To form disciples who joyfully live out the Mission of Jesus Christ in Bowie
March 15, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed us in uncharted waters. While we are unable to physically gather as a community, we know that our faith unites us. Helping to stop the rapid spread of this virus to protect others is an act of solidarity with the least vulnerable among us. Thank you for your understanding and support during these challenging times.
Please watch the video below for a message from Father Mike.
You can also read the full text of Fr. Mike's letter to the parish, HERE.
FINANCIAL GIVING
With the long-term economic and social impact of this situation, we also encourage parishioners to please continue to financially give to make sure the parish can operate not just in these coming weeks, but in the months to follow. Our ability to offer activities and formation opportunities relies solely on the continued generosity of our parishioners. You can give in the following ways:
- Use Faith Direct to make a one-time donation or set up recurring donations instead of using your offertory envelopes. Click HERE.
- Mail your donations to the Rectory Office: St. Pius X Church, 3300 Moreland Place, Bowie MD 20715.
RECTORY OFFICE
At this time, the Rectory Office will remain open for normal business hours:
- Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
PASTORAL NEEDS
If you have an urgent pastoral need, please contact us so that we can accommodate you as best we are able. You can always email us at office@spxbowie.org or call at 301.262.2141.
FAITH FORMATION
- KidMin: please watch your inbox for resources from Ms. Jen!
- MSM: be on the lookout for information later this week.
- Confirmation Prep: Current 2020 Confirmation Candidates were emailed information earlier today. Please contact Jen Buter with any questions.
- Small Groups: as long as schools are closed, groups should not meet in person. We are currently looking into online options. Your Small Group leaders will be in touch!
- Tuesdays with Jesus: More details to follow, but we're working on a grand experiment to keep this conversation going!
SERVING
While gathered activities are not possible, we nevertheless continue to journey towards Easter together. The Lenten call to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, applied practically, and always with a view towards bearing spiritual fruit, is now more important than ever.
- Sharing Pantry: We don't want our Sharing Pantry to stop being able to serve because we're not physically meeting. To meet this unique situation, we've set-up an easy way for you to donate:
- until further notice, every Tuesday & Thursday you can place non-perishable food items in the coolers outside the SCHOOL ENTRANCE until 2 pm.
- We're always in need of:cereal, peanut butter and jelly, spaghetti noodles, canned veggies, tuna fish, soup, canned fruit, boxed noodles or Mac n cheese.
- Reach out to your neighbors, particularly the elderly. See if they need assistance - perhaps groceries, or household supplies, or just someone to talk to.
- The Green Team trash pick-up scheduled for March 28th has been post-poned until further notice.
We are exploring creative ways to bring you pastoral care
during this time when we cannot gather as a large community.
Please keep an eye out for more information.
A GREAT way to do this is follow us on social media
@spxbowie
WHAT TO DO THIS SUNDAY
What does Sunday without being physically at SPX look like?
Here's some suggestions!
Watch Mass on TV or Online
- A Mass filmed in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception airs every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on WDCW-50 and through free online streaming at adw.org/tvmass
- You can also watch the Mass streamed online by our friends at Church of the Nativity on Saturdays at 5 pm and Sundays at 9 am, 10:45 am, 12:30 pm and 5:30 pm at https://live.churchnativity.com/
Make a 'Spiritual Communion'
In these cases where you are unable to attend Mass, the Church encourages us to make an act of “spiritual communion,” where we unite ourselves to God through prayer. It is a beautiful way to express to God our desire to be united with him when we are unable to complete that union in the reception of Holy Communion. Here's what you do:
- Gather with others in your household and begin a time of prayer with the sign of the cross.
- Take time to read and reflect upon the readings from Sunday Mass. You can find the readings for this Sunday, March 15, HERE.
- Share prayer intentions quietly or aloud.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer.
- Pray 'An Act of Spiritual Communion by St. Alphonsus Liguori'
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen. - Close with the sign of the cross.
Reflect on the Gospel Reading with your Family
- Take time to read the Gospel aloud You can find the readings at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/031520.cfm
- Reflect on these questions:
1) In the Gospel, why was the woman at the well is the heat of midday? How was she viewed by her neighbors at the beginning of the story?
2) If God loves everyone even though we sin, why did Jesus bring up the women’s previous marriages? Was it painful to her that he mentioned them? Was it helpful to her that he mentioned them?
3) It seems like the woman was able to leave her shame behind when she goes off into the town to tell her neighbors about Jesus. What was the turning point for her that allowed her to suddenly be so bold?
4) Are there events in your past that shape your behavior today (for good or for bad)?
5) Have you ever moved beyond a painful episode from your past (whether a result of your or another person’s sin or simply unfortunate circumstances)? How were you able to leave the past behind? Were there things you did or people that were helpful to you in that process?
You can also continue to use the Lenten Scripture Reading Plan in our series take-away. Download a copy below!
The 2019 Contributor statements that details your giving to SPX are prepared. In an effort to go green, and to control postage costs, we are asking our members to contact the Rectory Office if you would like your statement emailed and or sent to you. Please email office@spxbowie.org and we will send your statement.
PRAY
Congratulations to those baptized on March 9th:
Keenan Emmett Kelly, son of Royal and Jeremiah Kelly
Josephine Anne Pignatelli, daughter of Cecilia and Thomas Pignatelli
Josephine Anne Pignatelli, daughter of Cecilia and Thomas Pignatelli
OUR SICK:
Irma Buehler
Richard Buehler
Dutch Skillen
Fr. Rich Colgan, C.S.P.
George Ratte'
PRAYER MINISTRY:
For our sick and homebound parishioners, for victims of clergy abuse, for those who are lonely, for those who have died from the coronavirus outbreak
Wed, 3/18, 9:00am: Stevie Smee +
Thurs, 3/19, 9:00am: Jack Anderson +
Fri, 3/20, 9:00 am: Jack Anderson +
Sat, 3/21, 5:00pm: Mary McDonough +
Sun, 3/22, 7:30am: Gary Felder +
Sun, 3/23, 9:00am: Fr. Rich Colgan, C.S. P
Sun, 3/24, 11:30am: All SPX Parishioners
Please be assured that Fr. Mike will be privately offering up Mass for those who requested an announced Mass. If you prefer to have your Mass intention rescheduled at a later date, please contact the parish secretary by clicking HERE.
To add an immediate family member to the sick or deceased list, to our Armed Forces Prayer list, or for a Mass intention please contact the Rectory Office by clicking HERE.
St. Pius X Church
14720 Annapolis Road
Bowie, MD 20715
Rectory Office (mailing address)
3300 Moreland Place
Bowie, MD 20715
Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
301.262.2141
