March 27, 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters of St. Teresa of Avila Parish Community,

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!

I know things around us are changing so rapidly, but I want to remind you that God’s love and mercy remains constant and unchanging for each and every one of us. And even though we can’t be together during our journey through Lent, I want to assure you that Fr. Roverse, Fr. Meza, Fr. Theodore, our Deacons, and myself are still here for you. We have been working diligently on ways for all of us to Stay Connected!

We will continue to live stream Mass every Saturday at 4:30pm. Here is the link for our website page: https://st-teresa.com/live-streaming. We will also post a recording of the Mass for those who can’t watch the live stream. You can view it on Sunday at your convenience.
To help us all continue our path during Lent, we will live stream Mass on Friday March 27 & April 3 at 6:00 PM followed by Stations of the Cross. These videos will also be recorded for viewing later. Click on the link above to view. Additionally, Monday - Friday we will place recordings of the Most Holy Rosary and Chaplet with the Blessed Sacrament from St. Teresa of Avila. Here’s the link: https://vimeo.com/channels/starosary.

We’ve recently added a Daily Prayer video for words of encouragement, spiritual growth, and support of one another during these unprecedented times. You can view the video daily at 3:00 PM from our Facebook page @SaintTeresaofAvilaCatholicChurch, Flocknotes, or by clicking this link: https://vimeo.com/channels/staconnect.

The Church will remain open for personal prayer, Liturgy of the Hours, devotion, and confession Monday – Friday from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Please see our website for the scheduled times at: https://st-teresa.com. The Day Chapel remains closed at this time. We’ve relocated the Holy Water dispenser to the Narthex of the Sanctuary for your convenience.
We will answer all sick calls for the Anointing of the Sick and Last Rites. As normal, you can reach us through the Emergency Phone (706) 288-4116. We will be here.

The Parish Office and the Education Building will be closed through April 24th. The reopening date will be revisited the week of April 20th. Most of us will be working remotely from home. So, the best way to contact Parish staff and Clergy is via emails. For those without technology, we will be checking voicemails remotely as well. We will try our best to respond within 24 hours.
Mother’s Day Out continues to be closed through April 24^th. The reopening date will be revisited the week of April 20^th.

During this time, please take care of your families, loved ones, and neighbors. Please, let us know if you know of anyone in need of assistance. They are your first priority. We are praying for each of you.

Thanks to your generosity through the years, the Church can absorb 2-4 weekends without offertory collections. We are financially sound and have savings to cover us during this time, but if you would like to continue your weekly offering, you can do so online by clicking the online giving button at the top of our website or mailing in your offertory envelope. Take care of your family first, but if your situation allows, please remember your church. Parishioners are our only source of revenue and we do have debt and daily expenses.

On our website https://st-teresa.com/covid-19, we have a handy Coronavirus Spiritual Survival Guide! There are many tips and practices to stay involved with your faith and Church during this time. There is a Family Prayer Service, an Examination of Conscience, and the Stations of the Cross. You can watch movies or educational series on the faith through our parish subscription of FORMED. Again, we will live stream Mass on Saturdays at 4:30 PM.

These are trying times. We need to take unprecedented steps to protect ourselves and our families and contribute to containing and minimizing the spread of the COVID-19 virus around our community. These steps may seem drastic and perhaps dramatic but acting now will reap benefits later and shorten the duration and life of this virus.

Be at peace. St. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your request known to God. Then the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Remember what St. Theresa of Avila wrote, “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything.” Let nothing disturb you. God is in control and we are His children.

It is also a great opportunity for us to offer up such challenges united with our Lenten observances for our spiritual growth and the glory of God. Our Lord does not abandon us, but is with us in this trial. Let us pray to Him, draw close to Him, and implore Him to heal those infected with the virus and comfort those who lost loved ones because of it. Pray for all those on the front lines dealing with this pandemic in our health centers and labs.

St. Corona, Patroness of Pandemics … Pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God … Pray for us.
St. Teresa of Avila … Pray for us!
 
May the Lord Jesus bless you and keep you safe. With prayers for each of you, I am

Sincerely Yours In Christ,
Father Mike Ingram
Pastor
 

March 16, 2020
Dear St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Parish Community,
This afternoon we received a revised protocol from Bishop Hartmayer regarding all Masses and events. Effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, there will not be any Masses celebrated in any parish churches or missions in the Diocese of Savannah. Also, Bishop Hartmayer has asked parishes to keep churches and missions open for private prayer and personal devotions. The Diocese will continue to monitor COVID-19 and will review the protocol on April 1^st to determine whether services will resume at that time.
We wanted to let you know what this directive means for St. Teresa’s.

• All Masses are cancelled until further notice.
• The following morning times have been scheduled for private prayer and Adoration in the Sanctuary (limited to 49 parishioners at a time and a waiting line will form and one may enter when one leaves; we also ask you to keep a distance of 6 feet between you and others):
  • Monday thru Friday: 6:00am to 9:00am Adoration:
    • Liturgy of the Hours at 6:00am
    • Pray the Rosary at 7:00am  
    • Silent Adoration from 7:30am – 9:00am
    • Sacrament of Reconciliation 8:00am – 9:00am
    • Please bring your own hand sanitizer and wipes
• The following evening times have been scheduled for private prayer and Adoration in the Sanctuary (limited to 49 parishioners at a time and a waiting line will form and one may enter when one leaves; we also ask you to keep a distance of 6 feet between you and others):
  • Monday thru Friday 5:00pm – 8:00pm Adoration:
    • Silent Adoration from 5:00pm – 6:00pm and 7:00pm – 8:00pm
    • Pray the Rosary at 6:00pm
    • Sacrament of Reconciliation from 7:00pm – 8:00pm
    • Please bring your own hand sanitizer and wipes
• The Day Chapel will be closed and locked until further notice.
• Please use the front side doors near the bell tower entrance for entry and exit of the Main Sanctuary. This will be the only we can keep the mandated attendance less than 50 people.
• We will live stream Mass from St. Teresa’s on Saturdays at 4:30pm. Follow this link to our website for streaming https://st-teresa.com/live-streaming. Additionally, the Saturday Vigil Mass will be recorded and available for playback at your convenience through our website. The Cathedral will live stream Mass on Sundays at 10am. Follow the link to the Diocese website https://diosav.org/livestream. EWTN also airs Mass on the television, check your local listings for times.
• Weddings, funerals, baptisms, and quinceaneras are limited to immediately family only. If any parishioner has any event scheduled at St. Teresa’s before April 1^st, please call the Parish Office immediately.
• All events, meetings, classes, receptions, studies, and appointments are suspended until further notice. This includes but not limited to, Faith Formation, Mother’s Day Out, RCIA, Adult Liturgy Studies, and Ministries.
  • Faith Formation and Mother’s Day Out programs will be closed at least through April 14th. We will review the situation and provide an update at that time.
• The celebration of Confirmation on March 22nd, and the retreat on March 21st, are postponed at this time. Confirmation students and their families should expect to hear from Mrs. Miriam Martin, Director of Faith Formation.
• The Parish Office will be closed to public traffic. Please call the office at 706-863-4956 and we will be happy to serve you. If there is a need for Anointing of the sick, Last Rites, or if there is a death, please contact us using our emergency phone number at 706-288-6114.
• Stay connected with updates; subscribe to the bulletin at http://discovermass.com/church/st-teresa-of-avila-grovetown-ga/#bulletins and/or Flocknotes at https://stteresa.flocknote.com/

May God bless us all in this very difficult time.
Fr. Mike Ingram, Pastor

March 14, 2020
 
Bishop Hartmayer has rescinded the Sunday Obligation effective this weekend, March 14-15 and for the entire duration of this National emergency. Catholics who are sick from any illness are asked to stay home for their own protection and those of others. Any Catholic that feels at risk from the virus, especially the elderly and most vulnerable, are not obligated to attend Mass. Also, anyone with concern for his/her own health is not obligated to attend Mass. 
 
Additionally, Bishop Hartmayer has requested that Lenten Penance Services be cancelled. Therefore, our Lenten Penance Service scheduled for Monday, March 16th is cancelled. Confessions will be available daily at the regularly scheduled times or by appointment.
 

March 12, 2020
At the present time, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church will continue as normal. All Masses and events, including Confirmation and Retreat will take place as scheduled.  To our knowledge there have been no positive test results for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) within a one-hundred-mile radius of the Church. We encourage all parishioners to follow the recommendations given by the CDC, NIAID, and the WHO.
Our major concern currently is our elderly, those with compromised health conditions, and in general all those who are more susceptible to contracting this virus. Our loving and merciful Lord would certainly not want to you to risk exposing yourself to the virus.
We ask all parishioners to use common sense precautions such as washing hands for at least 20 seconds, using hand sanitizer, staying home if you have any flu-like symptoms, dry cough, or a fever.
Here are some precautionary measures that we will be implementing immediately at St. Teresa’s to best serve our parishioners during this historical time in our country. Effective immediately:

• There will be no physical contact during the Rite of Peace. We ask you to simply nod and/or smile to nearby parishioners.
• All EMHC’s will sanitize their hands immediately before and after the distribution of Holy Communion.
• There will be no distribution of the Sacred Body of Jesus Christ on the tongue.
• There will be no distribution of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.

We will continue to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19 and will follow the best practices and advice of our government and health care organizations. As faithful Catholics let us pray together for the victims of this terrible virus, for all of our health care workers, and for our world as it undergoes this global pandemic.
God Bless You,
Fr. Mike Ingram
Pastor

The Disciple Maker Index Survey is  now LIVE!  Please Read and Help!
Please help us participate by completing a 10-15 minute survey as soon as possible.  

• Go to www.disciplemakerindex.com
• There are also opportunities to complete the survey after daily and Sunday Mass. The survey is available in Spanish and Vietnamese too.  You can obtain a paper copy in the Narthex/Parish Office or by contacting PARISH STAFF at (706) 863-4956.

 
The survey will remain open until Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020. It will ask you to reflect on your own spiritual growth and enable you to provide feedback on our parish’s efforts to help you grow.  All responses will be confidential and the parish will only receive information about the community as whole.
 
We are trying to get the highest response rate possible.  This information will be invaluable to 
Fr. Ingram and our various ministries as we plan for the future and strive to be the best disciples we can be.  We will receive the results this spring/summer at which time we will share what we have learned with the entire parish.
 
Thank you for helping with this important project!

Welcome to St. Teresa of Avila!  We are a Eucharistic community rooted in Roman Catholic Traditions, and gifted by God with time, talent and treasure.  We are dedicated to witnessing our faith through worship, education, evangelization and nurturing our faith family through parish life and Christian service. 

Abuse Hotline Number: To report sexual abuse of a minor by a Diocese of Savannah employee or volunteer, call the abuse hotline number at 888-357-5330 or the Office for the Protection of Children and Young People, 912-201-4074. To read the diocesan policy on sexual abuse of minors, go to www.diosav.org/childyouthprotection.