NEW: Coronavirus Pastoral, Canonical Guidelines & Practical Action

We're facing the Coronavirus pandemic with confidence and resolve at St. Alban's Catholic Church. Father Evan and the pastoral council are actively engaged in developing new strategies to meet people's pastoral and sacramental needs in this crisis and strengthen parish solidarity. We are the Church in action. 
 

All Masses and events are indefinitely canceled. However, we will be recording St. Alban's Mass and broadcasting every Sunday at 11 AM. Father Evan says now more than ever is the time for our community to really come together as the Body of Christ. And we will! Please take the following steps:

FINALLY, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY THE UPDATED PASTORAL AND CANONICAL GUIDELINES FROM FATHER EVAN SIMINGTON BELOW.
 

Updated Pastoral and Canonical Guidelines for Covid-19 Pandemic

Dear Faithful of St. Alban’s,

 
March 17 ^th, 2020
 
 
Dear Faithful of St. Alban’s,
 
Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all consolation.  At this time, we the faithful need to maintain a peaceful awareness of God’s providence and a humble reliance on God’s gracious protection in the midst of the current health crisis brought on by COVID-19.

Since St. Alban’s is graciously hosted by Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish we are obliged to maintain the territorial diocesan policies.  As of yesterday, Bishop Matano of the Diocese of Rochester stated:
 
Due to growing concerns, ongoing medical advice, as well as continuing local and state government restrictions in social settings to limit the rapid spread of the Coronavirus, COVID-19, all public Masses in the Diocese of Rochester are suspended until further notice, effective immediately, March 16th, 2020. 
 
We must, therefore, follow the diocesan policies of the Diocese of Rochester and the local Rochester governmental procedures. 
 
As the Parochial Administrator of St. Alban’s, and since you cannot attend Mass, I have elected to commute your Sunday obligation by offering you two optional pious devotions.  The faithful can watch the Sunday Mass on their preferred local or national television broadcasting network, or you can elect to watch St. Alban’s broadcast of the Sunday Mass on our social media platforms.  Your two options for commuting your Sunday obligation are:
 
1) If you choose to watch the Mass:
 
The faithful are obliged to follow along with the Mass and at the time of the distribution of the Eucharist, you may pray the Prayer of Humble Access, offer the prayer of a Spiritual Communion, or pray the Anima Christi. [See below]
 
2) If you choose not to watch the Mass:
 
A family may elect to offer a family Rosary.
 
St. Albans will continue to monitor the situation and we will keep you updated with necessary information.  I pray that all of you stay healthy in this season of increased health risk and I pray that all of you remain faithfully reliant on God’s grace.
 
God bless,
 
 
Fr. Evan Simington
Parochial Administrator of St. Alban’s Catholic Church
2732 Culver Road
Rochester, NY 14622
[email protected]
www.stalbanscatholic.com
 

Prayer of Humble Access:
“We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.”
                

Act of Spiritual Communion
“In union, dear Lord with all the faithful at every altar of thy Church where the blessed Body and Blood are being offered to the Father, I desire to offer thee praise and thanksgiving.  I believe thou art truly present in the Most Holy Sacrament.  And since I cannot now receive thee sacramentally, I beseech thee to come spiritually into my heart.  I unite myself unto thee, and embrace thee with all the affections of my soul.  Let me never be separated from thee.  Let me live and die in thy love.  Amen.”
                
Anima Christi
“Soul of Christ, sanctify me.  Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me.  Water from the side of Christ, wash me.  Passion of Christ, strengthen me.  O good Jesus, hear me.  Within Thy wounds hide me.  Separated from Thee let me never be.  From the malignant enemy, defend me.  At the hour of death, call me.  And close to Thee bid me.  That with Thy saints I may be Praising Thee, forever and ever.  Amen.”