Knights of Columbus
John Clare Council #15485

I thought I had posted this, but it didn't end up in last night's digest. Please click through for this important message from Archbishop Sample.

One group of human beings that has been specifically trained for just this situation is astronauts. NASA has put out this very helpful article (click through for link) of the best advice from three who served on the international space station. Try to remember, patience is a virtue

Look what under $25 worth of material has accomplished, for donations to front line emergency people who need them! Supreme has started a new program for these extraordinary times, and the Jarvis family is proving- LEAVE NO NEIGHBOR BEHIND!

As you can imagine, without Mass at St Clare's, donations to the food pantry have dropped of.  I contacted Mary Bundy to as what they need and for instructions for safe physical distance drop-off and got the following response: Food may be dropped off in the entrance to the parish office. If it looks like someone is in the pantry feel free to drop it off there. We are especially low on cleaning and paper products and cans of fruit and creamy peanut butter. Thanks so much. Maryb And from Clare Marie Kahn, who was in the pantry this morning, a slightly different list: Of course the pantry shelves also echo the same shortages currently on the grocery shelves - spaghetti sauce , spaghetti, white rice, pancake mix/syrup, Hearty soups canned. My brothers, Food for Families has moved to a new program for Supreme launched this week, LEAVE NO NEIGHBOR BEHIND!  Let us fulfill our 40 cans for Lent duty donations to SVDP at both St. Clare's and St. John Fisher, and live the...

I debated, under the current situation, to post this, but a discussion today in a Knights of Columbus Forum made it obvious I needed to do so.  As priests in our domestic church, as heads of household, and as we heard in the last Jesse Romero talk I posted, it is our duty to provide for the salvation of our wives and children, just as it is our responsibility to provide for their health and welfare in this life. And as your Grand Knight, it's my duty to give you some tools to do so.  There will be 30 envelopes going out from my house this week- a bunch of prayer cards I purchased at the beginning of this pandemic that came too late for the quarantine.  Christopher and Ted will be specially praying about your family, and sending you a selection of prayer cards that fit the current situation.  Fr. Don has decided that starting Saturday, April 4, there will be palms available in the east transept entrance of St. Clare's church to help us celebrate Palm Sunday at home,...

Leave No Neighbor Behind Our council is already doing many of these.  Consider stepping up as a committee chairman for one of these that calls to your heart Reach Out To Members- you should be getting a weekly phone call from James Morgan.  Let him know how you are doing! Provide for your parish.  Both St. Clare's and St. John Fisher have online giving capabilities available on the parish website Care for your Community- don't break social distancing or quarantine rules, but support the people in your community that need help Give Blood if you can- This comes at the worst time of year when blood supplies are usually at a minimum Support St. Clare's SVDP and SJF SVDP- Food banks are about to get hit hard with potentially a 30% unemployment rate.  If you can give, do so.  If you can drive, do so.

My Brother Knights The Annual State Convention is usually the main time we raise money for Pennies for Heaven and Father Taaffe homes.  Our normal activities for this will not be possible this year, as the State Convention is being limited to one day online. A couple of State Charities events that are special during our Annual State Convention is your Council Delegates presenting your Council’s annual donation for two of our State Charity Funds:   (1) Pennies For Heaven and (2) Father Taaffe Homes .   Since we are not having our usual Annual State Convention venue this year, please send your Council donation(s) to our Acting State Secretary:   Sidney Thiel.   If you have two donations, please write two separate checks according:           1.)     Make each check to: “Oregon State KofC Charities ”   and in the “memo” note whether it is (1) Pennies     ...

Sadly due to all the partisanship, there's a lot of fake news about COVID-19 being reported right now.  I will pass down anything from our various chain of commands we are sworn to obey, but I will NOT be passing along "my sisters cousin said that Japanese doctors recommend water" style news. For the latest that is factually known, I suggest the CDC- they're the people truly in charge of all of this.   Link is on the blog, but I'm also posting it in plaintext : https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Solemnity of the Annunciation Archbishop will join Pope Francis's Ecumenical call for worldwide praying of the “Our Father” by all Christians. Archbishop will then lead the Rosary for the Solemnity of the Annunciation. Wednesday, March 25 Live at 12 p.m. (PT) www.facebook.com/archdpdx Pope to Lead Prayer Service Our Holy Father will broadcast a prayer service at the Vatican and offer the "Urbi et Orbi" Blessing. Friday, March 27 Live at 10 a.m. (PT) www.youtube.com/watch?v= VJHI8bI0LWg Evening Prayer Archbishop will lead evening prayer and offer a special message from his personal chapel. Friday, March 27 Live at 6 p.m. (PT) www.facebook.com/ bishopalexandersample/ Sunday Mass Fifth Sunday of Lent Sunday, March 29 Live at 11 a.m. www.facebook.com/archdpdx

My family has been doing this at 3pm, based on Supreme and State recommendations for a novena. We've just finished the Novena to Our Lady of Monte Birico, and are starting the Novena to St. Rocco. We start at 3pm with a Chaplet of Divine Mercy. We then continue with the Novena to St. Rocco, protector against contagious diseases, in cooperation with Oregon State Council March 24-April 1 Prayer to Saint Rocco O Great St. Rocco, deliver us, we beseech thee, from the scourges of God; through thy Intercessory, preserve our bodies from contagious diseases, and our souls from the contagion of sin. Obtain for us salubrious air; but, above all, purity of heart. Assist us to make good use of health, to bear suffering with patience; and, after thy example, to live in the practice of penance and charity, that we may one day enjoy the happiness which thou has merited by thy virtues. St. Rocco, pray for us St. Rocco, pray for us St. Rocco, pray for us *** Saint Roc...

I talked with Sara Remmel today and she again expressed appreciation for the help the Knights gave her with funds to use as a backup for rides she needs to doctors, stores and appointments. She is recovering from a serious car accident about 6 months ago. She has applied for a temporary position working with the census dept. in the upcoming months. Her cell phone has just about given out. She is requesting a donation from any Knights for: 1. a used smart phone, 2. a used tablet with a touch screen and 3. a gift card from Fred Myers to help with her food and personal items. Could you please send out this request on the Knights blog. Anyone interested in helping Sara could contact me for further details at 503.789.7313 or at  tomrowens@msn.com .  Any help people could give her while she is staying at a temporary shelter for victims of domestic abuse in Portland would be very very much appreciated. These times are hard for all of us but most especially for the homeless who lack f...

Have somebody at home who can sew?  Better yet have kids at home who want to learn how to sew? Brothers, here is an urgent request.  Do you know of anyone that could support this?  I'm attaching an image of a design. ---------- I can't even believe that I'm asking this. I'm an RN at a local hospital. Soon we'll be out of disposable masks. According to the CDC, fabric masks are a crisis response option when other supplies have been exhausted. If there are any seamstresses out there that have time on their hands and want to make 100% cotton double layer reusable/washable masks we health care workers would REALLY appreciate it. I can arrange for porch pick up to take to the hospital for when they're needed. There is a growing group making these masks to donate.  PLEASE help make these for our front line workers in this COVID crisis if you can. Reply here if your interested and able to help. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ Thank you!!!! -------------- ...

Friends, In recent weeks, the coronavirus outbreak has had a profound impact on countries around the world—and, increasingly, here in the United States. In light of measures being taken to contain the outbreak and avoid further illness, many of us may be hesitant to leave our homes. In many areas, Mass and other church services may not be available. It is at this exact moment that our faith is most needed. In an effort to continue the practice of our faith in these trying times, I would like to invite you to  join us online  for daily Mass. Beginning today, Tuesday, March 17, Word on Fire will be  offering daily Mass  for the foreseeable future. Join me, or Word on Fire CEO Fr. Steve Grunow, right here  https://www.wordonfire.org/ daily-mass . If you cannot attend Mass or join us online, I encourage you to read the Gospels, pray with your families, and join yourself to the Eucharist—the source and summit of our Catholic faith—by making an act of spiritual commun...

March 20, 2020 Hello St. Clare parishioners, Wow, what a unique time we live in! There are so many uncertainties and so many changes in our lives as we try to minimize the spread of the virus. Thank you for all your personal efforts to keep safe and keep the people around you safe. I assume most of you have heard by now that the archbishop has canceled all public Masses until at least April 14. So, no Sunday or weekday Masses here at St. Clare or at any church in the archdiocese. I will continue to pray Mass daily (privately) for all of you and for our world. We are working on providing our Sunday Mass online, however, we don’t have that up and running yet. In this week’s bulletin, there will be some suggestions of places you can pray either with the Mass on TV or online. Please do something special on Sundays to follow the 3rd Commandment: Keep holy the Sabbath. Confessions will continue here at St. Clare, regular time (Saturday 4-4:30) in the Reconciliation Chapel in the ...

And your Grand Knight is getting a bit overwhelmed.  If you have time due to social distancing and want to brighten our day, please email seebert42@gmail.com  and I will give you authorship rights to the blog.

A couple of days late, but Coronavirus and St. Patrick's wishes from the Grotto, Thanks to Mike Devlin: Gardens open and free to all The Archdiocese of Portland announced yesterday that they will be suspending all Masses through April 14, due to the current health crisis. For the complete statement from Archbishop Alexander Sample, please go to  archdpdx.org . The Grotto is committed to being a place of prayer for our community. For now, our gardens remain open, and there is no charge for admission to the Upper Gardens through March 31. All are welcome to visit our outdoor sanctuary; you can just walk right in. Open hours are 9 a.m - 6:30 p.m. Please check our website as these guidelines may change in upcoming days. Series continues For all those unable to visit, we thought we would share a piece of The Grotto with you each day until Masses resume. We hope this feature,   A Place of Sanctuary , brings you joy, and we pray we will see you all at The Grotto...

Food insecurity risks increase in a pandemic, affecting school meal programs, those experiencing homelessness, those without healthcare or a job, and folks living paycheck-to-paycheck in uncertain times. If you have the comfort to contribute any dollar amount to the Oregon Food Bank through the  KGW Great Food Drive , every donation is appreciated! I would also suggest St Vincent De Paul at our local parishes also is a good place to donate. Please report any donations to Gene.Andres@comcast.net  , as they can be used towards us getting our Food For Families this year.

The Catholic Sentinel has answers to some questions

Sorry St. Clare folks, you aren't on the list. But SJF and St. Cecilia's and St. Anthony's ARE.  Click here for the ever increasing list of Mass Livestream Broadcasts!

For not being able to decide anything.  Please click through to the blog and let us know for roll call purposes if you had joined. And please e-mail your contact information to pdjarvis1@comcast.net  so that we can keep in touch with you.  In fact, you might call Phil on his 87th birthday- March 23rd, 1933 is when he was born! 971-227-6409

This is the video I was talking about from Archbishop Alexander K Sample (click link to see video)

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,   Praised be Jesus Christ!   This is by far one of the most difficult communications I have ever written because of the impact it will have on the spiritual and faith lives of so many of us.   Today, March 16, 2020, Governor Kate Brown announced new directives governing the social gathering of people in the State of Oregon.  Beginning tomorrow gatherings are not to exceed 25 people for the next four weeks.  At the same time, although she did not make it the law, she urged that such gatherings be kept under 10 people.  Earlier today, President Trump made a similar recommendation that gatherings not exceed 10 people.  I suspect that at some point 10 people will become the law.   In light of this, it becomes impossible for us to manage a schedule of Masses in the parishes and missions of the Archdiocese observing this 10 to 25 limit.  With a very heavy heart, I am therefore announcing the cancellation of a...

Dear Brother Knight, As the world confronts the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you the actions and responses taken by the Knights of Columbus. The coronavirus disease is not the first pandemic the Knights of Columbus has faced. In the late nineteenth century, and again in 1918, the Knights remained strong and active despite such situations. And together, we will do so again this time. We know that this period will be difficult in various ways for everyone, and we want to assure you that the Knights of Columbus is fully committed to you and your family, and has taken the steps necessary to continue our important work on your behalf – from protecting the faith and financial stability of members’ families, to helping members put their faith into action by providing important charitable service within their communities. Although to our knowledge, no staff at the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council or Museum in New Haven or at the Saint John Paul II Natio...

The Prayer for Protection in Times of Pandemic is to be added to our Novena, starting today, March 15th. Click here for the message of the Supreme Chaplain Click here for the original novenas that our State Council asked for, along with the Novena that our council has asked for, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy every day at 3pm

If you have nobody to pray with, this makes for a good addition to our Novena.

Jesse Romero is a lot easier to listen to, even if he's talking more about how to save souls than lives- but at this time when *anybody* could be struck down by one of the four plagues going around, it occurs to me that this is necessary. Jessy Romero:  Get Holy or bust or die trying

The one thing our council needs most, the one thing Oregon needs most, during this crisis:

Supreme asks us to also do this Novena: Prayer for Protection in times of Pandemic The State of Oregon Knights of Columbus Council has asked us to participate in a Statewide Novena during this time of crisis.  While you can choose to implement this however you wish, for my family we will be saying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3pm every day during this crisis, followed by one of these two Novenas, for the next 18 days. March 15-March 23 Novena to Our Lady of Monte Berico O Most Holy Virgin, Mother of God and my Mother Mary, I thank you that you have deigned to appear on Monte Berico and I thank you for all the graces you grant here to those who turn to you. Nobody ever prayed to you in vain. I, too, resort to you and beg you for the Passion and Death of Jesus and for your pains: welcome me, o’ merciful Mother, under your mantle, which is a maternal mantle; grant me the particular grace that I ask of You , for the cure of the coronavirus and the solace of the souls of its...

All are asked to click on this link  for an update on receiving Eucharist (or choosing not to) during this emergency. Here is a special video message (click through to blog for player):

In keeping with the communication from the Supreme Knight on 3/11/2020 this meeting will be ONLINE ONLY We're going to Use Logmein's Join.Me app for teleconferencing this meeting.  U se this meeting link , or call one of the numbers in the other blog post with this meeting ID:   381-451-621 # I am offering this line for any purpose in both parishes, to councils in District 3, to the Catholic Daughters of St. Anthony's. and to St. Paul Silverton Council.  Please e-mail me if you need to hold an online meeting at seebert42@gmail.com , and we will try to schedule you To dial in by phone: United States - Boston, MA +1.857.444.6500 United States - Camden, DE +1.302.202.5900 United States - Denver, CO +1.720.650.5050 United States - Los Angeles, CA +1.213.226.1066 United States - New York, NY +1.646.307.1990 United States - Salt Lake City, UT +1.801.448.0006 United States - San Francisco, CA +1.415.594.5500 United States - Seattle, WA +1.206....

You need to click into the blog, but here is the link for the Columbian Newsletter

as found on the front page of http://archdpdx.org  : Coronavirus Information March 12, 2020 The celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. It is in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that we encounter the mystery of our redemption, are nourished by God’s Word, and receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. For these reasons, the Church places a grave obligation for the faithful to participate at Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. This fulfills the Lord’s command to “keep holy the Sabbath.” Nevertheless, for a just cause the Church’s pastors may dispense the faithful from this grave obligation. Given the declared pandemic of the COVID -19 virus , Archbishop Alexander K. Sample therefore issues the following directives.  He does so out of an abundance of concern for the health and wellbeing of the people of God entrusted to his pastoral care. The governor of the state of Oregon, Kate Brown, has canceled all p...

Brothers,   I want to reach out to all of you on the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The State of Oregon currently has 21 confirmed cases across eight counties.   Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced yesterday the banning of all public gatherings of more than 250 people until April 8 th .   As you all know the Supreme Knight has asked for a halt on all Knights of Columbus events and meeting.   I understand that a lot of councils have events during lent planned and are helping their parishes for the month of March. What I ask from the Grand Knights is to use good judgement and consult with your parish priest, so you both can come up with a plan if the parish wants the Knights to continue with that event or cancel it.  Please work with your parish priest and inform your members on the risk’s if the event takes place.  Information from CDC informs you who are at higher risk of getting sick from this illness. This includes; Old...

Both the 20 hours adoration and the Easter Egg Hunt have been canceled for 2020.  Sorry folks. ---- Hello Leaders: You are receiving this email because you are one of the leaders of a ministry or the Pastoral Council.  You may have read this email already but just to make sure everyone gets reached by this message you may be receiving the same message multiple of times.  Please bear with us.  Thank so much. Dear Parishioners,   Things are changing quickly. Yesterday afternoon I wouldn’t have thought I’d be writing this message.  After listening to the governor’s press conference this morning and discussion with the parish staff, I have decided out of an abundance of caution to cancel all non-sacramental events at the church until further notice. St. Clare School and Preschool families will be notified directly from the school and preschool about any changes relating to the school and preschool activities. Here at the church we will continue to ...