St. Mary of the Assumption, West Point, IA

St. Boniface, Farmington, IA

June 7, 2020

The Diocese of Davenport has issued a press release regarding the reopening of our parishes. The reopening will take place as a three step process. Step One has allowed us to reopen to private prayer with specific limitations. Step Two will allow us to resume public Masses with restrictions. Step Three will allow us to relax some of the restrictions for Mass. Only after the diocese has determined we have reached a point of “herd immunity” probably through the wide availability of a safe and effective vaccine will there be a return to “normal” liturgical practices. You can find the entire press release on the St. Mary’s parish website westpointstmary.org

WE ARE CURRENTLY IN STEP ONE OF THE REOPENING PROCESS St. Mary’s is open for private prayer only. Monday—Saturday 8 AM to 5 PM and Sunday Noon—5 PM

If you feel unwell, please stay home.

Diocesan guidelines: When in the church everyone (Over 2 years old) must wear a mask/face protection. (Please contact the office if you are in need of a mask, we do have access to a limited number of masks.)

No more than ten people may be in the church at any one time and must maintain social distancing guidelines.

The office is not open to the public. Please call with questions or if you need to drop off/pick up something.

Parish Meetings will continue to be held virtually at this time.

WHEN WE MOVE TO STEP TWO OF THE REOPENING PROCESS—WE ARE NOT THERE YET! Step two will include a return to Mass but with some changes and restrictions.

We will notify parishioners when we move to this phase.

The Sunday Obligation will still be suspended as everyone will not yet be able to attend. We will continue to share Mass via Facebook Live.

People 65+ and those with medical conditions are encouraged to stay home from Mass at this time.

You will need to sign up to attend Mass, either on the parish website or by calling the Parish office, so that we can maintain appropriate social distancing.

You will need to wear a mask while in the church for Mass. If you do not have one please call the parish office.

There will be no singing, only instrumental music.

There will be no shaking hands at the sign of peace.

Communion will only be distributed under the form of the bread and will be place in your hand only.

We will need to maintain a social distance (as much as possible) as we move to the front of church to receive communion and as we are dismissed at the end of Mass.

If you have questions feel free to contact the Office, Tuesday - Friday 8 AM to 4 PM. 319-837-6808.

St. Mary’s 50th Annual Fall Festival St. Mary’s Fall Festival Committee is asking for your help coming up with the

theme for the 2020 Fall Festival. Please send your theme idea to westpoinstmary@gmail.com by the end of

June. The committee is offering a prize for the winning theme.

Garrett Hannum, Maria Rauenbuehler and Ali Robu painted new walls constructed in the old Holy Trinity Catholic elementary building. The walls were built to divide a couple of classrooms making four smaller Religious Education classrooms/meeting spaces for St. Mary’s. A third wall was built to convert a room into office spaces for the Holy Trinity Foundation and the St.

Mary’s Fall Festival Committee.T he Foundation office has begun moving there files and equipment from the previous location to the Old Elementary. The Fall Festival Committee plans to make the move this week. Thank you to all who have volunteered to help repurpose these spaces for our parish!

Question: Does the pope choose his own name or is it given to him? Why does it change? Answer: The pope picks his own name. Although all of the popes since the Middle Ages have done so, it is not required to change your name. The first pope to change his name was John II in 533. His given name was Mercury, the name of a pagan god and he felt that his was not an appropriate name for the head of the church and he changed it. The last pope to keep his given name as pope was Marcellus II in 1555. Pope John Paul I was the

first to choose two names. Until the election of Pope Francis in 2013, the last pope to choose a new, unused name was Pope Lando in 913. When a pope chooses a new name, it might indicate his hopes for his reign, or tell us about his view of spirituality; it might also reflect continuity with a predecessor. In the early thirteenth century St. Francis of Assisi had a vision in which Jesus commanded him, “Repair my house, which as you see is falling into ruin.” In choosing St. Francis as his namesake, Pope Francis was pointing to a beloved saint who embraced radical simplicity, poverty, and care for the poor. As Pope Francis himself put it, “Oh, how I would like a church which is poor and for the poor!”

St. Mary Parish Office 109 4th Street • P.O. Box 68 West Point, IA 52656 Phone………………………………………(319) 837-6808 Website …………………………www.westpointstmary.org Saint Boniface Parish Office 609 Washington Street • P.O. Box 247 Farmington, IA 52626 Phone ……………………………………...(319) 837-6808 Pastor Rev. Dennis Hoffman………………………(319) 837-8120 E-Mail……………………………...hoffmand@diodav.org Rectory Address…………………………….603 Bel Air Dr Parish Coordinator: Rebecca Hannum E-Mail……………………..westpointstmarypa@diodav.org Director of Religious Education: Dixie Booten Cell ………………………………………...(319) 371-5043 Email …………………….westpointstmarydre@diodav.org

Priests are required to celebrate Mass frequently and are earnestly recommended to do so daily.

Father Dennis will be saying a Private Mass on a regular basis and will be

remembering the intentions as posted.

MASS INTENTIONS Tuesday, June 9 Parishioners Wednesday, June 10 Parishioners Thursday, June 11 Parishioners Friday, June 12 Lawrence Menke & Kurt Menke Saturday, June 13 Marie & Joe Pomberg Sunday, June 14 Parishioners

While we have yet to return to public Mass our parish, like all households, still have bills that need to be paid. If you are able to continue your contribution you may mail in your envelope. If you were thinking about moving to electronic giving you may fill out the form on the stewardship page of St. Mary’s website or call the office and we can help you make this change.

The Second Collection for the Month of June is for Bridges Out Of Poverty. If you would like to make a donation please send a check made out to Bridges Out Of Poverty in an envelope marked for the 2nd collection. You can mail donations to PO BOX 68 or you can call the parish office for a time to drop the check off.

Sunday morning at 8 AM Fr. Hoffman will celebrate Mass via Facebook Live on St. Mary's page.

Readings for the week of May 31, 2020

Sunday: Ex 34:4b-6, 8-9/Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 [52b]/2 Cor 13:11-13/Jn 3:16-18 Monday: 1 Kgs 17:1-6/Ps 121:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 [cf. 2]/Mt 5:1-12 Tuesday: 1 Kgs 17:7-16/Ps 4:2-3, 4-5, 7b-8 [7a]/ Mt 5:13-16 Wednesday: 1 Kgs 18:20-39/Ps 16:1b-2ab, 4, 5ab and 8, 11 [1b]/Mt 5:17-19 Thursday: Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3/Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13 [2a]/Mt 5:20-26 Friday: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-16/Ps 27:7-8a, 8b-9abc, 13-14 [8b]/Mt 5:27-32 Saturday: 1 Kgs 19:19-21/Ps 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10 [cf. 5a]/Mt 5:33-37 Next Sunday: Dt 8:2-3, 14b-16a/Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 [12]/1 Cor 10:16-17/Jn 6:51-58