Masses resume Saturday, June 13 at 4:00 pm in Whitefield and Sunday, June 14 at 8:00 am and 10:00 am at All Saints Church in Lancaster. Confessions will be heard on Saturdays at St. Matthew in Whitefield from 3:00-3:45 pm  and on Mondays at All Saints in Lancaster from 5:30-6:30pm.

We still have a hearing aid that was found at All saints Church before the suspension of masses. Please call if you think it may be yours            603-788-2083
 

Dear Parishioners,
 
Hard to believe it is already August!  What a wonderfully hot and humid summer it has been.  My garden is doing very well, thanks be to God.  Thus far, I have been able to get some grape tomatoes, swiss chard, buttercrunch lettuce, and, this last week, broccoli.  As unpleasant as the heat can be—although, I love it—it sure does sweeten up one’s garden. 
This week, we celebrate the feast of a parish priest who probably didn’t get much into gardening.  He probably didn’t get much into anything non-religious not because he didn’t want to but because he was busy in the confessional.  St. John Vianney was the parish priest for the tiny town of Ars from 1818 to his death in 1859.  He gained fame and renown for his holiness and for the incredible number of hours he spent in the confessional.  Yet, his road to the priesthood nor his priesthood itself was anything but easy.  It took St. John Vianney great discernment to hear the voice of the Lord and to do his will. Nevertheless, because he persevered in his vocation a vast number of souls were converted and saved by his priesthood.  Perseverance!
In last weeks bulletin, I wrote about my own discernment--making a pilgrimage to a shrine asking for the grace of marriage and receiving instead the grace of priesthood!  Discernment can be a funny thing and it often leads to twists and turns and not a few surprises along the way. 
Included in this week's bulletin is a beautiful letter from Deacon Mike Johnson.  A couple of weeks ago, Deacon Mike told me the news of his decision to transfer from Gate of Heaven to St. Marguerite D'Youville. While I was saddened at the news, I read his letter and I realize that sometimes discernment can take a different turn.  This deacon has given of himself generously to this parish these past seven years and has done so especially through his ministry to the sick and dying. Month after month, he visited the homebound and those at Country Village.  Many have been comforted by his kindness and warmth. On behalf of the parish, I want to thank Deacon Mike for his seven years of service to Gate of Heaven Parish. Please read his letter which I have included as a bulletin insert. We are grateful for his years of service and we assure Deacon Mike of our prayers for his future ministry. May Our Lady keep you under her mantle always. Ad multos annos! 
 
In Jesus and Mary,
 
Fr. Schultz
 

 
 
 

 If you cannot  attend mass for a serious reason ask your Guardian Angel to go to mass for you at the specified time.  This way, even though you cannot be in mass in person, your very own Guardian Angel will be in attendance as "your representative".  (Too bad you can't ask them to put something in the collection basket for you!) Here is a charming prayer you and your children can say: 

O HOLY ANGEL at my side,
Go to Church for me,
Kneel in my place, at Holy Mass,
Where I desire to be.

At Offertory, in my stead,
Take all I am and own,
And place it as a sacrifice
Upon the Altar Throne.

At Holy Consecration’s bell,
Adore with Seraph’s love,
My Jesus hidden in the Host,
Come down from Heaven above.

Then pray for those I dearly love,
And those who cause me grief,
That Jesus’ Blood may cleanse all hearts,
And suff’ring souls relieve.

And when the priest Communion takes,
Oh, bring my Lord to me,
That His sweet Heart may rest on mine,
And I His temple be.

Pray that this Sacrifice Divine,
May mankind’s sins efface;
Then bring me Jesus’ blessing home,
The pledge of every grace. Amen

Let us not doubt the power nor goodness of God--He can do all things even giving us the power to command our Guardian Angels to go to mass for us when we cannot go.  "For, amen I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove from hence hither, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you."

For Bishop Libasci's "Letter to the Faithful", please view on the diocesan website at https://www.catholicnh.org or use the link at the bottom of this page.  

Prayer to make a Spiritual Communion:

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if your were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen

May God bless you and Our Lady keep you,

Fr. Schultz

"If we are deprived of sacramental communion, let us replace it, as far as we can, with spiritual communion, which we can make every moment:  for we aught to have always a burning desire to receive the Good God."
--St. Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney, parish priest of Ars, France; Patron Saint of all parish priests.

Almighty Father, you have firmly established your love for Gate of Heaven Parish and for each of us.  We praise and thank you for placing us amid the deep beauty of the North Country, a beauty that speaks eloquently of your glory and calls us to acknowledge your greatness and love.

O Lord, you have given our parish the opportunity and challenge of coming together as family, to be ambassadors of your grace to one another and to our farthest neighbor.  Grant us to respond lovingly and obediently to your call to seek justice in all our actions, to serve the poor in body and soul, and to share the good news of your Son, Jesus.

O Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, inflame our hearts with your love.  Broaden our vision and open our hearts to what you are bringing about.  Set our parish and the whole North Country on fire with your Holy Spirit, to bring about a renewed flourishing of our Catholic faith.  Amen.

Memorare 

REMEMBER, O most compassionate Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I kneel, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.