Dear St. Madeline Family,

While the rain fills our sky today, we still thank God who created the earth, the sky, sun, and rain. We especially thank God that we will celebrate a taped Mass for all to participate. It is Jesus in the Eucharist who unites the earth to the Heavens, and unites us to Himself as our Lord and Savior.
 
Today’s Mass will be posted on the St. Madeline website at 4 PM today. You can view it then, or later today or tomorrow.
 
Today, let us also pray for anyone who is anxious or losing hope. “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 6-7) At Mass today, we pray that the world may know the peace of God. We pray for God’s healing and peace.
 
Let us stand united in prayer and united as St. Madeline Church. God bless all.

Peace,
Fr. John Flanagan

Dear St. Madeline Family,

Pope Francis has asked us to join him today, Friday, at 1 PM (EST) in prayerful solidarity and for the special “Urbi et Orbi Blessing” (to the city of Rome and to the world).

All of you were remembered at my private Mass this morning. The plan is to tape or live-stream Mass for you this weekend. I will give you the details shortly.

Today, let us also pray for all people in the world who have died during this pandemic and for those whose death was caused by the coronavirus, COVID-19. Yesterday and today were my first few parish funerals. They are graveside services only for a very limited number of family, preceded by the family at the funeral home. It just added to the sadness and the harsh reality of losing a loved one amidst our current conditions and health directives.

Let us stand united in prayer and united as St. Madeline Church. God bless all.

Peace,
Fr. John Flanagan

Dear St. Madeline Family,

Pope Francis has asked us to join him tomorrow, Friday, at 1 PM (EST) in prayerful solidarity and for the special “Urbi et Orbi Blessing” (to the city of Rome and to the world).

People have been good and prayerful. As Christians, let’s lead the charge in our goodness and prayers. Maybe designate a certain spot, chair or room in your house as your special prayer place. Then, from time to time, pray for your family, the sick, an end to this pandemic and so many intentions. Let’s fill today’s sunlit sky with prayers and blessings.

Today, let us also pray for the brave men and women who must continue working amidst the anxiety of the coronavirus, COVID-19. Besides and including health care facilities, there are many places that remain open and their employees are nervous interacting with people. God, keep them safe.

Let us stand united in prayer and united as St. Madeline Church. God bless all.

Peace,
Fr. John Flanagan

Dear St. Madeline Family,

We talk about the power of prayer. Let us be even firmer and stronger in believing it. Faith and prayer are special gifts that God has given us. Pope Francis has asked everyone to say an Our Father today at noon (which was 7 AM EST), but more prayer is always good. Pray one Our Father at noon today, or when you can

As Padre Pio said, “Prayer is the oxygen of the soul.”

Today, let us also pray for nurses, doctors, health care workers, medical researchers and first responders that God will bless them with healing powers.

Let us stand united in prayer and united as St. Madeline Church. God bless all.

Peace,
Fr. John Flanagan

Dear St. Madeline Family,

Good morning on a rainy Monday. We stay encouraged because we have our God and each other. In my mind, this is part of the message of our current situation, that God wants us to be closer to Him and each other. And the way is love. This corresponds to the message of today’s Gospel (John 4: 43-54) as Jesus heals the son of a royal official, and “he and his whole household came to believe.”

Fr. Joe Amalfitano would have been 85 today. I believe he’s still praying for us and helping us. I recently told a parishioner whose parents and family live in Italy, that Fr. Joe is working on it and trying to help them. Fr. Joe has been talking to the Holy Family and to Padre Pio, I believe, to get things better for all of us.

Let us stand united in prayer and united as St. Madeline Church. God bless all.

Peace,
Fr. John Flanagan

Dear St. Madeline Family,

Good morning. While the sun was shining on St. Madeline Church this morning, things were different inside. Yet, we stay encouraged. “Encourage each other daily while it is still today.” (Hebrews 3: 13) I have included some pictures of church along with some “Acts of Spiritual Communion”.
 
ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
When should you make an Act of Spiritual Communion? The most common occasion for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when we cannot fulfill our obligation to attend Mass on a Sunday or Holy Day of Obligation, whether because of illness, bad weather, or some other reason outside of our control.

You can make an Act of Spiritual Communion at any time and make multiple times a day, even on days when we have been able to receive the Eucharist. Each Act of Spiritual Communion that we make increases our desire to receive sacramental Communion and protects us until we can receive Holy Communion sacramentally again.

ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION 
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.
 
MORNING CONSECRATION and an ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION 
Fr. John Flanagan
Dear Jesus, I consecrate and rededicate myself to You in your Most Sacred Heart and in Your Most Holy Eucharist, through Mary in her Immaculate Heart by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Let us stand united in prayer and united as St. Madeline Church. God bless all.

Peace,
Fr. John Flanagan

Dear St. Madeline Family,

Day 3 of private Mass in the St. John Neumann Rectory Chapel is in the books. My Father would have been 79 today. So, I prayed for him and my family, and in turn, prayed for you and your families. In these different and difficult times, it is special and humbling to say Mass, yet it is unique without seeing you. You join me as you are lifted to the Lord in prayer.

The St. Madeline website has good news from local and national sources, available Masses and other useful information.

Please pray for the sick and all who are struggling due to family, finances and anxiety during these times.

Let us stand united in prayer and united as St. Madeline Church. God bless all.

Peace,
Fr. John Flanagan

ST. MADELINE PARISH

Dear St. Madeline Family,

I remember Bishop McFadden saying that the Church is not the brick building, it is you. You, the good people of St. Madeline’s, are the Church. So, in these trying times, let us stand united in prayer and united as the Church, the Body of Christ with Christ as our Head. Let us pray that God will hear our prayers and pleas, and offer us healing, forgiveness and divine love and peace.

Here are a few updates, and I think it may vary week to week, so check weekly. While public Mass has been suspended, I am saying private Mass each morning in the Rectory Chapel, and Frs. Weber and Amal are saying private Mass in the Spiritual Life Center Chapel. We are saying Mass for the daily and Sunday Mass intentions and for all of you.

Starting today, here is a church update. Church will be open daily from 8AM to 4PM. We will open the side door closest to the rectory, and on weekends the front doors will also be unlocked until the regular evening Mass times. You may want to stay safe, stay home and “Pray in your inner room to your Father in secret”. (Matthew 6: 6) For this weekend, Church will be open, but Mass, confessions and baptisms are suspended. I do wish to offer confessions later and will let you know. Yesterday, we sent out an updated list of available Masses online and on TV.

Needless to say, our parish will be facing significant financial setbacks in the days ahead. Your continued weekly contributions are essential to the operation of your parish. Your sacrificial gifts help us to fund the cost of our parish programs, Church employee salaries and benefits, utilities, etc. I humbly ask your continued help in meeting our needs as you are able. If any of you are facing challenges because of job loss and/or loss of work time, please don’t hesitate to contact me personally. I will try to help you and possibly connect you with our St. Vincent DePaul Society.
        
This Sunday, we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Lent and our psalm response to God’s Word is Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me, he refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and staff that give me courage.”

My brothers and sisters, we are certainly walking in a dark valley at this time of our lives.  However, we are walking together and need not fear any evil for our God is at our side, with his rod and staff that gives us courage. Please hold on to this image in your prayers and be assured that I am holding all of you in my heart with prayers of petition and gratitude to Our Good Shepherd. Let us stand united in prayer and united as the Church. God bless you and God bless the St. Mad’s Family!

Peace,

Fr. John B. Flanagan
 

110 Park Street Ridley Park, PA 19078 (610) 532-6880 frjflanagan@comcast.net

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