As of Saturday, July 4, 2020, Parishes of the Archdiocese of Hartford can reopen for the public celebration of Sunday Masses.
The Mass schedule for St. Basil the Great Parish is Saturday at 4:00pm, Sunday at 8:30am and 10:30am. The Saturday Vigil Mass will also be celebrated online.
Notification to the parish office is needed to attend. 203-879-2544.
Recording of the Celebration of the Eucharist the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time,Celebrant Monsignor Ginty Saint Basil the Great Parish Chapel
May 31, 2020
Great Feast of Pentecost
Dear Parishioners of St. Basil the Great Parish,
“Lord send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth”. This beautiful antiphon sung by the Church on this the great feast of Pentecost gives us a great sense of hope as we celebrate that day two thousand years ago when the Holy Spirit descended upon those twelve men huddled together in that upper room behind locked doors in fear. On Pentecost, the Holy Spirt breathed new life into those frightened men, empowered them with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, reverence and fear of the Lord. On the Day of Pentecost, Jesus commissioned them to go forth and teach all nations. This was the beginning of our Church here on earth and in many ways today is our birthday.
Every birthday is a great cause for joy and celebration. As we celebrate this Feast of Pentecost we take joy in knowing that with the help of God and the power of the Holy Spirit we too can rise up from the darkness of the world wide Pandemic and begin anew.
For the past three months we as individuals, families, communities of faith, citizens of this country and inhabitants of the world have experienced one of the darkest and most frightening moments in history. Throughout the world hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives to the Coronavirus and our daily routines of shopping, eating out in restaurants, getting our haircut and gathering together each Sunday for Mass here at St. Basil have been interrupted or prohibited.
We as Roman Catholic Christians have longed to receive Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament and have greatly missed the company of our fellow parishioners here at St, Basil the Great. Now we begin anew. Our parishes can resume Weekday Mass beginning this Monday, June 8, 2020. A date for the resuming of Sunday Masses has not yet been determined by Archbishop Blair.
The guidelines set forth have been developed by the Archdiocese of Harford and mandated by Archbishop Blair for all parishes. These directives are in conformity with the health care directives set forth by the State of Connecticut under the direction of Governor Lamont. In addition, Archbishop Blair has placed into practice liturgical directions from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops of that are contained in this package as well. As you will note, getting back to normal will take some time and will look a lot different than it did before the Pandemic. Those individuals of advanced age, illness or any other situations that could endanger their lives or the lives of their fellow parishioners are asked not to attend Mass. Archbishop Blair has given a dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass until September 6, 2020.
Returning to church and resuming our daily schedule is a serious matter and will take time and constant vigilance. We ask that all those entering the church always wear a mask, be willing to have your temperature taken at the door of the church and practice social distancing both inside and outside the church building. If you are not feeling well or you have a fever that day please for your own health and the health of others stay at home.
Please take the time to read these guidelines thoroughly. If you have an elderly parent, relative or neighbor please sit down and explain all the necessary details to them. Encourage them to stay home and watch the Facebook Mass on Saturday evenings at 4 p.m. at St. Basil the Great, Wolcott Facebook or one of the many other Masses that are offered on television each day.
As your pastor, I can assure you that together we can get through this. With the help of the Holy Spirit all things are possible. In the words of Jesus to his disciples on that First Pentecost, “Peace be with You”.
May God bless you always!
Monsignor Ginty
Pastor
PRAYER AT THE TIME OF A PANDEMIC
Lord Jesus, Who promised to remain with us always, When information overwhelms us and fear overtakes us, speak to us again those comforting words, “Peace be with you.”
Though we cannot be physically close to others, give us the ability and courage to love as well as we can, since “perfect love casts out all fear.”
Direct your caring gaze on doctors and nurses, researchers and safety personnel; Come to strengthen the sick, the vulnerable, and comfort those who are grief stricken.
And when the pandemic has passed, and this frightening crisis is resolved, teach us to know You more certainly as our dearest Friend and our only Hope.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.
(offer one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Glory be...)
Our Lady, Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for us.
PRAYER FOR THE CANONIZATION OF FATHER MICHAEL J. MCGIVNEY
God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor.
Through the example of his life and virtue may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body which is the Church.
Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast.
We humbly ask that you glorify your venerable servant Father Michael J. McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will.
Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make your request).
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(offer one Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father)
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