Volume 18, Number 6, September 2021

After a slow summer, it is time for another issue!  The surge in COVID-19 since May has made it hard to schedule events, but we’re trying. We now have some monthly events—the Chain Rosary, the Parking Lot Rosary, and Taizé services—and there are more events coming this fall.

Celebration Sundays!

Although we still can’t do Celebration Sunday in Joy Hall as we did before COVID-19, we have begun doing what we can. On Fathers’ Day, June 20, the Social Ministry distributed doughnuts to members of the Parish Family in front of the church as they left Mass. The Pastoral Council did the same on July 18 and on Grandparents’ Day, September 19. For August, the Social Ministry served cake for our parish feast day, the Queenship of Mary, on August 22.

Taizé Prayer Service

Our Parish held its first monthly Taizé Prayer Service on August 19. The service consisted of music by John and Karine Diven of Perfect Praise Music and Mark Blackburn, prayer, and scripture readings, followed by exposition of the Eucharist. The next Taizé service is on Thursday, September 23, at 7 pm. For more information about Taizé services, see Monthly Events .

Youth Olympics

On August 22, our Youth Ministry held a Youth Olympics for all youth from 7th through 12th grade that began at 5 PM in the Pavilion. Members were encouraged to bring a friend. As a reward for demonstrating their athletic abilities, there were prizes and snacks.

Taste and See

On Sunday, August 29, Holy Family School held a Capital Campaign Kick-Off at St. Joseph's Church. The school is raising funds for a new building! There was music beginning at 4:30 pm, and Mass began at 5 pm. Members of the choirs from all three supporting parishes—St. Mary’s, OLQU, and St. Joseph’s—participated in the music. After the Mass, there was a presentation about the campaign, and the Wiegmann family from our Parish participated—four of their children attended the school. After the Mass and presentation, there was a reception at the Fr. Messmer Center.

50 Years!

Congratulations to Jeff and Beth Anderson who celebrated their fiftieth anniversary with a ceremony on June 12.

Thanks to Claudia McClure for the photos!

Picnic-style Takeout on September 25-26

Fr. Charley and the Pastoral Council were hoping we would be able to have our annual Parish Picnic this fall, but because COVID-19 hasn’t gone away, they decided it isn’t safe yet to bring a large group together for a picnic. Father and the Council did want to do something in the spirit of a picnic, however, so after the Masses this weekend, the Council will be passing out picnic take-out boxes for you to take home and enjoy with you family. The meals will include your choice of a barbecue pork sandwich, hamburger, or hotdog, with sides. There wasn’t any sign-up. We just ask for your patience and cooperation in maintaining social distancing as we distribute the meals. Thank you!

Here are some photos from the 2019 Picnic contributed by members of the Parish.

Monthly Events

Chain Rosary
On every second Monday, the parish will pray a chain rosary. It can be prayed from any place for our parish, for the relief and eradication of COVID, and for special intentions of our mind and heart.
Family Rosary
Every third Sunday we will have a Family Rosary at 6 PM in St. Joseph's Chapel. All are invited to bring a candle to be blessed by Father during the Exposition of the Blessed Eucharist.
Taizé Service
Every fourth Thursday OLQU will have a Taizé Service. This is a time of prayer, music, and contemplation in the presence of Christ.

TAIZE PRAYER SERVICE

What is Taizé Night Prayer?
   Taizé Night Prayer is a distinctive style of meditative prayer developed by a community of monks in rural, Taizé, France. This quiet, moving reflective prayer combines elements of the Church's traditional Liturgy of the Hours, Adoration, and contemplative meditation.
   A typical Taizé prayer service incorporates periods of silence with meditative readings from Scripture, prayers of praise and intercession, songs or chants based on the Psalms or other parts of Scripture. Short songs or chants, repeated over and over, create a meditative environment and express basic realities of faith which can be easily grasped by the mind and the heart.
   Taizé Prayer is widely practiced today in student centers and retreat houses, but also in parish churches and local congregations throughout the world.
  It is an elegantly simple service: chants, often in Latin, repeated several times, and some songs. There are Scripture readings, Psalms, intercessory prayer, and silence in candlelight, facing the Blessed Sacrament. In 50 minutes, it’s over.
-Claudia McClure

Taste and See

The Holy Family Capital Campaign Kick-Off is on Sunday, August 29 at St . Joseph's Church. Music and gathering are at 4:30 pm with Mass at 5 pm. Members of the choirs from all three supporting parishes—St. Mary’s, OLQU, and St. Joseph’s—are participating in the music. There is a reception at the Fr. Messmer Center after the Mass with heavy hors d’oeuvres.

The address for St Joseph's Church is 2300 Beasley Avenue NW Huntsville, AL 35816.

Covid guidelines will apply.

For additional information, text or leave a message at 256-746-3570.

Youth Ministry Ice Cream Social

On Sunday, June 27, from 5 – 7 PM, the Youth Ministry will host an Ice Cream Social with games in the Pavilion. All middle school and high school youth are welcome to join in the fun. Remember to bring a friend for some mega ice cream treats!

Also—watch for info on a Movie Night coming in July.

Liturgy Update

Dear Parish Family

As we move towards a period of normalcy in our church, we recognize the blessing of our OLQU family in this time of COVID. We thank everyone for their patience and diligence in keeping everyone safe during these unusual times.

Beginning this weekend, June 6, ropes will be removed from the pews on St. Mary’s side. This is to accommodate those who feel comfortable sitting close to others after this period of COVID vaccinations. On St. Joseph’s side, ropes will remain up to insure 6 feet of separation between families. Those who are uncomfortable going into the church may still participate in Joy Hall.

In the next two to three weeks, we will move the Saturday 5 PM and Sunday 8 AM Mass into the church if COVID cases continue to drop. Joy Hall and St. Joseph’s chapel will still be reserved as our overflow area and will accommodate those not comfortable in the church.

We continue to ask all parishioners to wear their masks and to keep a respectable distance. This, again, is to ensure the safety of others while in the OLQU parish building.

Sincerely Yours, 

OLQU Office

Volume 18, Number 5

May, 2021

First Communion, April 25

Confirmation

Confirmation was on Saturday, May 1, at 10 AM. Bishop Raica, visiting our Parish for the first time, presided.

Crowning of Mary, May 2

Religious Education Closing Ceremony, May 2

Perfect Attendance Awards!

Have a Great Summer!

Sunday Obligation Returns

Bishop Raica has decided to end the dispensation from attending Sunday Mass as of Monday, May 24, the Monday after Pentecost Sunday. You can read the text of his letter at this link. While the Bishop says that failure to attend Mass is a grave sin, he also gives a list of reasons for which one might be excused from the obligation.

Fr. Charley has decided that we will continue mask wearing and social distancing in the building. We have space in our worship areas to continue social distancing when those who haven’t been attending Mass return: if you come to the 10 AM Sunday Mass, you may sit in the church or in Joy Hall, or if you come to the 5 PM Saturday or the 8 AM Sunday Masses, you can sit in Joy Hall or St. Joseph’s Chapel (the old Parish Hall). There is also the possibility of sitting outdoors in the Pavilion for either Sunday Mass—we have a TV out there, too.

If you have any questions when you arrive about how things work with seating or Communion, or anything else that’s unfamiliar, the ushers will be happy to help.