https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXELzr2FtRbpab_ivamMeNw/
 

THE ASCENCION OF THE LORD
The Ascension happened 40 days after the Resurrections, but many dioceses have moved this Feast to the 7^th Sunday of Easter.
 
MATTHEW 28, 16-20
16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
The eleven: the number recalls the tragic defection of Judas Iscariot.
 
17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted:
Before the disciples doubted, they worship Jesus.
Why they doubted? Probably because they could not recognize Jesus, could not ID him? I do not think they doubted of his Resurrections, since he has appeared to them many times before. Remember only Thomas doubted of Jesus resurrection.
 
18 Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. All power, including power in heaven, means divine authority.
The irony is that in the only place where Jesus has limited authority is in our hearts. We have a choice: to accept his rule or reject it. Our life is that kind of struggle to allow Jesus to take more and more authority, to extend his rule further in our hearts.
 
19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit.
The Commissioning of the Disciples was to continue Jesus’ mission, making disciples and baptizing. That mission is universal: to all the nations.
The baptismal formula here is perhaps the clearest expression in the New Testament of our Trinitarian belief.
 
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
“All that I have commanded you” is what we Catholic know as Tradition. Our Catholic tradition is found not only on the Bible, but also on the early writings of many of the apostles’ disciples as well as in the teachings of the church.
“I am with you always until the end of the age”
At the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew, there is a prophesy that the Messiah will be called Emmanuel, Mt 1:23, but it ended up naming him Jesus. Now the prophesy is fulfilled, since Emmanuel means “God with us” and Jesus promises at his Ascension that he will with us always.
Jesus promises his permanence in his Church for ever. In every Eucharist Jesus descends from heaven to renew his promise that He will stay with us until the end of Time.
Although Jesus is outside of our visual field, he stills remains with us in a mysterious way.
The Ascension of the Lord was a happy ending of his life on earth, but also a new beginning for the Church to continue his mission.
 
 
PERSONAL QUESTIONS:
 
1. What are some of the serious doubts that I may have of Jesus teachings?
2. Do I accept all that Jesus teaches in the Catholic Church or I am selective in what to believe and practice?
3. Am I letting Jesus take control, authority in my life?
At the end of the day ask yourself, what things did Jesus and I do together?
4. If a blind person is asked to describe the colors: red, blue, green, that blind person, who has no concept of colors, could not explain what colors are.
How do I imagine heaven? Try to explain heaven to child. Try to describe heaven to a non-believer. What comparisons would you use?
 
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, my beloved, be the magnet of my heart; clasp, press, unite me forever to your sacred heart.  You have made me for yourself; make me one with you.  Absorb this tiny drop of life into the ocean of goodness whence it came." Prayer of Francis de Sales
 

May 19, 2020
 
Dear Parishioners,
 
I pray for your wellbeing and safety. Everyone is asking us when our church will be open again. To give you a quick answer: when we are in phase 3. Washington state religious services are program to reopen with-up to 50 people-capacity during phase 3 of our state opening plan. Our church has designed a Business Safety Plan to re-open, including the office and classrooms, in accordance with the directives from our Kittitas Health Department. I still do not have an exact date of reopening but let’s pray that we can celebrate Mass together soon. 
 
Meanwhile, we are updating our parish family roster. If you have not renewed your registration, you will probably receive a phone call from our parish office in the coming weeks. By the way, over 30% of our listed phone numbers are disconnected or we do not have the new phone number. The trend is that many families are switching from hard line telephones to a cell-phone only service.  In addition, we are missing 60% of our families’ emails. We plan to mail a registration form to the families that may need to update their family information with us.
 
PHASE 2
NO PUBLIC MASSES.
According to a news release from the Kittitas County Public Health Department, Kittitas County will not be allowed to advance to Phase 2 in the state’s COVID-19 recovery plan until May 26, following a two-week incubation period for COVID-19. Kittitas County has had 59 positive cases since the start of the outbreak. Fifteen are recovered, 44 are active cases.
 
PHASE 3
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MASSES DURING PHASE 3: Gatherings with no more than 50 people.
 
MASSES IN OUR CHURCH BUILDING
Recommendations: Masses could be scheduled with greater frequency, as long as it maintains moderate physical distancing. Bishop Tyson will give us permission to celebrate Sunday Masses on weekdays. That is, we could celebrate the Sunday Mass liturgy on a Friday evening.
 
ATTENDANCE AND SEATING. There are 50 pews in the church. The best approach is to have staggered seating (alternated-pew seating). Members of a single household do not need to practice physical distancing with each other and so may sit together in the same row. If all the available spaces are filled, additional people will not be admitted to the church building. Late comers may possibly be allocated in the breezeway after we reach the 50-people capacity in the church. Attendance could be by invitation only. I will explain our options in my next letter. It is imperative that all families update their information with our parish office. We will use all means of communication: emails, phone numbers, letters by mail, Facebook and website postings to inform the parish how attendance will work.
 
Recommendation: Use tape to close off rows of seating in the church, in order to guide the faithful to sit at least 6 feet from each other (for example, allow seating every third row).
There will be sanitizing stations in all entrances to our church.
 
PHYSICAL DISTANCING
Recommendations: In areas where the faithful might stand in line (for example, waiting to go to confession or to receive Holy Communion), place tape on the floor to indicate proper spacing between persons.
Station ushers at the entrances of the church to help “direct traffic,” to ensure that the faithful keep 6 feet from each other while entering and exiting the building. (Members of a single household may enter and exit together, since they do not need to practice physical distancing with each other.)
Suggestion: dismiss the congregation by rows at the end of Mass to avoid crowding at the exits.
 
RESTROOM USE:
Develop a plan for restroom use: limit the number of people who enter a restroom at the same time while maintaining a 6-foot distance from each other.
 
THE DISTRIBUTION OF HOLY COMMUNION.
Recommendations: place tape on the floor to indicate proper spacing between persons.
Holy Communion will be provided immediately at the end of Mass with additional precautions: using hand sanitizing stations, the priest may purify his fingers in an ablution cup or use hand sanitizer if he senses that his fingers have made contact with a person.
 
COLLECTIONS: Special provision should be made for the collection, like a drop-off box, where people can place their donations without touching any surface.
 
SANITIZING THE CHURCH BUILDING including the restrooms, pews, surfaces, etc., must be performed after each Mass.
 
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION. The church could be open during the day for personal and Eucharistic prayer. A sanitizing protocol must be followed.
 
VOLUNTEERS:
We will need volunteers after each Mass to sanitize the church and the restrooms. Also, some ushers to direct traffic and guide people to their designated sitting spot.
 
I do not want to make more predictions because there many factors to take into consideration before Masses will be open to the public. We need to keep our fervent faith alive with our personal devotions before we experience the grace of sacramental life in the church. We have confessions by appointments on weekdays and on Saturday at 3pm. Please, keep praying for one another.
 
Yours in Christ,
 
Fr. David
 

Due to the recent outbreak of COVID-19, and in accordance with the latest Order from the Governor’s Office and guidance from the Washington State
Department of Health, St. Andrew’s Church and parish offices are closed to the public until at least May 31, 2020.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. 

Office Phone:
Address: 401 S Willow St Ellensburg, WA 98926
Fax: (509)962-9846
Emergency Anointing of the Sick Sacrament: (509) 901-3885
Email: standrewparish@yahoo.com
Bulletin: bulletinellensburg@gmail.com
Charity Requests:  509-962-9819

Pastor (Párroco): Fr. David Jiménez
CONTACT OUR STAFF

 

The April Central Washington Catholic Newsletter is available in English or Spanish.   If you need a hard copy, please contact the parish office.

Bishop Tyson is now broadcasting
Sunday Masses over the airwaves:

English -- Sundays at noon
CW 9 Channels Yakima
Noon on Ch. 29.2 – Yakima CW9/Yakima
Noon on Ch. 29.2 – Ellensburg CW9/Yakima
Noon on Ch. 9 – Charter SD CW9/Yakima
Noon on Ch. 709 – Charter HD CW9/Yakima
Noon on Ch. 33 – Dish CW9/Yakima
Noon and on Ch. 20 – DirecTV CW9/Yakima

CW 9 Channels Tri-Cities
Noon on Ch 19.2 – Over the Air CW9/Tri-Cities
Noon on Ch. 9 – Spectrum SD CW9/Tri-Cities
Noon on Ch. 709 – Spectrum HD CW9/Tri-Cities
Noon on Ch. 33 – Dish CW9/Tri-Cities
Noon on Ch. 20 – DirecTV CW9/Tri-Cities

Spanish (with Father Jesús Alatorre) -- Sundays at 9 AM
9 a.m. on Ch. 32 – KYPK TV Hispanavisión (Spectrum 204 or 803)
9 a.m. on Ch. 36 – KWYT TV Hispanavisión (Spectrum (276 or 888)

The annual Memorial Day Mass at Calvary Cemetery will be live-streamed this year.  Bishop Joseph Tyson will be the celebrant.  Thank you to St. John Catholic Church in Naches for providing the music for the Mass.

Calvary Cemetery Yakima Memorial Day Mass
with the Most Reverend Joseph J. Tyson
will be live streamed at 10:00 a.m. May 25, 2020

www.facebook.com/Stpaulcathedralyakima

 

Cementerio Calvario Yakima Misa del Día de Memorial
con el Reverendísimo Joseph J. Tyson
se transmitirá en vivo a las 10:00 a.m. 25 de mayo, 2020

www.facebook.com/Stpaulcathedralyakima

 
https://facebook.com/events/s/calvary-cemetery-memorial-day-/691407911633310/?ti=as

Please join us at Streaming Masses from
St. Paul Cathedral in Yakima for upcoming
Diocese of Yakima Ordinations at 5 PM,

Seminarian Michael Kelly was ordained as a Transitional Deacon this past Friday, May 15, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcSNdZHlqdQ

Deacon Edgar Quiroga will be ordained to the Priesthood on Friday May 22, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgbRCPgFHb0

Even though we cannot be there in person, we can still participate.  Please remember Michael and Edgar in your prayers as they prepare to be ordained by Bishop Tyson and enter more deeply into their vocations of service to the church.

Notes of encouragement can be sent to: 
Mr. Michael Kelly, c/o St. Joseph Parish, 212 N. 4th St., Yakima, WA  98901    
Deacon Edgar Quiroga, c/o Christ the King Parish, 1111 Stevens Dr., Richland, WA  99354