Dear Sisters and Brothers at Saint Mary Parish
 
I just received this communication from Bishop Brennan and he asked that I share it broadly with parishioners and friends:
 
The month of May is traditionally set aside to honor the special role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life of the Church.  In light of the global pandemic sweeping our world, the month will begin in a very special way. The Bishops of the United States in conjunction with the Bishops of Canada have made a collaborative decision to re-consecrate both countries to the intercession and protection of Our Lady under the title of Mary, Mother of the Church on  Friday, May 1st at 3 PM EDT.
 
As Archbishop Gomez, the President of the USCCB notes  "This will give the Church the occasion to pray for Our Lady’s continued protection of the vulnerable, healing of the unwell, and wisdom for those who work to cure this terrible virus." This event will be aired live on the EWTN Television Network (check listings for appropriate cable channel), the EWTN Facebook page, or on St. Gabriel Radio, (AM 820, Columbus; FM 88.3 Portsmouth).  If you have not done so already please widely share this information with your parishioners and others, in addition to these two web page links:
 
Diocesan link:  https://columbuscatholic.org/marian-devotions
USCCB link:  http://www.usccb.org/about/communications/consecration.cfm
 
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Dearest Holy Mother, Most Holy Mary, you undo the knots that suffocate your children. Extend your merciful hands to us. We entrust to You today the knots of the coronavirus contagion and all the negative consequences that it provokes in our lives. Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for us.



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Please note that I will celebrate a private Mass at our Saint Mary Altar to honor Joseph the Worker, Mary’s most chaste spouse.

in Christ with Mary, Father John