Cluster Parishes of Portsmouth and Chesapeake

This year's Advent Retreat will be held on 28 November, the first day of Advent.   A soup lunch will be available from 12:30-1:30.  The Reteat will begin at 1:30 and go until 5pm.   The theme of the Retreat is Preparing the Way.    Children old enough to sit and pay attention are welcome.   Talks, prayers, reflection.   Come and get Prepare for the Lord Jesus.   If you plan on coming to the soup lunch 12:30-1:30, please let us know so we know how much soup to make.   Contact Theresa Carpenter at [email protected]

The Cluster will have a bus for the trip up and back to DC on the 21st of January.  Cost is $75.00  Contact Theresa Carpenter at [email protected] or call the office at 757-484-7335 if interested

Several people have received emails requesting money by Rev. Anthony Morris.  Please ignore these emails.   Father Tony would never ask for money for any reason.   

This year we are offering a class called "Come Home, Catholics 101."   It is for anyone returning to the faith as well as those who just want to know more about their faith.   The class will begin Sept 7th at 6:30 - 8:00pm at the Church of the Resurrection hall.   Bring your questions, come to learn.   All are welcome at this class.   If interested, please contact Theresa Carpenter at 757-484-7335 or email her at [email protected]

RCIA is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.   Classes will begin Sept 9th at 6:30pm -8:00pm at The Church of the Resurrection.  This class if for all those who wish to be come Catholic or those who are Baptized but require addition Sacraments such as Holy Communion or Confirmation.

Faith Formation is Back!!!   This Fall we will explore "The Pivotal Players."   Bishop Barron as always has created an excellent series on Saints and important people in the Church.  Please join us begining Sept 8th at 7:00 - 8:30pm for this riveting series at The Church of the Resurrection hall.   For the schedule see Adult Formation in the Website.   

Click here to see the new Dispensation Order from the Bishop

New COVID Guidelines effective May 28, 2021

• Fully Vaccinated people no longer need to wear a ask to Mass
• Unvaccinated ages 5 and older must still wear a mask to Mass
• Livestreaming of Masses will continue for those who still do not feel comforatable attending Mass with unmasked people.  Dispensation from Mass is still in effect until further notice
• Cleaning of the Church between masses is no longer necessary
• Distribution of the cup remains suppressed for deacons and lay faithful until further notice. 
• There ar eno gathering limits before or after Mass
• Reconciliation will resume in the confessional
• Social distancing is no longer required for seating

Come, Holy Spirit, 

and guide us throughout the Diocese of Richmond

as we embark on our third centure in Your Service.

We humbly ask You t strengthen our trust in You

and our eagerness to share the Gsopel message with others. 

Enkindle in us a keen desire to grow

in our relationship with You

and to encounter You in Your sacraments. 

Through the intercession of

Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, 

and St. Vincent de Paul, 

may we experience a new Pentecost and 

a progoudn renewal of faith in our diocese, our parishes,

our families, and our hearts. 

Amen. 

Great News!!  We are now using Flock Notes to better communicate with our parishioners.   If you haven't received a flock note it's because we don't have a good email for you.  Please send an email to [email protected] with the email you read most often.  If you are a new parishioner, please register with a good email and phone number.    

This is just a freiendly reminder as it has become more and more frequent that people are receiving fake emails requesting money, gift cards, etc.  from someone pretending to be a person that they know.  Unfortunately, many of these emails tend to come in the form of a Gmail account pretending to be the bishop or our pastor.  While, the Diocesean I.T. department has zero control over which email accounts are created through Google, it's important to identify these fake email accounts, and remember that the Bishop or anyone at the Cluster will NOT handle business thorugh an email address that is not part of the Richmond Diocese domain @richmonddicosese.org or clusterparishes.com.  

These scams continue to be perpetuated because they continue to work.   We ask that you do not reply to such emails, click on the lins within those emails or download content in them.   If you receive help requests that you think are legitimate, verify that the person is legitimate by calling them directly on another known valid number.  Don't ask the emailer for information or a call.  Find an offline mehtod of correspondence that you and that person have used in the past to talk with each other.   

Greetings Everyone, 

Currently we have been using a Facebook Group called "Cluster Parishes of Portsmouth and Chesapeake Official Group".  We will be moving over to using a Facebook page (Cluster Parishes of Portsmouth and Chesapeake).  This allows us to be more transparent.  You don't have to join, you just have to like and follow the group to get updates.  Otherwise you can just go look at the page without any other action.  We will be live streaming masses from the Page.  I will update on the group where to go but for anyone, you can go to the page and see what is going on.   I hope this helps.  Just trying to survive the IT learning curve.  Theresa

Bishop Knestout announces the implementation of a hotline to report suspected financial, administrative or human resource misconduct within the Diocese of Richmond.

The hotline is handled through EthicsPoint, an independent, third-party reporting system, to ensure accountability and transparency. This helps to safeguard the resources entrusted to us by the people of our diocese. Reports can be made online or by phone. Employees, volunteers, clergy, parishioners and any other individual wishing to make a report can do so anonymously.

The toll-free number is 844-739-3210 and is offered in multiple languages. To submit a report online, visit the diocesan website, www.richmonddiocese.org, and select “EthicsPoint.”

The hotline number is not a 911 or emergency service number. Individuals should not use this number to report information that is of an immediate threat to life or property.

Additionally, EthicsPoint is NOT intended to receive information about sexual abuse allegations. Abuse allegations should be reported immediately to local law enforcement and the Attorney General’s Clergy Abuse Hotline at 1-833-454-9064.

Additional information including a video message and letter from Bishop Knestout, a list of frequently asked questions and other resources regarding EthicsPoint can be found by visiting the diocesan website.

Bishop Knestout encourages anyone aware of sexual abuse of minors on the part of clergy or staff of our diocese to notify civil authorities, call the Attorney General’s Clergy Abuse Hotline at 1-833-454-9064, and reach out to the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator, Jennifer Sloan at 1-877-887-9603.  

Click here for additional information on how to report abuse and harassment.

Bishop Knestout has released the names of clergy in the Diocese of Richmond that have a credible and substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. The list also includes clergy from other dioceses and religious communities who served in the Diocese. Click here to view the list.

For more information on our Diocese's responses to the clergy sex abuse scandal, click here.

A smart device application for the Cluster Parishes is available for Apple and Android devices. Search for “Parish App” from WeConnect by Liturgical Publications, Inc.

Alternatively, iPhone users can text ParishApp1 to 555888 or click here and Android users can text ParishApp2 to 555888 or click here to download the application.

Enter “Cluster Parishes of Portsmouth and Chesapeake” to set your home parish. Be sure to enable messages in your device to receive push notifications, such as changes in Mass times, weather cancellations, or other important information.