AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE AND INVITATION FROM BISHOP DAVID O’CONNELL, CM

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
For centuries Catholics have turned to the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking for her intercession in times of need by praying the Rosary. This great prayer, whose origins date before the 12th century, uses a meditative repetition of prayers that invoke the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary as she leads us to consider the mysteries in the life of her Divine Son, Jesus.  History has shown this to be a powerful, effective and calming prayer that has truly changed hearts and lives over the centuries of its use.

Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said of the Rosary that it is “the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying than the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes close upon the shadow of this world, and open on the substance of the next. The power of the Rosary is beyond description.”

As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I invite all Catholics in the Diocese of Trenton to consider making this powerful devotion part of your daily life of prayer.  Please join with me in praying Our Lady’s Rosary every day between now and October 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, for the many intentions and needs of our nation today, especially for a true respect for life in all its stages from conception to natural death; for the strengthening of marriage and family life; for an end to the COVID 19 pandemic and for all those impacted by it; for a lasting resolution to the racial tensions and injustices that have too long afflicted our country; for an end to the violence and death in our cities, especially among the young; for the victims of sexual abuse and human trafficking; for the poor, the unemployed and those who face economic hardship and for so many of the other intentions and needs that we face in our country and world.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Most Reverend David M. O’Connell, C.M.
Bishop of Trenton

Attention All Parishioners 

The following conditions MUST BE adhered to, in order to accommodate the safe and successful re-opening of Saint William the Abbot for Sunday Mass:

• No public gatherings or greetings before or after Masses, at church entrances/exits or on any parish property.
• Only Main entrance doors to be used for entering.  Any/all doors available for exit.
• Facemask MUST BE WORN upon entrance to the church building.  May be removed ONLY to receive Holy Communion.
• Hand sanitizer is available at entrance.
• Proper social distancing guidelines MUST BE adhered to.  Seating areas are designated.  DO NOT sit in marked off areas.
• Offertory collection baskets will not be passed during the liturgy.  Please deposit your contribution in the baskets placed by each exit door. 
• Printed materials (hymnals, bulletins, etc…) will not be available.
• Singing is discouraged.
• Holy Communion will be distributed pew-by-pew.  Follow social distancing guidelines.  (see markings on church floor).
• Preferred method of Distribution of the Body of Christ is in the hand.  While distribution on the tongue is not prohibited, this method creates sanitary issues, so we ask that ALL recipients adhere to the preferred method.
• Exiting will be pew-by-pew.  Again, there will be no gathering in church building or parking lot.
• For those who should stay at home for safety or heath issues, the dispensation from Sunday and Holy Day Mass obligation will remain in effect until Monday, September 7^th.
• We will continue to livestream all the 9:00AM daily Masses and Sunday Mass at 10:15AM. The link can be found on our website.
• For more information regarding the Bishop’s directives, please visit the Diocesan website at https://dioceseoftrenton.org.