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Resources for the Corona Virus
• Click to read the April 15 Letter from Bishop Bellisario re Corona Virus Update
• Click to read the March 26 Letter from Bishop Bellisario re Corona Virus Update
• Click to read the March 17 Letter from Bishop Bellisario re Corona Virus Update
• Click to read the March 13 Letter from Bishop Bellisario re COVID19Coronavirus
• Dominican Spiritual Resources
Updates from Father Steve - bookmark this page!
May 21, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
With great happiness I announce that tomorrow, Friday May 22, Holy Family Cathedral will begin offering public Masses. The first Mass is at 12noon tomorrow. We have to observe several restrictions in offering the Mass. They are outlined with the Mass schedule below. Please review them before coming to Mass as there is a limit to the number of people who can be in the church during the Mass, but no limit to the number of people who can receive Communion following the Mass.
Archbishop-elect Bellisario’s dispensation of the faithful from the requirement to attend Sunday Mass remains in effect. Your attendance remains entirely at your discretion. Please do not come to the Cathedral for Mass if you are feeling ill, or have any health concerns. You can continue to make a spiritual communion by watching the Mass live streamed.
During this time of transition I ask that you be patient with the process. This is unexplored territory for all of us. We are entering into happier times that is for sure! I look forward to that day when we will again be able to gather for the Eucharist without any restrictions. Pray for an end to this pandemic, and for all those impacted by it.
In Christ,
Fr. Steve Maekawa, OP
PastorMasses at Holy Family Cathedral
Church Hours:
Saturday - Sunday the church will be opened 30 minutes before Mass.
Monday – Friday the church will be opened 1 hour before Mass.
After distribution of Communion the church will be closed for sanitization.
Sunday: 7:30am Mass
10am Mass (Live Streamed)
1pm Mass (Spanish - Live Streamed)
4pm Mass (Dominican Rite – Live Streamed)
Monday – Friday: 12:00 noon Mass (Live Streamed)
Saturday: 9:00am Mass (Live Streamed)
5:30pm Mass (Vigil)
- Maximum of 50 people in the church. More than 50 can receive Communion. See #4.
- Enter through front entrance.
- Social Distancing is to be maintained. Families may sit together.
- Pews have been designated for seating.
- Individuals or couples can sit at either end of the designated pews. Do not sit where there is blue tape.
- Families of 3 or more can occupy the entire pew
- The front rows are to be filled first progressing toward the back of the church.
- Face coverings should be worn.
- Communion will be distributed after the Mass.
Those who wish to receive Communion and are not in the church at the Mass can receive Communion after the Mass by lining up in the designated areas, boxes outlined on the sidewalk, outside the church. After the faithful in the church receive Communion and exit through the side entrances the faithful outside will be directed into the church to receive the Eucharist. An usher will help guide both those attending Mass and those entering the church after Mass. The Eucharist will be available for reception in two ways:
Ambo Side Priest: For reception on the tongue or hand.
Cathedra Side Priest: For reception on the hand only.
For those who are receiving Communion in the hand, please receive the Eucharist first, move to the designated area marked by a blue tape X on the floor near the side entrance, pull down your face covering and consume the Host before departing the church through the side entrance.
The bathrooms at the church are closed.
April 8, 2020Dear Parishioners,
Tomorrow we begin the Triduum - the three days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. They are the highest Holy Days in the life of the Church when we celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Jesus: his life, death and resurrection that give us eternal life. Join via live stream the Dominicans each morning for Tenebrae, the Divine Office. In the evenings we are blessed to have Bishop Bellisario CM, and Archbishop Schwietz OMI, leading our liturgies. The full Triduum lives stream schedule for the Cathedral:
Holy Thursday:
• 8am Tenebrae
• 7pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper - Bishop Andrew Bellisario, CMGood Friday:
• 8am Tenebrae
• 1pm The Seven Last Words of Christ
• 3pm The Stations of the Cross
• 7pm Celebration of the Passion of the Lord - Bishop Rodger Schwietz, OMIHoly Saturday:
• 8am Tenebrae
• 8pm Easter Vigil - Bishop Andrew Bellisario, CMEaster Sunday:
• 9:30am Mass in English
• 2:00pm Mass in Spanish
• 4:00pm Dominican Rite MassFor those who would like to participate in the Easter Novena, please email Fr. Andy andy.opshal@holyfamilycathedral.org with the names of the people you would like remembered. You can mail in your donation to the Cathedral: 811 W. 6th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501
All of you are in our prayers this Triduum. During these Holy Days, may the Lord bless you with his truth, love and mercy!
In Christ,
Fr. Steve Maekawa, OP
Pastor
Holy Family Cathedral
pastor@holyfamilycathedral.org
April 1, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
In light of the deepening COVID-19 crisis, Bishop Bellisario has directed all churches of the Archdiocese be closed until further notice. This goes into effect Thursday morning April 2.
Although Holy Family Cathedral will no longer be open for private prayer, the Dominicans continue to be available for individual Confession by appointment while strictly observing the social distancing directives. Yes, it can be done! We can be contacted via the parish office (907) 276-3455 or parish website www.holyfamilycathedral.org/ clergy-and-staff
During this week and weekend, the parish staff and a group of parish volunteers are calling all of our parishioners to ask how you and your families are doing. I and my brother Dominicans, and Cathedral Staff are concerned for your well-being. We are aware of the practical, psychological and spiritual effects of isolation and want to check in with you and ask if there is anything we can help you with. If you are not sure if your phone number is listed on our parish registry and would like a phone call, please email Letha Flint at bobletha@gmail.com
More information to follow regarding Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter Sunday. As with our daily Masses, will live stream it on Facebook which can accessed through our parish website www.holyfamilycathedral.org or Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ holyfamilycathedral.anchorage You do not need a Facebook account to access the video. Please join us this Friday at 7pm for the Stations of the Cross. After the Stations, a Holy Hour of Adoration will follow.
Know that you remain in my prayers and the prayers of Fr. Dismas, Fr. Pius, Fr. Andy, Br. Andrew Thomas and all the Cathedral Staff.
In Christ,
Fr. Steve Maeakwa, OP
Pastor
Holy Family Cathedral
pastor@holyfamilycathedral.org
March 28, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
Yesterday, Governor Dunleavy issued statewide mandates restricting travel and social gatherings. For now, the Cathedral will remain open for private prayer according to the hours previously posted. If you visit the Cathedral please continue to carefully observe social distancing. The priests remain available for individual Confession by appointment.
I encourage you to be discerning with regards to visiting the church and that if you do visit, your visits be brief. The measures adapted by the state of Alaska to fight COVID-19 are intended to protect public health and foster an expedient return to ordinary life for its citizens. Bishop Bellisario released a video addressed to the faithful of the Archdiocese. I ask that you view the video and prayerfully reflect on his message to us: www.archdioceseofanchorage.org
These new mandates create further strain on nearly every aspect of our lives. Faithfully maintain your life of prayer and devotion to God within your household and through media to us and your fellow Catholics here in Alaska and around the world. God the Father provides for his people. He gave us His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation. Stay strong in your faith!
I will keep you updated with parish and Archdiocesan news as I receive them. Know that you remain in my prayers and the prayers of the Dominicans and Cathedral Staff.
In Christ,
Fr. Steve Maekawa, OP
Pastor
Holy Family Cathedral
pastor@holyfamilycathedral.org
March 26, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the news that the current suspension of public Masses, liturgies, and church gatherings in the Archdiocese will remain in effect through Holy Week and Easter Sunday.
Bishop Bellisario announced today in a letter to the faithful that due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic that the practices set in place on March 13 will remain in effect until it is safe for the faithful to congregate. A copy of his letter is attached to this email.
Although faced with a this great loss of not being able to publicly celebrate these highest of Holy Days, we place our trust in our Lord Jesus who by his grace keeps us united to him. He will do so even though there is not access to the Mass and reception of the Eucharist. The Dominicans and Cathedral Staff will be working to ensure that we as a parish remain focused and united in the Lord during Holy Week and Easter. More will follow!
Tomorrow, I invite you to please join the Dominicans at 7pm for a live stream Stations of the Cross in the Cathedral. You can join the live stream through our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/holyfamilycathedral.anchorage You do not need to have a Facebook account to view this or to live stream the daily Masses or view past daily Masses. You can also access this link through our parish website: www. holyfamilycathedral.org
Know that you remain in my prayers and the prayers of Fr. Dismas, Fr. Pius, Fr. Andy, Br. Andrew and all the Holy Family Cathedral Staff.
In Christ,
Fr. Steve Maekawa, OP
Pastor
Holy Family Cathedral
(907) 276-3455
811 W. 6th AVE
Anchorage, AK 95501
March 21, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
So much has happened in this past week. The speed at which COVID-19 continues to spread and change life for people around the world is disturbing and more than worrisome. Having spoken with many parishioners this past week, I also am deeply aware of the distress many of you are feeling because you do not have access to the sacrifice of the Mass and the Eucharist.
Be reassured that during this time of Eucharistic deprivation our Lord Jesus, who is the gift of life that we celebrate in the Mass, will continue to sustain all of the faithful who go without the Eucharist. You must trust that He is with you. We are bonded to him through the Communion of Saints and in the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Marriage.
Most importantly, the priests here at Holy Family and everywhere celebrate the Mass for the entire Church not just for those present in the chapel or church where the Mass is being celebrated. The Lord remains with you and you are united to the Body of the Church.
Regarding the present status of our parish life, I want to share with you what is currently happening.
We are live streaming Mass every day on Facebook. You do not need to have a Facebook account to participate. To get to our Facebook page you can go through front page link on our parish website or go to: www.facebook.com/holyfamilycathedral.anchorage The Mass times are as follows: Sunday 9:30am English, 2pm Spanish, 4pm Dominican Rite. Monday – Friday at 8:00am. Saturday at 9am. All of the Masses previously celebrated can be found there as well.
Church & Office Hours. We have had to trim down the hours the church is open. The new hours are: Sundays 7-9am, 10:30am – 1pm. In order to live stream the 9:30 Mass we have to close the church for 90 minutes Sunday morning. Monday – Friday 11am – 1pm. Saturday 8-10am. The parish office is closed. We are taking phone messages, emails and individual appointments.
Confessions. The priests will be hearing Confessions by appointment. To make an appointment, please go to the “Clergy & Staff” page on the parish website for the priest’s email addresses.
Other programs. The Stations of the Cross will be live streamed on Facebook at 7pm on the Fridays of Lent. Br. Andrew will be posting on Facebook his Sunday Adult Catechism Class.
Parish communications. We will be communicating to parishioners through the parish website www.holyfamilycathedral.org, Facebook page, myParish app and email. We are continuing to update our email list. For those who need to update their email address or would like to be on the list please email Letha Flint at bobletha@gmail.com.
On a hopeful note, today Saturday March 21, two small bands of the faithful gathered in the church. One group of six were there for an infant baptism. Later in the afternoon another group of five, of which three were Dominican priests, were there for a couple’s marriage convalidation. Despite this time of deprivation, it is a significant reminder that the Living Body of Christ is here among us.
Finally, please contact me any time with your thoughts and concerns. These are very difficult times due to the Coronavirus and the uncertainties it brings to our way of life, public health and the economy. We are in it together. Know that you remain in my prayers and the prayers of Fr. Dismas, Fr. Pius, Fr. Andy and Br. Andrew and all the staff at Holy Family Cathedral.
In Christ,
Fr. Steve Maekawa, OP
Pastor
Holy Family Cathedral
pastor@holyfamilycathedral.org