Rosary TODAY 3 pm & message from Fr. Joseph Mary

Dear Oblates and friends, The entire world has been "brought to its knees," so to speak, by the coronavirus. For Christians and others, it hopefully means "on their knees" to beg the Lord's mercy for our world and the Church, especially on today's Solemnity of St Joseph, patron of the Universal Church. 176 out of 177 Latin Rite dioceses in the United States have cancelled all public Masses to date (thankfully, the private celebration of Masses continues!). All so sadly, the faithful have no or very limited access to the Mass and Holy Communion, but hopefully this time of "Eucharistic fast" will help deepen Catholics' love for the Mass and the Holy Eucharist. Thus, even though the Mass is not readily accessible at this point in time, we suggest that, in communion with Our Holy Father's beautiful and timely initiative, all unite with him and the entire Church, through Our Lady and St Joseph's intercession, in praying the Rosary at 2 pm MT/3 pm CST/4 pm EST for an end to the coronavirus, and above all, for people's deeper conversion to the Lord. Lastly, know that our chapel is always open and that you are more than welcome to pray privately. In addition, Eucharistic adoration is during the following hours: Mon: 2-6:45 pm; Tu, W, F, Sat, Sun: 6-7 pm; Thur: 8-9:30 pm (during Lent). Unfortunately, our Masses are not open to the public, to our very great sadness..... God willing, though, a relaxation of "no public Masses" will take place during Holy Week. Once we know what Bishop Jenky will decide for the Peoria diocese we will publish or not publish our Holy Week schedule. If no relaxation can take place, then sadly our Holy Week services will not be open to the public. May the great St Joseph intercede for us during this difficult, but grace-filled time. In Mary and St Joseph, Fr Joseph Mary Pope encouraging Catholics to pray rosary together on Feast of St. Joseph At this time of the coronavirus outbreak, Pope Francis is encouraging Catholics in Italy to pray the rosary at the same hour on March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph. Catholics around the world can also pray the rosary together at that recommended time. In his message, the Holy Father wrote: “Tomorrow we will celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph. In life, in work, in the family, in joy and in sorrow, he always sought and loved the Lord, meriting Scripture’s praise as a just and wise man. Invoke him always with trust, especially in difficult moments, and entrust your existence to this great saint. “I make my own the appeal of the Italian bishops who in this health emergency have promoted a moment of prayer for the whole country. Every family, every faithful, every religious community, all united spiritually tomorrow at 9:00 p.m. (4 p.m. Eastern time for the Washington, D.C., area) for the recitation of the rosary, with the Mysteries of Light. I will accompany you from here. “Mary, Mother of God, Health of the Sick, leads us to the luminous and transfigured face of Jesus Christ and to His Heart. We turn to her with the prayer of the rosary, under the loving gaze of St. Joseph, custodian of the Holy Family and of our families. And we ask him to guard our family, our families, in a special way, in particular the sick and the persons taking care of the sick: the doctors, the men and women nurses, the volunteers, who risk their lives in this service.”