Saint Patrick's 

Bishop LaValley is encouraging Catholics in the North Country to receive any of the coronavirus vaccines that are available to them.  “In light of conflicting information, I encourage people to be vaccinated against the virus,” said Bishop LaValley.   “In the current pandemic, given the limited vaccine options available, it is morally permissible to receive any of the vaccines,” he added.
Bishop LaValley issued his response to clarify the morality of taking the vaccines.  In assessing the morality of the vaccines, Catholic teaching considers many factors, including any connections between the vaccines and abortion, the urgency of the pandemic, and the opportunity to promote the common good.
Last December, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith declared it “morally acceptable” to take vaccines that relied on cell lines derived from aborted fetuses in their research and production “when ethically irreproachable Covid-19 vaccines are not available.”  The Pfiser and Moderna vaccines used fetal cell lines from abortions in the 1970s and 1980s in their testing phase but did not use these lines in the development or production phases.  As a result, the fetal cell lines are not in the injection.  The connection to abortions is remote, and the use of these vaccines is morally acceptable.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine employed abortion derived cell lines in both development and production of the vaccine.  That makes the connection to abortion less remote, causing bishops and theologians to encourage Catholics to opt for the Pfiser or Moderna vaccine if given a choice.  However, it the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is the only one available, they advise that Catholics may receive the vaccine.
Bishop LaValley noted that the reality we are facing in this pandemic is complex and Catholic moral teaching is nuanced.  “I want to make it clear to Catholics that while we should continue to insist that pharmaceutical companies stop using abortion-derived cell lines, given our current urgent situation, it is permissible to take any of the available vaccines.  Being vaccinated is an act of charity that serves the common good,” the Bishop noted.
 

Week 1 - Mary Racicot ($50)
Week 2 - Hector Kaufman ($50)
Week 3 - Lenny & Mandie Bechard ($50)
Week 4 - Barbara Guay ($50)
Week 5 - James Lefebvre ($50)
Week 6 - Juliana Tinoco ($50)
Week 7 - Jim Gonyo ($50)
Week 8 - Claude Dessureault ($50)
Week 9 - Jo-Anne Ryan ($50)

2020 Tax Receipts are now available. If you would like to receive a tax receipt, please indicate this on your envelope, drop a note in the collection basket or call the Rectory.  Receipts can be e-mailed, picked up or mailed directly to each parishioner who requests one.

ST. PATRICK’S FOOD SHELF ... will be open on Wednesdays, 9:30 to 10:30AM or call Pat Carey at 518-420-4957 for an appointment.

Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 infections, we ask that members of the congregation age 2 and older, wear masks or cloth face coverings during indoor Masses (except for when receiving Holy Communion) to decrease the spread of airborne droplets and the subsequent risk of transmission. Wearing face coverings is a risk-reduction measure that permits as many people as possible to attend Mass in person. In particular, this helps guard against transmitting the virus to the elderly and immunocompromised members of the congregation and to those who assist in their care.  We appreciate your cooperation with this request.  

The priest and other ministers do not need to wear masks during the liturgy (except for during the distribution of Holy Communion), given their sacred roles and given that they will be a sufficient distance from the congregation for most of the Mass.

Changes to our seating plan ... As a result of the difficulties experienced by our volunteers over the past months regarding our seating for Masses, we have changed our seating plan.  All couples (or two people who wish to sit together) are asked to sit in the side pews.  The large pews will accommodate families and single persons.  Every second pew will be blocked off (the same as the side pews).  Families may all sit together in one large pew, while single persons will sit at either end of the large pew.  Unfortunately, this will impact the numbers we can have at each Mass, but this is the only way we feel that it will make it easier for our volunteers who are trying to help keep everyone safe and healthy.

1.  Daily Masses are as follows:
      St. Patrick's: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at 9:00AM
      St. Mary's:  Thursday, Friday at 9:00AM (no Mass on                                 Saturday at 9:00AM.

2. Church is open the following hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday:
 8:00AM to 4:00PM
Thursday & Friday: Not open so church can be sanitized
for weekend Mass
Saturday: 2:45PM to 5:00PM
Sunday: 9:15AM to 11:00AM
 

3.  For those who do no wish to come to Mass, you may continue to drop off your envelopes in the Poor Box inside the church, at the rectory or by mail.  We sincerely thank our parishioners who continue to support our parish.

St. Mary’s Church of Ticonderoga is offering a special Lenten Parish Mission podcast hosted by Father J. Roger McGuinness! Fr. J. Roger McGuinness has been a priest of the Diocese of Ogdensburg for over 50 years. He has been a pastor, seminary and university professor, retreat master, college chaplain and vocation director. Now retired from active ministry he continues to write and give spiritual direction. Fr. Roger will be leading us in a Lenten mission featuring weekly reflections on the Sunday gospel readings. He will also offer a special reflection on the life of St. Joseph on March 19th, the Feast of St. Joseph. The podcast can be found at  https://www.route74catholics.org/fatherroger.   It can also be found at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Episodes are now available.

CHRISTIAN FORMATION CLASSES ... Christian Formation Classes continue this weekend for Grades 5 & 6, 9:15-10:15AM (St. Mary’s) and Grades 7 & 8, 6:30-7:45PM (St. Mary’s).  All students are asked to wear masks. 
   PLEASE NOTE ... There are no sign-up sheets for Grades 1, 2, 8 and Confirmation for this school year, but students are still expected to attend Mass.

CONFIRMATION CLASSES ... The next Confirmation Class will be on Sunday, March 14 at 7:00PM in St. Patrick's Parish Center.  Students are asked to wear their masks.

1st Grade                  Home Instruction (Sue Lefebvre)
2nd Grade                 Home Instruction (Sr. Jessy Xavier) 
3rd & 4th Grades     Home Instruction (Sr. Jessy Xavier)
5th & 6th Grades     St. Mary’s Parish Center, Sundays, 9:15                                         to 10:15AM (Karen Peets)
7th & 8th Grades     St. Mary’s Parish Center, Sundays, 6:30 to                                     7:45PM (Pat Gladd)
Confirmation           St. Patrick's Parish Center, 7:00 - 8:00PM
                                  (Deacon Noel Hinerth)

Please note that any Sanctuary Lamp (S.L), Blessed Mary (B.M.) or
St. Joseph (S.J.) Candles are still being lit at St. Patrick’s.  The requests are listed here:

February 28 - Special Intention for Essential Workers
B.M. - Kay Cavanagh by her Family

March 7 - S.L. - Ken Ryan by Paul & Linda Seymour
B.M. - Kay Cavanagh by her Family
S.J. - Homer Bechard by Norman & Kathleen
 

Please let us know if any names can be added or removed:

Judy Rushford, Terry Hyde, Cassidy Spinner, Gary Burton, Rose Moore, Julie Lafountain, Diane Favreau, Bonnie Filion, Ed Sweeny,
Shirley Rap, Jackie Ducharme,  Eric Pristera-Polniaszek, Diane Marks, Ken Dupere, Normand & Brenda Jolicoeur, Tim Neverett, Fr. Clyde Lewis, Darlene Poquette, Derrick Marks, Eleanor Reynolds,
Bryan Moore, Thomas Barcomb, Bob Miller