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December 20, 2020
December 6, 2020
December 13, 2020

Our Archbishop and Cardinal-designate Wilton Gregory asked us, pastors, to share his message with each of you after the Report on Ex-Cardinal and former priest Theodore McCarrick was released. Let us pray for all the victims of abuse, our archdiocese and the whole church.
Stay safe and God bless,

Fr. Andy

Statement from Cardinal-designate Gregory
As Archbishop of Washington I naturally began reading the long and difficult report on the Vatican’s investigation of Theodore McCarrick with a keen personal interest in how our beleaguered Archdiocese would be portrayed. Almost immediately, though, as anxious as I had been to learn what might be revealed about this local Church I have come to love so much, I realized this was exactly the wrong approach. 
In the end, this tragic chronicle is not primarily about individual dioceses. It is about unconscionable human violation and the pain that too many people endured at the hands of a deceitful man who only pretended to want what was best for them in order to get what he wanted for himself. Further, it is about leaders – Catholic leaders – who upon their ordination promised our Heavenly Father that they would always put His precious people first; yet, through failures of competence, communication and culture, they seem to have completely mismanaged what they came to know about this devious man. 
The Vatican’s report demands to be viewed through the eyes of the survivors and their loved ones without prejudice to where they may have first encountered Theodore McCarrick or where they may be today. As has happened too often in recent history, it revealed to me and to you dark corners of our Church of which I am deeply ashamed and profoundly angry - again. It pushed into sunlight a culture that has too often served not to build up our cherished Catholic Church – Jesus Christ’s greatest Gift to us – but to undermine it, far beyond the amoral ecclesiastical tenure of a single fallen cleric. Those of us in leadership have too often failed to understand, to acknowledge, to respond to, and to prevent the damage done to our innocent faithful – minors and adults.
In the report there were mercifully no revelations of sexual abuse alleged to have been perpetrated in this Archdiocese, and while I am of course grateful for that, it provides little comfort. I promise you with all my heart that our vigilance in the Archdiocese of Washington will continue – we will support the healing of those who have been harmed, our protocols for reporting and responding to these crimes will continue unabated and with renewed vigor, our safe environment efforts on behalf of those of every age will reflect the very best practices available. 
Even so, as I read the Vatican text I felt such deep sorrow for those who should have been able to rely on the ministers of Christ’s Church to protect and respect them. Instead they found themselves abused by a man who may have been outwardly charming and gregarious, but who allowed himself to be motivated by his own sinful gratification rather than the diametrically opposite Gospel call to go and make disciples for Jesus Christ. For a priest of His Church there can be no greater failing, except possibly to be aware of such incongruity and, in response, do nothing.
Persons who communicated anonymously about McCarrick’s behavior must have feared retribution from the structures and persons that shielded him. When harm is being done in the Name of the Holy Catholic Church, one must never again feel constrained to come forward and speak out. Pope Francis has already put into place procedures designed to uncover the truth in such cases of clerical and hierarchical wrongdoing.
The Church has taken a step forward, albeit much delayed, in looking honestly at both this particular case and at the future of ecclesial accountability. How large and how enduring a step remains to be proven to the countless people we have disappointed. There are challenges to our integrity that must be overcome before we can move forward, and yet paradoxically it seems we can’t move meaningfully forward until that integrity is restored. This will require time and transparency, contrition and commitment, prayer and reconciliation, authenticity and humility. I humbly beg for God’s Mercy for myself and for my brothers in the episcopacy. I implore our Heavenly Father to shower His Grace upon all whose faith has been tested too often by what we have done and what we have failed to do.
Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.

I am sincerely yours in Christ, 
Wilton Cardinal-designate Gregory
Archbishop of Washington

 

***December 24, Christmas Eve:
    5:30PM- Christmas Carols by the choir
    6:00PM- Christmas Eve Mass

***December 25
    9:00AM- Christmas Day Mass

***December 31
    7:00PM- New Year's Eve Mass
    
***January 1: New Year
    10:00AM- Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Dear St. Vincent’s Family,
 
We are back to mass, Alleluia, praise the Lord!
 
As you have read on our Facebook and in our website, DC is now in Phase II of re-opening. This means we are finally able to gather in person for Mass again. Our first weekend public Masses will be held June 28. We will resume the usual Sunday masses at 8:00am, 12:00pm and 6:30pm. I am already excited to see you all.
 
I am reminded of this blessing from Paul’s letter to the Philippians:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7)  
 
What You Need to Know Before Coming to Mass
 
Mass Obligation Dispensed
The dispensation from the Sunday and Holy Day obligation remains in effect. You may have to make the difficult decision to remain at home even as we offer public Masses. Those who should stay at home include: those with COVID-19 or exposure to it, those with upper respiratory or flu like symptoms or underlying medical conditions, the sick, the elderly, those who are living with or in the presence of any individual at risk, or those who still do not feel comfortable being in a public setting. When in doubt, out of charity for others, please stay home. 
 
Mass will be live streamed at 8:00 am on Sundays at www.facebook.com/andygonzalo
 
Face Mask Requirement
Everyone (age 2+) is required to wear a face mask for the entire Mass. Please be sure that everyone in your party has a face mask. If you forget your mask, please ask an usher for an extra. 
 
Arrival and Seating
When arriving, please keep socially distanced from other households as you enter church. Allow for extra time to be seated and understand that attendees may not have as much choice in where they are able to sit. You are to be seated in a place where there is a sign in front of the pew. Members of one household or family can be seated together in one pew. Please do your best to come to church early. Ushers will start seating 30 minutes before Mass begins so that lines and groups of people are avoided. Please do not congregate by the entrance before or after Mass.
 
Missalettes
All Hymnals and Missalettes have been removed, but disposable worship aids will be available for single use at each Mass. Please take your worship aid on entering the church and dispose of it in the trash can as you leave. 
 
Simplified Liturgy
There will be a minimum number of ministers seated in the sanctuary and assisting during the Mass. Music will be provided in a subdued manner at the 8:00am. The 12:00pm, 6:30pm will not have any music. 
 
New Communion Route
Please follow the priests’ and ushers’ instructions for receiving communion. The priests will distribute the Eucharist to one column of pews at a time. One pew at a time, each household in a column will file out of their pew and line up in front of the priest. Children who will not receive communion but who are old enough to remain quietly in their pew should do so, and not get in line for communion.
 
Reception of Holy Communion
Those who will not receive communion should not come forward with hands crossed for a blessing; there is a blessing for everyone at the end of Mass. 
 
When it is your time to receive, walk down the aisle and keep your mask on. Please receive the Host in your hand. Step to the side while still holding the Eucharist in one hand, carefully loosen your facial covering (or mask by an ear loop), consume the Host, and replace the facial covering.
 
Out of love for our brothers and sisters, and out of kind concern for the vulnerable and our priests, those who normally receive on the tongue are respectfully asked to consider receiving in the hand as a temporary measure. 
  
Collection
There will be no Offertory collection during the Mass itself. Rather, collection baskets will be placed at the doors of the church for your donations. Online Giving is another option available at our Online giving in our website.
 
Dismissal
At the end of Mass, please take a moment and wipe down the small section of the pew where you might have made contact. Wipes will be provided in each pew for your use. Once completed, the ushers will dismiss rows beginning from the back to the front of the church. Dispose of wipes and worship aids as you leave church in trash receptacles. Use all three doors to exit. Though we know everyone is happy to be reunited in worship, please do not stop to socialize in the church or on the steps outside.
 
Restrooms
Although restrooms will be open, we ask that you refrain from using them if possible. Due to the simplified liturgy, Mass will take less than an hour. We do understand that sometimes a restroom trip is necessary. If you must use the restrooms, please follow the guidelines for their usage as posted in the restrooms.
 
Reporting Coronavirus
If you test positive for coronavirus or develop symptoms of Covid-19 after attending Mass at St. Vincent’s, you mustreport it to the church. Please contact the pastor, Fr. Andy at stvdppastor@gmail.com or call 202-488-1354. Thank you!
 
Please be patient with us and with each other as we work together to implement this plan.  Understand that we will make any changes deemed necessary to assure the safety of those attending, while doing our best to make the sacraments available and reverent.
 
May the peace of God dwell richly in your homes and neighborhoods.
 
Stay safe and God bless you all,
 
Fr. Andy
 

Christmas 2020

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
 
“In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways… In these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2).

Christmas provides a unique opportunity each year for us all to re-focus. Not only are we reminded of the awe-inspiring, world-changing, life-altering gift that is Jesus; but we are also reminded of our need for this Jesus to heal us in our brokenness. That is indeed why he came, wasn’t it?

With deep joy and gratitude, I extend to you my prayerful best wishes for a holy and blessed Christmas. During this Advent Season, it has been my prayer that each of you would find opportunities to reflect on your own faith and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church. Whatever it is that our hearts and souls desire, whether we realize it or not, our ultimate desire is Jesus Himself, for this reason, we are filled with joy and consolation at Christmas to know that all that we hoped for has been fulfilled in the person of the Christ Child.

As we are all aware, the global spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19, has become a central topic of discussion and concern for many of us this 2020. It has caused us to think about the things we take for granted and to rethink how we go about the practices of our daily lives. In the church, this pandemic has caused us to consider new ways to approach what have been longstanding practices and traditions.
COVID-19 does not appear to be ending soon, even with the vaccine now approved. Be careful. Be cautious. Be wise and practical in what you do. But do not live in fear. What I fear, more than COVID-19, is that we will forget who we are and to whom we belong. We need to step back and stay centered and remember and remind each other that we belong to Christ.

In the midst of all our current challenges and concerns, the love of God the Father is made manifest to us in the wonderful gift of His Son, Jesus, the Emmanuel, the God-with-us. With the angels in Bethlehem, our faith moves us to sing: “Glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth!”

With sincere gratitude for all you have been and done and will continue to be to grace St. Vincent de Paul parish, I hold you in my heart and in my prayer this Christmas season, asking God to bless you and your family with peace, joy, hope and love. Together, may we grow in strength and grace to know and celebrate together God’s presence in our lives and His dominion over all things of this world. Let this pandemic not lead us to forget what is essential in our lives.

May our Lord Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, bless you, your families and loved ones at this blessed time of hope and grace. May Mary, the Mother of the Child Jesus and our Mother, watch over you and our beloved parish family always. God bless you now and forever.

A Blessed Christmas and a Hope-filled New Year!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Andy Gonzalo


Thanksgiving 2020

Dear Parish Family,

Happy Thanksgiving! "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever" (Psalm 136:1).
Today is the day we set aside to express thanks for all that is in our lives. Even when things aren’t going so well, there’s so much to be thankful for. Yes, there is so much bad news arriving daily from around the world and right here in our home; there is this Covid-19 pandemic that have destabilize our lives, but even in the midst of all this bad news, we can give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.  Let us pray for our country, pray for our church and civil leaders, pray for peace in the streets, pray for the doctors, nurses, hospital aids, pray for the workers in grocery stores, delivery personnel and those who serve and protect us both at home and abroad, pray for our families and friends; but in our prayers, let us not neglect to give thanks to the God from whom all blessings flow.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).
We have so much to be thankful for. This world may be scary at times, but God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  He said, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). After all, he is our King as we have just celebrated last Sunday. In a recent general audience our Holy Father emphasized the virtue of hope, “in the face of the pandemic and its social consequences, many risk losing hope. In this time of uncertainty and anguish, I invite everyone to welcome the gift of hope that comes from Christ. It is he who helps us navigate the tumultuous waters of sickness, death and injustice, which do not have the last word over our final destination.”
This Thanksgiving, I am thankful to God for each of you!  It is a joy and a privilege to be your pastor, and most especially to be your brother in Christ and serve alongside of you in the name of Christ. Together, may our service to the Lord "overflow in many thanksgivings to God"              (2 Corinthians 9:12)!
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Stay safe always and God bless you and your family. Respectfully yours in Christ,

Fr. Andy Gonzalo


May 1, 2020

Dear St. Vincent de Paul Parish Family,
Happy Easter!
During this time of uncertainty and anxiety, I pray that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. This crisis challenges us to act responsibly by following the social isolation guidelines while striving to stay close emotionally and spiritually to our families, our friends and our communities. Please join me in praying for those affected by COVID-19, as well as our first responders, health care workers and individuals who have lost income due to precautionary closures.
I also want to take a moment to thank you for your past generosity to our St. Vincent de Paul Parish. We could not operate without your support.  
With Masses across the Archdiocese canceled, our traditional manner for collecting offertory is not available to us. However, the costs of running the parish continue and planning for renewed activities once we re-unite in person goes on. 
I prayerfully ask you to consider continuing your support for our parish and the good works of our faith. Online giving for both the weekly offertory and other important collections is quick and easy by visiting our website.  You can also send checks and/or your weekly envelopes directly to St. Vincent de Paul Church at 14 M St. SE, Washington, DC 20003 and I want to express my sincere gratitude to those who are already doing.
As a community, we stand together and are there for each other during this time of need. Thank you for your continued generosity to further the mission of our faith!
Please continue to pray for each other, as I continue to pray for you. I live stream my daily mass from Monday to Friday at 12:10PM and my Sunday mass at 10:00AM. You can participate by going to Facebook https://www.facebook.com/andygonzalo.
 
Sincerely in Christ,
 
Fr. Andy Gonzalo

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Thank you to all our generous donors for supporting the tiling of the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary tiling has been completed, and we are now resuming our masses back in the main Church upstairs. The Church is in continued need for additional improvements, so we humbly welcome your support and donations to help our parish, with opportunities linked below. 

St Vincent de Paul is continuing its process of doing much needed repairs and upgrades.  Our decades-old carpet needs replacing.  We can replace the carpet with tile which will last a lifetime but we need your help. For $225 you can have your name, family’s, or someone else’s memorialized on our giving tree.  You can donate via check with marking it for the tile or online at https://stvincentdepauldc.org/give.  You can fill out your leaf on this form.  Thank you and God bless.
 

Update: 12/8/2018: For years, there had been no statue of our Patron Saint in our church until we got one from Fr. Pawel Sass last year. Today, we finally got our own thanks much to the generosity of our donors. Many thanks too to Gardiner Hall and Associates who found this for us.Our parish depends on the generosity of all of you as we try to repair and restore our church.May St. Vincent de Paul pray for all of us.