long time – some of you who know how forgetful I am may question that statement! It was the last time we had public Masses in our church. Thankfully, we will again have public Masses at Holy Trinity. May we never be without THE GREATEST ACTION in history again!
Beginning this Friday, May 29, 2020 we will offer public Masses. We will go back to our former schedule for weekdays (9:00 and 12:00) and weekends. (The one exception will be a 6:30am Sunday Mass instead of 7:00am. This change will allow for cleaning the church between Masses.)
Please know the Bishop still extends the dispensation from Sunday obligation at Mass for all Catholics in our diocese. Also, if we are feeling sick, have a fever, sore throat and/or cough, we are strongly encouraged not to come to Mass or the church.
We may only enter through the main front doors. Ushers will need to seat people. Please be patient as you enter the church.
Non-family members should maintain six feet distance from each other upon entering, in pews and upon exiting the church. Every other pew will be kept empty.
Holy Communion will be similar yet different than a normal Sunday Mass. In short, each section will receive at a time; only one line to/from Holy Communion. When a section is finished, the next section will approach the priest for Holy Communion. Our goal is that people do not cross paths walking to/from Holy Communion. Again, please be patient and follow the guidance of our ushers. It will take time – good opportunity for recollected prayer!
Only priests will distribute Holy Communion. Recall that we will have 91% rubbing alcohol to purify our fingers during Holy Communion.
Realistically, we are looking at about 300 people or so who will be in the church at a time. I could be overestimating or underestimating. It is first come, first serve.
We will also be able to use the hall for some overflow.
For those who are unable to make it to Mass for whatever reason, we will offer Holy Communion Outside of Mass at 3pm on Sunday, May 31st. This ritual will be offered outside the doors of the Adoration Chapel. Each car drives up; communicants step out and walk to Father who will administer Holy Communion. After receiving, please spend some time in silent adoration.
Finally, we will need help cleaning the church and bathrooms after every Mass. We have set up a SignUpGenius that will be accessible via our parish blog: holytrinityupdates.com – some may be there already! We will need ten (10) families after each Mass on Saturday and Sunday. All cleaning supplies will be provided. Would you consider spending fifteen minutes after Mass to clean Our Lord’s house? Specifics will be provided.
Adoration will continue, please check the Schedule Page for information.
Thank you again to all of you who have helped, and continue to do so in the parish. It has been humbling once again.
God bless
FRVW
Sunday: Holy Communion Outside of Mass
Thank you again to everyone who waited patiently to receive Jesus in Holy Communion last Sunday! It was a true testament to our Faith and very humbling for the priest.
Tomorrow, Sunday, May 24, we will have Holy Communion Outside of Mass two times: after our 9:00am Ordinary Form live streamed Mass – probably around 10:00am; and, after our 11:30am Extraordinary Form live streamed Mass – probably around 12:30pm.
We will have two (2) stations for Holy Communion tomorrow: outside the chapel entrance – same as last week – and one in front of the church under the main arch.
Please follow the guidance of our parking lot ‘ushers’ so that Holy Communion can be received reverently and safely – never thought I’d need to say ‘safely’! The lead-foot drivers should probably not be at the wheel in the parking lot tomorrow!!
All good? Now, on to read a little more about St. John Paul’s 1979 Pentecost visit to Poland. Wonder what the Holy Spirit has in mind for the world this Pentecost!
God bless
FRVW
An Angel’s Jealousy?
Dear Holy Trinity Parishioners!
Please forgive my tardiness in getting out information to all of you regarding our status at Holy Trinity.
Bishop Burbidge has asked us, along with all the parishes in Prince William, Loudoun, Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria to wait two more weeks before we consider having public Masses.
The Bishop is very aware of our desire for public Masses and reception of Jesus in Holy Communion. Therefore, he has extended the option to administer Holy Communion outside of Mass. Yes, Mass is the Holy Sacrifice of Christ re-presented in time. Yes, It is the greatest Action in history. We pray that we will soon be able to participate at Mass in person.
St. Maximilian Kolbe once remarked: If angels could be jealous of man, they would be for one reason: Holy Communion.
Beginning tomorrow, Saturday, May 16th we will offer Holy Communion within the Rite of Holy Communion Outside of Mass. Immediately following our 9:00am live streamed Mass each day, the priest will conduct a brief Holy Communion Service at the outside Adoration Chapel doors under the archway. Parishioners in the state of grace will be able to walk up to Father to receive Jesus in Holy Communion. You can then return to your car to make your thanksgiving after Holy Communion until Father gives the closing blessing. Examples of Thanksgiving Prayers after Holy Communion would be:
Soul of Christ: https://jesuitprayer.org/custom/cards/anima-christi.pdf
Litany of Humility: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/litany-for-humility-391
Prayers of the Angel of Fatima to the shepherd children: http://www.fatimacentennial.com/fatima-prayers
As we have further access to Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist we are asked to consider the following reminders – for complete details please see the diocesan website www.arlingtondiocese.org and Bishop Burbidge’s announcement at http://www.arlingtondiocese.org/coronavirus/:
Dispensation from obligation to Sunday Mass remains for everyone
Those vulnerable are encouraged to avoid public gatherings
Those sick and/or coughing are asked to avoid liturgical celebrations
We are asked to maintain 6 foot distance between persons
10 person group limit (inside the church)
Face coverings are expected
Disinfecting one’s hands before receiving Holy Communion is expected
Each communicant has the right to receive Holy Communion in the manner he chooses – on the tongue or on the hand
The faithful are asked to prayerfully consider reception of Holy Communion in the hand
No one may receive Holy Communion while wearing gloves
Please know that it will be a joy to offer you Our Lord, really, truly and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist!
May our reception of Jesus increase our love for Him and His Church; increase our love for each other; and increase our peace and joy in these times.
God bless
FRVW
Re-integration 2020
Dear Holy Trinity Parishioners!
Let us thank Our Lord through Our Lady for His many graces!
How is life going in the family? I am wondering about certain opportunities of grace between husbands and wives. For example, how many husbands, who are spending more hours at home than they previously did, are more appreciative of their wives’abilities around the house – especially when left home with the children?! Or, when asked, ‘Where are you going?’, wives aren’t so quick to complain that their husbands work outside the home?! Ah yes, the two shall become as one.
In light of our Governor’s announcement today, our Bishop has written an open letter to all Catholics of the Diocese of Arlington and a video on re-opening our parishes for public Masses to begin on May 15th. His letter and video can be found on the diocesan website: arlingtondiocese.org.
The Bishop mentions the following:
Churches can operate at a maximum of 50% capacity – unless a local jurisdiction determines otherwise.
There will still be a need to provide for proper social distancing and regular cleaning at each parish.
The Bishop is working with a team to help plan for reintegration. He will have guidelines for us this coming week.
The Bishop also reminds the faithful that the dispensation for anyone who has any concern about attending Mass is still in effect.
Please continue to ask Our Lord through His Mother – in this month of Our Lady – for a further opening of the sacraments to our people; prudence for our Bishop and Governor; as well as mercy and healing for those suffering from COVID-19.
God bless
FRVW
Mother’s Day: May Crowning and (Drive Thru) Adoration
Happy Mother’s Day to all of our mothers – spiritual and physical! We hope Our Lord blesses all of you through His Mother for your countless sacrifices.
As is our custom at Holy Trinity on Mother’s Day to crown Our Lady publicly, we will do so again. We will also have Her Son Exposed for Adoration.
Sunday, May 10th at 1:55pm we will crown an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary outside the church. We will then place Our Lord on the altar under the front door arch for Adoration until 3:00pm. During Adoration, we again invite all our parishioners to drive in front of the church for Adoration of Our Lord. At 2:30pm we will pray to Jesus through His Mother, Mary, in reciting the Rosary.
All will be live streamed on Holy Trinity’s Youtube channel: HT Videos.
We again ask everyone to remain in your cars during May Crowning, Adoration and Benediction. On Divine Mercy Sunday things worked very well.
God bless
FRVW
Consecration vs. Covid
Dear Holy Trinity Parishioners!
How are you? I hope your week has been one of close quarters, peace, joy, creativity, conversation and holiness!
You may be wondering at the title of this ‘note’. Yes, well, Our Lady always wins.
Friday, May 1st Archbishop Gomez, the President of our conference of Catholic Bishops will lead all Catholics, in union with our bishops, in a re-consecration of our country to Our Blessed Mother. (The Canadians will also be doing the same.) As the month of May is dedicated to Our Lady, this re-consecration is very appropriate in the midst of the coronavirus. Documents and livestream info are at lacatholics.org/consecration/. Please join Catholics of America in making this consecration for Our Lady’s Protection from the coronavirus.
Our Lord desires that we ask, seek and knock. He also is pleased when we go to Him through His Mother. Let us not forget that Jesus performed His first miracle at the Wedding Feast of Cana because His Mother asked Him! Let us implore Our Lady together in her month for a conversion of hearts and minds to Jesus and an end to this coronavirus!
Thank you very much for your prayers over the last two weeks. Fr. Carr has been given the ‘thumbs up’ from his doctor to resume his duties at the parish. You may recall last week’s blog post when I said Father Carr would have a two week quarantine. Actually, the rest of us in the rectory needed the two week quarantine – which ended today. For those who have COVID, the Center for Disease Control, gives the following guidance before public interaction:
- Free from fever for 72 hours – without medication
- Other symptoms have improved.
- 7 days have passed since beginning of symptoms.
Fr. Carr has hit all the above. I have consulted with the diocese as well throughout the last two weeks.
That said, we will begin our regular schedule of confessions this Saturday.
We do not have any word yet on when we will begin to have public Masses. Bishop Burbidge has assembled a team to help him identify when and how we can begin public Masses. Please continue your prayers for our bishop and those helping him in this process that Our Lord grant them wisdom and courage.
God bless
FRVW
Fr. Carr Update 4/23/20
Hello Holy Trinity Parishioners,
Thank you for your prayers for Fr. Carr. He has been discharged from the hospital and is back at the rectory this evening. He will still need prayers as he will be recuperating for the next couple of weeks. He will be in the standard two week quarantine when one has/had COVID.
The seminarians, Fr. Isaiah and I have been guided to isolate from the church for one week from tonight until next Friday, May 1st .
Unfortunately, we will not have confessions at the church tomorrow morning and for the next week. We will give the exact day and time we will resume confessions at Holy Trinity.
That said, the church is going to remain open with Exposition and Adoration.
We will continue to livestream daily Mass at 9:00am as well as the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Rosary at 3:00pm.
The offices and chapel will be deep cleaned next Monday and Tuesday.
All of our staff can be reached at the emails found in the bulletin, on the website and on the blog.
Please check our blogspot: HolyTrinityUpdates.com for information on schedules, Masses, etc.
Thank you again for your prayers and perseverance.
God bless
FRVW