Update for March 16th, 2020
Dear St. Peter Parish & School Families, and St. Martin of Tours Parishioners,
I am sad to announce, that due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Bishop Hying has suspended the celebration of all public masses in the Diocese of Madison. This will be effective at 12:01 on Tuesday, March 17th, 2020. Remember that he has dispensed all Catholics from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. Please see the attached statement from Bishop Hying.
Masses will still be celebrated at the regular times and broadcast on our new live stream internet video feed at www.ashtoncatholic.org/live-stream. All St. Martin’s masses will be held at St. Peter. Mass intentions will still be offered as scheduled. The faithful may stop in to pray at St. Peter from 9am-4pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Please keep a healthy distance, at least 6 feet, from others to prevent the possible spread of the virus. Our staff will continue to clean and disinfect the parish churches at more regular intervals. Please let parishioners who do not use email know about this news.
We will begin praying for the intercession of Mary under the title “Our Lady of Mercy,” who we implore to spare us from this outbreak and bring us close to Jesus, Her son and our King.
Prayer to Our Lady of Mercy
Blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay you with praise and thanks for having rescued a fallen world by your generous consent! Receive our gratitude, and by your prayers obtain the pardon of our sins. Take our prayers into the sanctuary of heaven and enable them to make our peace with God. Holy Mary, help the miserable, strengthen the discouraged, comfort the sorrowful, pray for your people, plead for the clergy, intercede for all women consecrated to God. May all who venerate you feel now your help and protection. Be ready to help us when we pray, and bring back to us the answers to our prayers. Make it your continual concern to pray for the people of God, for you were blessed by God and were made worthy to bear the Redeemer of the world, who lives and reigns forever. Amen.
Other Resources and Ideas for keeping Sunday Holy from the Diocese of Madison are here: https://madisondiocese.org/prayathome
Our Lenten Penance Service is cancelled. If you would like to come for confession, please come for individual confession at one of the following times:
Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Thursday from 9 to 10 am
Friday from 3 to 4 pm
Saturday from 3:30 to 4:15pm
Anytime by appointment
You should come and go promptly, and be sure to keep a safe distance of 6 feet from any other person to avoid potential spread of the virus, even if you are feeling well. I will be in the confessional on the right side of the church as usual. If you have a special need for accessibility or want to schedule an individual confession, please call me directly at (608)-561-7234. We will continue these opportunities weekly until further notice.
Our Fish Fries are cancelled for the rest of the year. We still have fish, french fries, and assorted beer available for purchase. Please contact Lori Meinholz at (608)-219-6878 if you’re interested.
All meetings and other parish functions are cancelled or postponed until further notice. There will not be a bulletin until we resume Sunday Masses.
Decreased Mass attendance is already having – and will continue to have – a serious impact on parish income. Unfortunately, our expenses do not significantly decrease. Some parishioners are also having their income affected by the restrictions currently in place because of the Coronavirus. They are facing challenges of their own, and it's entirely understandable that their parish support will decrease accordingly. But those who able to continue supporting the parish are asked to do so even if they are unable to come to Mass. Offertory envelopes can be mailed to the parish office. Alternatively, the link below can be used to make online contributions with a credit or debit card. > www.ashtoncatholic.org/donate
Anything you can do to help support your parish would be deeply appreciated.
I would urge you to take every precaution to be safe and stay out of public places to avoid contact with those who could be infected, but do not know that they carry the virus. If we each reduce our contact with others, there is reason to believe we can reduce the time of restricted and cancelled events, and return to regular daily life.
Finally, please check in on your neighbors, especially the sick, elderly, and those who have compromised health. We are called to love God and love our neighbor. If you know of anyone in need, please contact the parish at (608)-831-4843 and we’ll have one of our many generous parishioners reach out to assist with essential errands or other needs. I am most grateful for everyone’s sacrifices and offers of assistance. Thank you so much!
I am confident that the Lord is merciful, and we all must ask for the Lord to spare us in His mercy, and allow us to again gather at the Most Holy Mass.
Our Lady of Mercy, Pray for us!
In Christ,
Fr. Chris Gernetzke