March 25, 2020
Solemnity of the Annunciation

Dear Family of Saint Mel:

May the God of consolation and peace be with you!

This time of caution and heighten concern has brought a distance between us. I miss my daily/weekly interactions with you. As one brother priest shared with me: “I miss the smell of my sheep.”

Father Barozzi and I are well. We pray for you daily at the altar and we thank you for praying for us. May the graces we receive through our prayers keep us healthy, hopeful and confident in faith.

Each day on our parish website, stmels.parishcentral.com, we air a live Mass: Monday - Friday 7AM & 9AM (English), Saturdays 9AM (English) & Sundays 7:30AM (English) & 8:30AM (Italian). The Masses are recorded and can be watched whenever you desire to view them. I also regularly post parochial and spiritual information on our parish Facebook and Instagram.

Our bulletin is posted weekly on our parish website. This past Sunday I left a box of paper bulletins in front of the church hoping that as you passed by you would take a copy for either yourself or a neighbor; possibly one of our senior parishioners. I am not sure how long the bulletin company will supply them to us.

While far from ideal, these “virtual” attempts of mine help to lessen the distance between us. I want to assure you that both “lights” are on. The one next to the tabernacle and the one in the rectory. Both Jesus and His priests are available 24/7 to assist and support you. You are never alone.

Aware that we will not be taking up collections for an indefinite time, please consider joining me and a growing number of St. Mel parishioners, in making your sacrificial contributions/gifts through Online Giving, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To maintain our parish stability and outreach, we are currently depending on the incoming monies from those using the Online Giving option. It is a convenient and secure electronic giving program that will enable you to continue supporting the good work we do at St. Mel’s in the name of Jesus from the safety of your home. Through Online Giving you can make all of your contributions automatically from your checking account or credit card - just as you may do now with your mortgage, household bills and other monthly payments. This is a great way to simplify your giving - and it's the most cost- effective, environmentally-friendly way for us to receive your gifts.

You can review the enrollment process by visiting our parish website: stmels.parishcentral.com. Information explaining the enrollment process is also available in this week’s bulletin.

Thank you for your faithfulness and love. As St. Teresa of Avila prayed: “patience obtains all things.” United with you in faith and friendship!

Love,
Father Fonti
jfonti@stmels-queens,org
(718) 886-0201 ext. 113