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This has been a challenging year as the coronavirus pandemic has caused illness, loneliness, social disruption and job loss for many of our brothers and sisters in Christ, increasing the needs of our faith community. Fortunately, thousands of faithful Catholics in Central Florida have remained connected to their faith despite the historic challenges that the pandemic has created.

However, challenges remain, so I am writing to ask for your help as our Church continues to adapt to serve the increased needs of our parish community. Our church is livestreaming Mass, using new technology such as video calling to share the Lord’s message of love and hope, and our ministries are adapting to social-distancing guidelines to continue to educate, feed, house and minister to God’s people. Our Church requires support to sustain ministries.

If you have been impacted by the pandemic, please know that I am praying for you and encourage you to reach out to me for support. If you have not been impacted and are able, I ask that you prayerfully consider making a gift to the 2020 Our Catholic Appeal (OCA), which supports every parish, school and ministry in our diocese. Our parish has not yet reached its goal for 2020 and it is my prayer that you will help us achieve it as we continue adapting to challenges caused by the pandemic. Please click on link above to see a video message from Bishop John Noonan explaining how our diocese is adapting to serve parishioners like you.

You may have recently received a letter from The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida, which included an OCA pledge card and reply envelope. Please use that to make your gift today, if possible. You may also choose to make automatic payments with a credit or debit card. If you wish, you may visit the Appeal’s secure website at http://www.cfocf.org/oca/give to make your gift online. For your convenience, pledges may be paid over three or six months.

Thank you for your faithfulness and generosity. May all that we do bear witness to God’s goodness and glory.

Gratefully yours in Christ,

Fr. Kevin MacDonald C.Ss.R.

A member of the Saint Alphonsus Villa community, New Smyrna Beach, died on September 17, 2020 in hospice care in Palm Coast, Florida. Father Aschmann was born September 4, 1923 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The son of Alois and Theresa (Rudolph), he was baptized at Sts. Peter and Paul (September 23, 1923) and confirmed at St. Philomena (May 21, 1937) in Pittsburgh.
He attended St. Mary’s College, North East, PA (1938-1944) and made his profession as a Redemptorist on August 2, 1945, in Ilchester, MD. His final vows were at Mt. St. Alphonsus Seminary, Esopus, New York (September 2, 1948), which he attended from 1945 to 1951.  He was ordained on June 18, 1850 at Mt. St. Alphonsus. He made his second novitiate at St. Mary’s, Annapolis (1951-1952). He began his Redemptorist career as a missionary in Paraguay and served there for 35 years, during which he built three churches, two in the city of Asuncion and one in Bella Vista. In Asuncion he also built a parish center and a High School.
He first was assigned to Pedro Juan Caballero (1952-1957); Asunçion (1957-1959; 1959-1961, rector); Bella Vista (rector, 1961-1967); Asunçion I (rector, 1967-1972); Asunçion II (rector, 1972-1978); Asunçion I (rector, 1978-1980; 1980-1986).
He took a study sabbatical at Marianella in Ireland, 1986. In the Vice-Province of Richmond his ministry focused on the Spanish apostolate. He served at St. Joseph’s, Tampa (pastor, 1986-1996); St. Joseph’s, Kannapolis, NC (with residence at St. James, Concord, NC; pastor, 1996-2005; built the new Church of St. Joseph). He ministered at St. Ann, Sumpter, SC (2002-2005).
He ministered from St. Alphonsus Villa, New Smyrna Beach, Fl from 2005 until his death.
Please keep his friends and family in your prayers.

Hello to all,

It has been one week since the funeral mass of Fr. Tom Burke. It was an outstanding tribute to a dedicated pastor and human being. Thank you all for your support, prayers, and encouragement during this difficult time in the parish.

In the absence of a pastor, the bishop has asked me to assume the duties of parish administrator until a full-time Redemptorist pastor is appointed. That will not happen until the pandemic has lessened. Bishop Noonan said I was “pinch-hitting,” but mixed up his baseball analogy by asking that you not send me any “fly balls.” I think he meant “curve balls,” but he can be forgiven as they do not play baseball in Ireland.

Fortunately, there is a wonderful team to work with here at Sacred Heart/St. Gerard. Our new deacon, Stephen Gross, and his wife, Roxanne, have been a wonderful addition to our parish leadership community. Deacon Lou Bartos continues to inspire with his homilies and dedication to the people of the parish and school. Office Manager, Ella Copeland, keeps everything running smoothly and, of course, Fr. Aldrin Nunes and Fr. Jim McCabe, continue to offer their full support.

According to the guidelines of the diocese, we will continue to limit our gatherings in the church and social hall. St. Gerard Mission will continue to be closed for mass. First Holy Communion will be postponed until the restrictions have been lifted. (If any parents would like their child to receive this year, they could contact Ella Copeland. They can choose any parish mass during the week or on the weekend.) Weekend masses at Sacred Heart are still limited to 25% capacity (about 150 people).

As you might know, I have enjoyed offering parish missions to parishes in Florida and throughout the U.S. and Canada. My last one was in Melbourne in early March. All have been canceled since then except for four this year (Our Lady of Charity in Buffalo, NY; St. Gregory in Northeast, PA; Holy Spirit in Mims; Sacred Heart and Christ the King in Manville, NJ). I will be traveling to Buffalo soon. The parish will be in the capable hands of the parish team – which includes you. Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents, your time and treasure with the parish and school. We have had a set-back with the loss of Fr. Tom, but we can continue the work that he started. Together, we can fulfill God’s plan.

Sincerely,

Fr. Kevin MacDonald, C.Ss.R.

REV. THOMAS A. BURKE, C.Ss.R. January 2, 1956 – August 8, 2020

https://www.facebook.com/joe.bellissimo.98/videos/10219372273277598/

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Mass of Christian Burial for Rev. Thomas A. Burke, C.Ss.R. 64, New Smyrna Beach, who died Saturday, August 8, 2020, will be at 1 PM Monday, August 17, 2020 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, New Smyrna Beach. Burial will follow in Edgewater-New Smyrna Cemetery, Edgewater. Visiting hours will begin on Sunday, August 16, at 12:30 PM at Sacred Heart Church, New Smyrna Beach, with a Prayer Vigil for the Deceased at 7:00 PM Sunday.

Fr. Burke was born in New York City, NY to Irish immigrants, William and Mary Murphy Burke. He entered St. Mary’s Seminary, North East, PA in 1967 and took his vows of Profession as a Redemptorist on July 31, 1976 at St. Alphonsus College, Suffield, CT. He was ordained a Redemptorist Priest on May 23, 1981 at Mt. St. Alphonsus, Esopus, NY. For his first eleven years, Fr. Burke served the Province of Baltimore at numerous parishes as Associate Pastor. He then served in the Vice-Province of Richmond as Associate Pastor at several Georgia parishes. He was also Pastor of the Catholic Community of Sumter, SC before coming to Sacred Heart in 2015, where he was the Pastor until his death. He was a Consulter for the Vice-Province of Richmond and elected as the Vicar of the Vice-Province of Richmond. Fr. Burke is survived by his mother, Mary; two brothers, William and John Burke and three sisters, Rosemarie O’Connor, Kelly Schwartz and Kathleen Burke and his Redemptorist Brothers. Dudley Funeral Home, New Smyrna Beach, is in charge of arrangements.

As we prepare to say our final goodbyes to our beloved pastor, Fr. Tom, I would
like to inform you of the schedule and procedures.
At 12:30pm Fr. Tom’s body will be brought into the church and viewing will be
held from 12:30pm until 7pm. This is an opportunity for everyone to come and
spend some private time to say your individual goodbye.
Sunday 7pm. There will be a wake service lead by his Redemptorist brothers. It
will be open to everyone, but we must remember to be mindful of our
guidelines of mask wearing, social distancing, and our maximum capacity
allowance.
Monday, August 17th at 1PM is Fr. Toms’ funeral Mass presided by Bishop
Noonan. Again, our guidelines of mask wearing, social distancing and maximum
capacity allowance, will be in effect. The doors will open at 12PM. Any overflow
will be invited to the social hall where the funeral Mass will be live streamed.
We hope that with these many opportunities to come and pay your respects to
Fr. Tom, we will be able to accommodate everyone. We ask for your
understanding and wisdom in choosing the best celebration for you to attend.
For anyone wishing to do so, you can view Fr. Toms’ Funeral Mass on the church
website.
Burial will be private.
Thank you for your attention

Sacred Heart Catholic School is proud to announce our school reopening August 26th for the 2020-21 school year! As we prepare, plan and pray for a positive return to campus with all health and safety protocols in place, students will continue to thrive in our small, secure, supportive, spiritual, and successful academic environment. Limited space available – Proudly serving grade PreK-8 – Call for a tour today!

Guidelines for reopening – 

SACRED HEART MASS TIMES  – SAT VIGIL 4:00PM & SUNDAY 8:00AM, 10:30AM

ST. GERARD -SUNDAY MASS ONLY AT 10AM

Per Bishop Noonan​ Sunday Holy Mass obligation has been suspended until further notice.

If you think you might be sick or uneasy about attending Mass at the Church, please stay home and attend our online streamed Masses on the Parish Website, Facebook.

We will be able to allow a limited number of people into the worship space sanctuary to enable appropriate social distancing.

You may be denied permission to enter or asked to leave if our 25% capacity 125 reached.

Only the main entrance and the doors nearest the handicap parking on the school side of the church will be open prior to Mass.

All Holy Water fonts will be empty in keeping with protocols.

Hand Sanitizers will be available at entrances, as well as disposable gloves, if you do not have your own.

We will not be providing masks, though we highly recommend you bring and wear your own.

Will we have a receptacle to dispose of used gloves/masks at the end of Mass.

Seating will follow social distancing guidelines.

You may be directed to appropriate seating, and we thank you for your cooperation.

Masses will be celebrated by one of our Redemptorist priests assisted by our deacons.

We will not, at this time, be utilizing altar servers, lectors, or Eucharistic Ministers.

We will no longer hold hands during the Our Father prayer.

We will offer a bow to one another as the exchange of the Sign of Peace, instead of the customary handshake.

There will be no offertory baskets distributed for collection.

One large basket will be located in the main aisle so you may deposit your offertory upon arriving.

The offertory and gift procession to the altar has been suspended.

Music accompaniment will be our music director and a cantor.

In keeping with Diocesan mandates, distribution of Communion will be in the species of Body only, and reception will be in hand only.

The proper way to receive is with hands extended one under the other, in essence, a throne is formed to receive the Sacred Host.

If gloves are worn, they are to be removed for Communion.

Do not move until the Host has been placed in your hand, permitting the priest or deacon to place the Host without touching your hands.

The faithful are encouraged to wear masks, but are asked to lower the masks to receive Communion.

The Presider is not to wear a mask during the celebration of the Mass, but can wear it to distribute Communion.

Maintain appropriate social distancing. Appropriate spacing for the reception of communion is marked in red on center aisle.

When the celebration of Mass has ended it is important not to congregate into groups, but to clear the Church expediently, for cleaning and disinfecting must begin.

Always maintain proper distance and please, do not make our clergy the enforcers.

Coffee & donuts after Mass has been suspended.

All social gatherings and on campus ministries and classes have been suspended.

As we are a faith family, it is important each of us takes the responsibility of protecting everyone.  Therefore, we respectfully request, in the event you witness activity or a brother or sister not in compliance with these rules, politely bring it to their attention and offer the correct practice.

In the unfortunate event, after the counsel, it is not corrected, without a second attempt, bring the matter to either a member of the clergy or designated coordinator.