Our Lady of Lourdes 

Roman Catholic Church

To view the Palm Sunday Mass click here for the recorded Daily and Sunday Masses or visit the YouTube Channel.  Scroll down for the Holy Week schedule.

Para ver la misa del domingo de ramos, haga clic aquí para ver las misas diarias y dominicales grabadas o visite el canal de YouTube. Desplácese hacia abajo para el horario de Semana Santa.

The church is open today from 10:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. for private prayer. 

La iglesia está abierta hoy de las 10:30 a.m. hasta las 6:00 p.m. para la oración privada. 

Thanks to all who have asked me via email, etc. how they should make their offertory contributions during this extraordinary time.  I encourage everyone to use our on-line giving portal above (just click on that big "On-line Giving" button at the top of the page to get started).  You will have to set up an account, however, in order to use on-line giving.  If you prefer to continue using your offertory envelopes, or personal checks, or even cash, you can drop those off at the church when the building is open.  Please slide them under the priest vesting room door (which always remains locked), so that they will be secure.  This is the room in the narthex (vestibule) of the church which is directly across from the restrooms.  The sign next to the door reads "Priest Vesting."  And, of course, you can always use the mail: Our Lady of Lourdes, 915 Mathis Rd., Greenwood, SC 29649.

Please remember in this very difficult and trying time that your parish relies on your offertory to pay the bills: utilities (including electricity, water, and sewer), property casualty and liability insurance, maintenance costs, payroll for the employees, etc. Did you know that church employees are NOT eligible for unemployment benefits?  They're not.  If it ever became necessary to lay-off or furlough employees because we couldn't meet the payroll, those employees would NOT receive any kind of unemployment benefits, even the "enhanced" ones now made available by the federal government.  Obviously, I want to avoid the parish ever being in that position.

I know that many of you may be worried about jobs, lay-offs, furloughs, etc. during these uncertain times.  All I ask is that you prayerfully consider your individual situation and continue with your offertory, as you are able.  Thank you.  Fr. Tebalt
 

The Holy Week schedule is as follows:

Monday, April 6, live-stream (https://www.facebook.com/ololgwd) from Our Lady of Lourdes at 10 a.m.

Tuesday, April 7, live-stream of the Chrism Mass from Charleston (https://www.facebook.com/DioceseChas or  https://www.YouTube.com/DioceseChas) at 11 a.m.

Wednesday, April 8, live-stream (https://www.facebook.com/ololgwd) from Our Lady of Lourdes at 10 a.m.

Thursday, April 9, live-stream (https://www.facebook.com/ololgwd) Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper from OLOL at 6:30 p.m.

Friday, April 10, live-stream (https://www.facebook.com/ololgwd) Good Friday liturgy from OLOL at 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 11, live-stream Easter Vigil from Charleston (https://www.facebook.com/DioceseChas or https://www.YouTube.com/DioceseChas) at 8 p.m.

The Easter Sunday Mass schedule from Our Lady of Lourdes will be announced on Monday, April 6.  Check back here for an update.

An important note about our parish live-streams:  Currently, we are only able to live-stream on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ololgwd).  We cannot live-stream on YouTube, because we do not have enough subscribers (we would need 1000 subscribers).  Video recordings of all parish live-streams, however, are uploaded to our YouTube channel (youtube.com/c/OurLadyOfLourdesCatholicChurch) shortly after the live-stream is finished.
 

My dear people of Our Lady of Lourdes,

     Many of you have by now received and read the latest update from our Bishop.  If you have not, you will find it below.  The upshot, however, is that, due to the continuing danger posed by COVID-19 (aka the Novel Coronavirus), we will not be reopening on April 2^nd, as originally planned.  Instead the suspension of the public celebration of Mass and other Sacraments will continue, at least through Easter Sunday (April 12^th).  It saddens me deeply that I will not be able to be with you for Holy Week, the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil), and Easter Sunday.  Let us all hope and pray that we will be back together soon after Easter.  While undoubtedly sad, I am in agreement with the Bishop that this is necessary in order to slow the spread of this virus, which can be very dangerous and deadly.

     Specifically, this applies to our parish as follows:

1. The church building will remain open daily from 12 Noon to 6 p.m. for private prayer.  Please verify the hours every day on the website (www.olol.org).  It is possible, depending on circumstances, that on a given day those hours have to be amended.  Please do not assume, but check every day.  If you visit, please do NOT congregate in any groups but maintain the appropriate “social distance.”  This does not apply to family groups.
2. I will continue to live-stream Masses (facebook.com/ololgwd).  Those videos will also post to the parish’s YouTube channel, following the completion of the live-stream.  Recorded Masses for the 5^th Sunday of Lent and Palm Sunday will be posted to YouTube.  The Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil) will be live-streamed.
3. Per the Bishop’s directive, the folks who would have been received into the Church at the Easter Vigil will now be received into the Church on the Vigil of Pentecost on Saturday, May 30^th, at the 5 p.m. Mass.
4. As schools will remain closed until the end of April, all Religious Education classes and programs are also suspended until at least the end of April.
5. Last Rites may still be given to those in imminent danger of death.  Call the parish office (864-223-8410) or the emergency number (864-223-3003).  If you call the emergency number, and I am unable to answer, please leave a message – I will return your call as soon as possible.
6. Confessions also remain suspended, except for those in danger of death.  Some folks have seen things on the internet about a few priests in various places offering “drive-up” Confessions.  Besides the fact that I find that to be most decidedly not in keeping with the dignity of the Sacrament, the Bishop has forbidden it.  So don’t ask me about it.  Nevertheless, I know that many, many of you are greatly concerned about lack of access to Confession.  I share your concern.  It has been suggested to him and is possible (but not decided or communicated to us as yet) that the Bishop may take the highly unusual and not at all light step of giving pastors the permission to grant what is called General Absolution at the beginning of whichever Sunday Mass we are able to be together again.  That is something that is done only in the gravest and most serious of emergency situations.  There are certain conditions that accompany such a step.  Should it prove to be the case, I will communicate that to you as soon as possible, and I will post a catechesis on the responsibilities of penitents in such a circumstance.
7. The parish office remains CLOSED for now, and staff are on “work from home” basis.  No one is in the office for any set hours.  It is best to contact the staff via email (see the “Contact Us” button at the top of the webpage).
8. Folks may be wondering about the First Holy Communion Masses, scheduled originally for Saturday, May 3^rd (English) and Saturday, May 10^th (Spanish).  Before I say definitively that those Masses will remain as scheduled or be moved to another day, I want to wait another week to see how things are going.  Please be patient.  I will make that determination by April 2^nd, and it will be communicated immediately.

     In the meantime, all of you remain in my prayers daily.  Right now, I’ve begun thinking of my separation from you as being like Purgatory and the day that we can be together again as being like heaven.  Stay safe.  Stay well.  And may God shower you with blessings in this time of trial.

Fr. Tebalt

Mis queridos feligreses de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes,
 
Muchos de ustedes ya han recibido y leído la última actualización de nuestro Obispo. Si no lo han hecho, la encontrará a continuación. Sin embargo, el resultado es que, debido al peligro continuo que representa COVID-19 (también conocido como el nuevo coronavirus), no volveremos a abrir el 2 de abril, como estaba originalmente planeado. La suspensión de la celebración pública de la misa y otros sacramentos continuará, por lo menos hasta el domingo de Pascua (12 de abril). Me entristece profundamente que no podré compartir con ustedes la Semana Santa, el Triduo (Jueves Santo, Viernes Santo, Vigilia Pascual) y el Domingo de Pascua. Esperemos y recemos para que volvamos a estar juntos poco después de Pascua. Aunque estoy indudablemente triste, estoy de acuerdo con el Obispo que esto es necesario para frenar la propagación de este virus, que puede ser muy peligroso y mortal.
 
Específicamente, esto se aplica a nuestra parroquia de la siguiente manera:
 
1. El edificio de la iglesia permanecerá abierto todos los días desde las 12 del mediodía hasta las 6 p.m. para la oración privada. Verifique las horas todos los días en nuestra dirección de “Internet” (www.olol.org). Es posible, dependiendo de las circunstancias, que en un día determinado esas horas tengan que modificarse. Por favor, no asuma y verifique diariamente. Si visita, NO se congregue en ningún grupo, pero mantenga la "distancia social" adecuada. Esto no se aplica a grupos familiares.

2. Continuaré transmitiendo misas en vivo ( facebook.com/ololgwd). Estos videos también se publicarán en el canal de “YouTube” de la parroquia, una vez  se complete la transmisión en vivo. Las misas grabadas para el 5º domingo de Cuaresma y Domingo de Ramos se publicarán en “YouTube”. El Triduo (Jueves Santo, Viernes Santo y Vigilia Pascual) se transmitirá en vivo.

3. Según la directiva del Obispo, las personas que habrían sido recibidas en la Iglesia en la Vigilia Pascual ahora serán recibidas en la Iglesia en la Vigilia de Pentecostés el sábado 30 de mayo a las 5 p.m.

4. Como las escuelas permanecerán cerradas hasta finales de abril, todas las clases y programas de Educación Religiosa se suspenderán hasta finales de abril.

5. Los últimos ritos aún se pueden dar a aquellos en peligro inminente de muerte. Llame a la oficina parroquial (864-223-8410) o al número de emergencia (864-223-3003). Si llama al número de emergencia y no puedo responder, deje un mensaje: le devolveré la llamada lo antes posible.

6. Las confesiones también permanecen suspendidas, excepto para aquellos en peligro de muerte. Algunas personas han visto en el “Internet” varios sacerdotes, en varios lugares, ofreciendo confesiones "auto-servicio". Además del hecho que creo que esto desvaloriza la dignidad del Sacramento, el Obispo lo ha prohibido. Así que agradezco no me pregunten al respecto. Sin embargo, sé que muchos, muchos de ustedes están muy preocupados por la falta de acceso a la Confesión. Comparto su preocupación. Se ha sugerido y es posible (pero aún no se ha decidido o se nos ha comunicado) que el Obispo puede dar un paso muy poco usual y que conceda a los pastores el permiso para dar lo que se llama “Absolución General”  al comienzo de cualquier misa dominical, que podamos celebrar juntos de nuevo. Esto es algo que se hace solo en las situaciones de emergencias y de extrema gravedad. Hay ciertas condiciones que acompañan  tal paso. En caso de que sea así, se lo comunicaré lo antes posible y publicaré una catequesis sobre las responsabilidades de los penitentes en tal circunstancia.

7. La oficina de la parroquia permanece CERRADA por ahora, y el personal trabaja "desde casa". Nadie está en la oficina durante un horario determinado. Es mejor ponerse en contacto con el personal por correo electrónico (presione el botón "Contáctenos" en la parte superior de nuestra página en el “Internet”).

8. Para aquellos que quieran información acerca de las Misas de Primera Comunión, programadas originalmente para el sábado 3 de mayo (inglés) y el sábado 10 de mayo (español). Intereso esperar otra semana más antes de decir si definitivamente  esas misas permanecerán según lo programado o se trasladarán a otro día. Me interesa palpar cómo van las cosas antes de decidir. Agradezco por favor sea paciente. Tomaré esa decisión antes del 2 de abril y se les comunicará de inmediato.
 
Mientras tanto, todos ustedes permanecen en mis oraciones diariamente. En este momento, he comenzado a pensar que mi separación de ustedes es como el purgatorio y el día en que podamos estar juntos nuevamente como el cielo. Manténganse con salud y bienestar. Y que Dios les colme de bendiciones en este tiempo de prueba.
 
Padre Tebalt

Gratia Domini nostri Iesu Christi et caritas Dei et communicatio Sancti Spiritus cum omnibus vobis!   Thank you for visiting the web-presence of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.  We are a Roman Catholic parish in the Aiken Deanery of the Diocese of Charleston.  We have over 900 registered families and a vibrant Hispanic community.  Come visit and consider coming home to the Catholic Church!