I continue to be overwhelmed by your tremendous response to my request for financial assistance. I thank the Lord for inspiring you to listen to and act on my plea. Your selflessness gives me confidence that you continue to live and celebrate our faith during this unique period.

The words of the Gospel, "Do not let your hearts be troubled," assures me that as a faith community, we will emerge from this situation stronger. I look forward to the day that we share the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as one family.

As we currently transition toward the offering of public Masses, let us give thanks and be patient with one another as we all work together to safely celebrate as a parish family once again.

On behalf of all who benefit from your ongoing generosity and our parish staff members, I thank you very much for all you do for our parish family.

Please stay healthy.

PARISH / MASS SCHEDULE UPDATE AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2020

RESOURCES

The priests and staff of St. Cecilia continue to pray for the health and safety of our parishioners and their families. While we are gradually resuming parish activities, the impact of COVID-19 on our global community remains an ongoing challenge.  As we go about the daily life of the parish as best we can, we wanted to update you on a few important matters and resources:

MASS SCHEDULE

Temporary Mass schedule as of October 1, 2020: Weekday public Mass is celebrated at 9:00 AM, Monday - Saturday. Sunday public Masses are celebrated at 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM.

CONFESSIONS BY APPOINTMENT

Please call our office if you would like to schedule a confession. You do not need to necessarily leave your name or any other identifying information but we do need a way to contact you in order to schedule a time for the appointment. At a minimum, please leave a phone number, and one of the priests will return your call. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate the current health crisis.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK
If someone is critically ill and in danger of death or has died, please call our emergency contact phone number anytime, day or night, at 415-722-9059, and a priest will return your call.

REQUEST A MASS INTENTION
To request a Mass Intention, please call the Parish Office at 415-664-8481 or email Irma Lavitoria at irmalavitoria@stcecilia.com and provide the following information:
1.  Name of the person the Mass Intention is for and whether the person is living or deceased.
2.  Your name or the name of the person offering the Mass Intention.
3.  Your phone number and whether you would like a Mass card.
4.  Suggested $10 offering per Mass Intention or $5 offering for an unannounced Mass Intention. Checks are to be made payable to St. Cecilia Church.  Please send or drop off your donation to: 
St. Cecilia Church
Attn: Irma Lavitoria
2555 17th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94116

PARISH FINANCES

Recently the Archbishop convened a meeting with all pastors to discuss the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the parishes of the Archdiocese. Several parishes find themselves financially challenged and funds will be made available to assist them through these difficult times. I am happy to report to you that, through the generosity of parishioners and the careful stewardship of our finances, St. Cecilia Parish and School currently remain financially stable. We do understand that this pandemic event has had a major financial impact on many of our parishioners and we are grateful for anything that you can continue to give. ONLINE GIVING (stcecilia.com/83) is utilized by many parishioners and if you require assistance please feel free to reach out to the Rectory Office.

BUDDY PHONE CHAIN

Do you live alone or are you in a circumstance that tends to isolate you? Think... Corona Virus isolation. If so, you may want to consider joining our "Buddy Phone Chain," a lively group of parishioners who regularly receive a reassuring phone call, and then make a call to a buddy in the phone chain. This a quick, non-intrusive way to feel safer and to check-in with someone you know. Your peace of mind costs nothing and only takes a few minutes each week. If interested, please call our "Buddy Phone Chain" coordinator, Diane Wienkauf at (650) 416-4741 or Fr. Paul at (415) 664-8481 to sign up or for more information.

SPIRITUAL RESOURCES

As a member of the Parish, you can avail yourself of www.formed.org. Our parish access code: RZDPQZ). This resource will provide you with access to thousands of movies, programs, and other materials that we believe will be of spiritual comfort and guidance during this time.

NEW BIBLE SHARING GROUP

As previously announced, the Parish is starting a new monthly Bible Sharing group. The group will meet on the first Wednesday evenings of the month at 7:30 PM. Our first meeting will be on Wednesday, October 7th, and will be led by Terence Leung and Father Paul. It will be a one-hour meeting via Zoom. Prior to each meeting, we will select a scripture passage from an upcoming Sunday liturgy. During the meeting, we will read the passage and share perspectives, insights, and feelings. Participants will be emailed a Zoom link before each meeting. All parishioners are welcome to join. To register for this class or for more information, please contact Terence at terence.scp@gmail.com or call the Parish Office and leave a message for Fr. Paul.

Pandemic Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe,
Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas.
We fly to you today as your beloved children.
We ask you to intercede for us with your Son,
as you did at the wedding in Cana.

Pray for us, loving Mother,
and gain for our nation and world,
and for all our families and loved ones,
the protection of your holy angels,
that we may be spared the worst of this illness.

For those already afflicted,
we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance.
Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful,
wipe away their tears and help them to trust.

In this time of trial and testing,
teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind.
Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.

We come to you with confidence,
knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother,
health of the sick and cause of our joy.
Shelter us under the mantle of your protection,
keep us in the embrace of your arms,
help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Pope Francis: An Important Statement Regarding the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession During  COVID-19 Lockdown/Restriction

VATICAN CITY (CNS) March 20, 2020 - People who cannot get to confession because of the coronavirus lockdown or other serious reason can go to God directly, be specific about their sins, request pardon and experience God's loving forgiveness, Pope said. "This is the right time, the opportune moment.  An act of contrition done well, and our souls will become white like snow.  Return to your father who is waiting for you," the pope said.  "The God of tenderness will heal us; he will heal us of the many, many wounds of life and the many ugly things we have done.  God welcomes every repentant sinner with open arms, it's like going home,  Lent is a special time to let God wash us, purify us, to let God embrace us. Yes, the best place for that is the confessional.  But many people today would tell me, 'Father, where can I find a priest, a confessor, because I can't leave the house?  And I want to make peace with the Lord, I want him to embrace me, I want the Father's embrace.' "the pope said his response would be, "Do what the Catechism (of the Catholic Church) says.  It is very clear: if you cannot find a priest to confess to, then speak directly with God, your father, and tell him the truth.  Say 'Lord, I did this, this, this. Forgive me' and ask for pardon with all your heart. Make and act of contrition, the pope said, and promise God, " 'I will go to confession afterward, but forgive me now' And immediately you return to a state of grace with God."