FORMED is an online library that the parish subscribes to, and it’s yours to use for free. During this stay-at-home period, now is a good time to take advantage of it. If you’ve never used FORMED before, here is how to sign up for it on your computer: 1. Go to the formed.org website. A screen appears with a Sign Up button in the center of the screen. 2. Click on Sign Up. A screen with three options appears. 3. Select the “I belong to a parish or organization” option 4. In the Search field, enter: “St. Mary Manchester/” The parish name, St. Mary of the Assumption, appears along with our parish address (210 W Main St. Manchester MI). 5. Press Enter, then next under Create a new account, enter your first and last name. 6. Enter your email address, then click Sign Up. Congratulations! Enjoy using FORMED

We invited parishioners to share thoughts, blessings, experiences during this quarantine period. Here is a particularly heartfelt, loving, and important response submitted by fellow parishioner Betty Cummings. Consider… As I was watching Easter Sunday Mass being broadcast from a large church, I was struck by just how empty the church looked. I wondered what the priest might be thinking. With Mass attendance down, is this a wake-up call for all of us? Faith Magazine published some astounding figures in its April issue. In the Diocese of Lansing, Sunday Mass attendance is down by 20,776 people in just ten years – a 26% drop! The church was empty this year because of the quarantine, but what about the years to come? We cannot afford to keep losing people in those numbers. Each number represents a person, a friend, a family member, or a co-worker. Someone with an immortal soul. We can’t let them simply drift away. I do not have the answers, but I hope and pray that someone does.

There are many interesting and useful magazines and newspapers available in the church vestibule for folks to pick up and take home. Although some are free, most have an envelope attached to offset the cost the parish must pay the companies for them. Please be sure to put your payment for the publication in this envelope and then drop it off in the mailbox on the front door of the rectory. Thank you.

W E ARE SURVIVING, BUT INJURIES ARE MOUNTING. Weekly collections have dropped. The number of envelopes before the virus averaged in the mid-seventies – they are now in midthirties. Weekly contributions are falling considerably short of the $5,300 goal. When COVID became serious at the end of February, we averaged $5,500/wk – now we average $3,800. It’s reasonable to assume that reduced contributions will continue as long as churches remain closed – for a duration that’s anybody’s guess. But the direct hit of lower weekly contributions is only a part of our loss. OUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT will shrink in proportion to the investment losses realized by the Diocese of Lansing. Their investments (our savings account) is in stocks, bonds, and other diversified financial instruments comparable to IRAs and 401(k)s. We can expect to lose in proportion to the losses sustained in financial markets. Losses & gains are regularly reported to parishes as either positive or negative interest. We will need to keep a close eye on these reports. Before the virus, we realized regular gains. Our gains will now become losses. This means that our PARISH CASH RESERVE will suffer on two fronts: reduced weekly contributions plus a reduction in our diocesan savings account. Another subtraction comes from our FUNDRAISERS. The Fish Fry earned approximately $6,600. Based on the performance of the first three dinners, we expected more than $15,000 because the highest profits are realized at the end. With the Stay-at-Home government directives, the Ice Cream Social and Rummage Sale are in jeopardy. Our total fundraising shortfall might be considerable. There is yet one more financial consideration: CHARITY. Over the years, our parish has provided funds to people in desperate need. Some of these funds have come from Poor Box donations and some from our general fund. With unemployment soaring, more parishioners have been permanently laid off. We must prepare for and expect a greater call to extend support. LAYOFFS: No one on staff has had to be laid off. The hours worked by hourly employees have been reduced. Salaried compensation has remained steady. Because we have not laid off employees, our parish is qualified to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program offered by the federal government. We have submitted two PPP loan applications: one from our local bank, Comerica, and the other from the Notre Dame Federal Credit Union. The Diocese of Lansing suggested we apply to the NDFCU in addition to Comerica. If our application results in funding, we can accept the first and cancel the second. All funds from the PPP must be allocated to payroll, benefits such as health insurance, and no more than 25% toward utilities. We have been deluged by LEGAL AND PROCEDURAL RECOMMENDATIONS from the Diocese; since life-with-the-virus started, we have received 27 documents, many emails and phone calls from them. Paperwork has dominated work in the office. When you see Sylvie, our office manager/bookkeeper, be sure to thank her. Obviously, all parish projects are on hold. Expenses have been reduced wherever possible.

Mass from st. Mary's church Manchester will be available to watch from st. Mary's Facebook page on Sunday. Due to state restrictions There will be no confession or communion until further notice.

Dr Virginia Johnson has generously offered to answer any questions you might have about the Coronavirus. Her email address is: vj370589@comcast.net

PER BISHOP BOYEA: All public Masses as well parish events and gatherings – here at St. Mary’s and throughout the Diocese – have been cancelled, now through Wednesday of Holy Week (April 30, 2020). However, the church will be open daily for private prayer. Also during this time, you can pick up a bulletin from the vestibule.

The following parish news items are ALL TENTATIVE until Bishop Boyea announces the resumption of parish Masses and activities…

Please note: Because of the restrictions on Masses and public gatherings, the parish will not be ordering memorial Easter lilies this year. If anyone still wants Easter lilies, please contact Sue at the Flower Garden directly (734-428-7422). The parish will not be ordering flowers.

Because we are not celebrating public Masses, there is no way to give our offertory gifts in person. Yet we all still want to contribute to the support of our parish. You may mail your envelopes to the parish office (PO Box 249, Manchester, MI 48158), use the drop-box on the front door of the rectory, or perhaps give online: Visit the parish website (stmarymanchester.org) where there is a button in the right column: “My E-Offering/Donate Now.” Click that and you can donate during this current time of no Masses or as frequently as desired. And while you are at the website, be sure to view the video of the Holy Mass celebrated Sunday by Fr. Bosco. The video is also posted to our parish Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/529067837222965/posts/2682481481881579?vh=e&d=n&sfns=mo (N.B. If you don’t have an account on Facebook, just click on the link, then choose “Not Now” if you are asked to log in or create an account.)

April 9, 2020 is Holy Thursday, and the 7:30pm “Mass of the Lord’s Supper” is an important and profound Mass, marking the beginning of the Sacred Triduum (the three days of solemn preparation for glory of Easter). At this Mass we also celebrate the institution of the Eucharist as the true body and blood of Jesus Christ and the institution of the sacrament of the priesthood. This Mass includes two special rituals, each needing parishioner volunteers: We are seeking 12 men to take part in the foot washing ritual and 14 ladies or teen age girls to be candle bearers for the procession to the Altar of Repose. Any parishioner is invited to volunteer by calling Marja Warner at 734-428-9506 as soon as at all possible.

This is a wonderful opportunity to evangelize, and you are encouraged to invite your friends from our parish and other churches in the community. All (ages) are welcome. See you Sun., March 22 at 7:00pm in the church. (After Lent, the meetings will return to 3rd Fridays at 7:00pm.)

On the Feast of St. Joseph, Thurs., March 19, you are invited to bring your struggles, troubles, and those parts of your life that you wish were unseen and certainly undone. Come and give them over to the Lord, who waits for you to offer forgiveness and healing. All day confessions are offered in the St. Francis Parish Activities Center (PAC), 2250 East Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor in an informal setting in conversation with the priest. No need to prepare anything. Just bring yourself and, if you think appropriate, tell a friend who may benefit from the day. God bless you.

Thank you to everyone who has made a pledge to the Diocesan Services Appeal this year. If you have not yet made your gift decision, please consider doing so today. Envelopes are available in the pews and may be placed in the collection basket or returned to the parish office. Those wishing to make their commitment online may do so at www.dioceseoflansing.org. Remember, 50% of all contributions, in excess of our parish goal, will come back to our parish for local use. “Happy the man who trusts in the Lord.”

Parish Family Birthdays for the Week of March 29

Altar Flowers for the week of Sunday, Feb. 16…

The SANCTUARY LAMPS are burning this week for the following intentions:

St. Mary would like to begin a monthly book club, tentatively planned to start in February. This will involve a new book each month from a variety of writing styles including spiritual, fiction, non-fiction, and others. One book will be assigned each month and will be discussed at length at the book club meeting. This is sure to be fun, interesting, and informative. Lynn Waldecker will spearhead the group. If you are interested, there will be a sign-up sheet in the church vestibule. More information will be forthcoming regarding actual dates and times.

If you have children in Catholic School or are considering this option, a reminder that the Diocese of Lansing has a scholarship program to assist with tuition costs. Information can be found at: https://dolcatholicschools.org/#catholic-schools-tuition-assistance

St. Mary would like to reinstitute a pro-life group. This is such an important mission for all Christians. We are looking for someone who may sense a calling to this ministry. It is amazing what even a small group of people can accomplish when motivated and filled with God’s grace. If you are interested in this apostolate please contact Kathy Sangster at 248-207-8226.