Our Lady of Lourdes Church

In light of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) spread and the request of Gov. Newsom to limit assemblies, the Fresno Diocese has suspended public Masses (Sunday and weekday), along with all activities and meetings of any kind, at the parishes and schools. There will be no Palm Sunday, no Holy Week, and no Easter Masses. We don't yet know when it will end. The latest Vatican decree concerning Holy Week and Easter is at this link.

• No Sunday Mass or weekday Mass.
• No confessions, and no Lenten Penitential Service.
• No Stations of the Cross.
• No religious education and sacramental preparation programs.
• No Wednesday Food Bank and no Thursday Bingo.
• No other meetings of any kind -- Prayer Meetings, Bible Study, Parish Council Meeting, Knights of Columbus, etc. 

Sunday March 29 is the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Click here for the Sunday Bulletin during the closure. See blog below for article on Sunday's Gospel of the raising of Lazarus.

A message from  Bishop Joseph V. Brennan, and updates from the Fresno Diocese, may be found on their website at  https://dioceseoffresno.org/.

In light of the virus epidemic, Pope Francis has granted a plenary indulgence to the sick and those who take care of them - but also to " T hose faithful that visit the Most Blessed Sacrament, engage in Eucharistic Adoration, or read Sacred Scripture for at least half an hour, or pray the Holy Rosary, or do the pious exercise of the  Via Crucis  [Way of the Cross]  or pray the Divine Mercy chaplet, to implore Almighty God for an end to the epidemic, relief for the afflicted and eternal salvation for those the Lord has called to Himself.”  More info here. .

• • Recall that a plenary indulgence can be obtained for yourself or the deceased, and that you must have a spirit detached from any sin, go to sacramental confession and receive Holy Communion (both as soon as it is possible for you), and pray for the Holy Father's intentions.

Please consider the ongoing financial needs of the parish as expenses still continue! Mail in your contributions or drop them off at the parish office, or put the extra collection into the basket once we return to Sunday Mass. God bless you -- and thanks!

Meanwhile, during these closures, Bishop Robert Baron, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, who is located in Santa Barbara and is also the founder of the Word on Fire Ministry, is broadcasting daily Mass from his chapel - see below for the video. You can watch it at any time. The celebrant will be either Bishop Baron or Fr. Steve Grunow (CEO of Word on Fire).

You can also see the livestreamed Mass from Holy Spirit Church in Fresno at 9:00 AM on the Diocese's website ( link here), and can see televised Mass and pray the Rosary over the internet from the Diocesan station, KNXT at  http://knxt.tv/index.html - check their program schedule for dates and times. Or you can watch daily Mass from EWTN at  this link. You can see the Pope's daily Mass by clicking the link to Holy Mass for each day on the Vatican's website at this link. Also, "Give Us This Day" is now giving free online access to the readings of the Mass, a reflection, and morning and evening prayers (link here).

At 8:30 PM Pacific Time daily, you can go to Fr. Ed Broom's Facebook page ( link here) for a livestream of Adoration, Rosary, and Benediction each night from St. Peter Chanel Parish in Hawaiian Gardens, CA.

Lastly, for your consolation, click here for an inspiring article about churches and saints who have had to live for long periods without the Eucharist.